Wildlife to spot

PUFFINS

From April to July, more than 55,000 puffins descend on the islands off the coast to breed. This is the best time to see the fluffy black heads of pufflings poking up out of nests, while adults can be seen with sand eels hanging from their beaks.

SEALS

Thousands of Atlantic grey seals call the Northumberland Coast home year-round with pups best seen in November when they’re at their fluffiest. Inquisitive and friendly, seals follow behind boats to pop up when you least expect it.

LUMPSUCKERS

Go diving in early summer and you’ll likely encounter lumpsuckers, a fish as fantastic as the name suggests, that wobbles through the North Sea as if drunk. They thrive in the reefs here, sharing the water with lobsters, crabs and spotted rays.

ROE DEER

You’ll likely spy the white rear of a roe deer darting into the long meadow grass or bracken on

Holy Island. These tiny animals stand less than a metre tall, bucks clearly distinguishable from does by small, forked antlers.

DOLPHINS

Sightings of bottlenose dolphins are becoming increasingly common off the coast of Northumberland. Look for unusual ripples on the surface of the ocean, with dense flocks of seabirds circling slowly overhead. Watch long enough and you might spot dolphins leaping from the water to catch herring.