Early birds

As I walked back alongside the Tyne this afternoon I heard a familiar cry and looked up to see the first kittiwakes back nesting on the Tyne Bridge. This colony is moderately famous for being the furthest inland that these birds breed - although there is something worrying on the local Beeb website about the council putting nets up to deter them. Personally I don't mind at all taking evasive action in high summer in order to avoid the guano!

Anyway, these birds have presumably nabbed the prime sites. I think this is definitely another sign of spring!