guano

12th April10, Cullernose Point, Howick, 7pm

Kittiwakes and Fulmars nest every year on Cullernose point and their presence changes the colour of the whinstone and fills the air with the Kittiwakes' cries. The Kittiwakes were busy flying back and forward with beaks full of seaweed to build their nests. Their guano is somewhat aromatic and the birds are best viewed upwind.

12th April10, Embleton Bay, 8am

At 6am there was a haar so I went back to bed. By 8am the haar was still there rendering the seascape monochromatic. The mists soon retreated out to sea rapidly.

I think these are egg cases of something or other. they are jelly sacks anchored to the sand at one end. They were all over the low tide mark.

2nd nature find of the day a freshly expired Lumpsucker.This is a male as can be told by its orange mating season colouration.He was 30cm long and a good looking fish. Apparently they are rarely eaten by humans but the gulls will have made breakfast from this chap fairly sharpish.

12th April10, around Christon Bank, 11am

Out for a ride on the bike under the glorious blue skies. The high pressure remains and the clouds are high. It was 19 or 20 C out and about with a pleasant cool breeze.

herring bones

10th April10, Low Newton, 8am

Nice light from the low sun this morning. Snook point took on a pier-like appearance as the sea was like a millpond. I've rarely seen it so quiescent.

11th April10, Embleton Bay, 8am

No direct sunlight this morning but the sky was a beautiful herring bone pattern typical of a high pressure weather system.

Flat light conditions are the time to focus attention closer at hand (or feet).

going down

9th April10, Low newton, 5pm

Back to the rockpools with the underwater camera which hasn't had an outing for a while. The light was grey and flat but there's always something to find...

RNLI

An evening trip to Seahouses after a long day-trip to Glasgow attending a great presentation by Colin Prior - noted Scottish Landscape Photographer and someone who's work has long been a source of inspiration to me. I was delighted to find him to be a personable chap and very down to earth.

CP's forte is to climb to the tops of mountains and camp there to be present for the Moment of dawn and/or dusk. Such dedication and patience brings rewards. I love the thought of doing this but I know it's incompatible with my personality so I flit from place to place travelling light and working quick. CP is justifiably successful; I have a wee blog...

8th April10, Seahouses, 7pm

After a rare treat of fish and chips we wandered round the harbour...

The RNLI lifeboat had been out on excercise and was being brought back in; a task requiring many pairs of hands including one volunteer who had to dive underwater to connect the towline. Like they say about seals, the boat is considerably more nimble in the water than out.

It was like a mini-procession through the town as the boat was guided safely home with an entourage of interested spectators of all ages. It was fascinating to watch.

The twilight was drawing in by the time the boat was safely back in her shed. The big sky dwarfing Bamburgh Castle; a mere lump on the horizon.

twitchy

7th April10, Embleton Bay, 8am

At last some blue sky, some shimmering blue sea and a day that's pleasant to be out and about. So much so that I am twitchy to go back out as soon as I'm home. That hasn't happened for a while...

return of the coconut

6th April10, Howick Coast, 4pm

Sometimes this weather seems indistinguishable from winter. Same winter walking gear, same chill-to-the-bone winds, same muddy paths. The most obvious flowers were gorse (which have been hanging about all winter) but today the wind ripping up the coast was carrying the fantastic scent of coconut. These are proper gorse flowers; ripe and giving off my favourite springtime smell. Once the sun gets out the whole area will be warm and fragrant - and I might even take a layer off...

good weather?

4th April10, Low Newton, 8am

Decent weather for the Easter weekend. I say that from underneath several windproof and waterproof layers. Compared to the winter we've had, a day without rain or snow seems like a relief. The weather forecasts some sun over the weekend which will be a bonus.

Two alternative compositions from much the same point above the beach.