Just got back from a nice two hour afternoon walk with the family at Whitley Bay , North Tyneside. We should have had a friend with us meeting us there but she didn't turn up. Naughty friend : but I hope she is alright. We saw a flock of juvenile Curlews as well as one of Ringed Plovers and the journey up there was worth it just to see those birds . One of the Curlews was halfway in the water and given that it was separate from the flock we think it may be a Green Shank because the bill was curved differnrtly to the other lot . Identifying juvenile birds can be difficult. I got a new bird identification book this week, one of the best , as well as a massive flower guide for Fo and me . How to please my lady ? Get her the latest and one of the best guides to flowering plants! I reckon my marriage will survive another week! Phew!

When the lads were younger we went Fast Eddies a soft play area in Spanish City in Whitely Bay an Edwardian mock Hindu temple sort of building , but because all the children were belting around so much we renamed the place "sweaty Eddies". Our boys had many nice times there . We also saw a flock of what we thought were Sandpipers today as well but the jury is still out on that one . A nice afternoon out but I would have liked our friend with us as well . Maybe next time.