Puffin spotting in Northumberland James Litston Northumberland’s Farne Islands are stuffed with puffins - James Litston A change of scene is good for the soul – and after a winter of soul-sapping lockdowns, we could all use a bit of a tonic. So it’s lucky for me that the scene up ahead is joyful to behold. I’m looking down the length of a wide and empty, low-tide Northumberland beach. The breeze is bringing the dry sand to life, stirring it into shape-shifting swirls that race down the strand like mischievous sprites. Dainty little sanderlings are dashing along the water’s edge while skylarks’ songs rain down from above, their melodic phrases and trills cascading as if celebrating this glorious day.