Farne Islands
After a 4am start and 4 1/2 hour drive, we arrived at Seahouses ready to board our boat for the day trip to the Farne Islands off the Northumbrian coast. The weather was cool and cloudy and we were glad of our layers of clothing and fleecy hats.
The trip across lasted an hour as we were given a tour round the various islands and alongside the rocky cliffs and ledges which gave an indication of the sheer volume of nesting shags, razorbills, guillemots, puffins, kittiwakes and species of gull. We were also taken to where seals were resting on the rocky spits and our boat was soon surrounded by interested seals with their heads just visible above the water.
Our first landing was on Outer Farne, a rocky island where we could wander almost where were wanted, being careful not to tread on any nests of Eider ducks or gulls which were marked with small flags. It was amazing being so close to the birds. We spent two hours on the island before we had return down the steep steps on to our boat for the hop across to Inner Farne.
We had been warned about the dive bombing artic terns and most of us were attacked several times, the hats and hoods were a very necessary protection. All the nests were clearly marked with red painted numbered pebbles. This island had more vegetation and a clearly marked boardwalk path although the terns didn't seem to mind using it for nests which were carefully surrounded by wire netting by the wardens,
There were also common and sandwich terns nesting but these were more docile and nested well away from the paths.
Puffins were in abundance and posed nicely for photographs. Some obviously had young in their burrows and were taking in sand eels.
On Inner Farne there were a also few eider ducks with youngsters.
The trip across lasted an hour as we were given a tour round the various islands and alongside the rocky cliffs and ledges which gave an indication of the sheer volume of nesting shags, razorbills, guillemots, puffins, kittiwakes and species of gull. We were also taken to where seals were resting on the rocky spits and our boat was soon surrounded by interested seals with their heads just visible above the water.
our boat Glad Tidings
seals
cliffs
cliffs
seals in water
Our first landing was on Outer Farne, a rocky island where we could wander almost where were wanted, being careful not to tread on any nests of Eider ducks or gulls which were marked with small flags. It was amazing being so close to the birds. We spent two hours on the island before we had return down the steep steps on to our boat for the hop across to Inner Farne.
the landing
eider on nest
eider
Outer Farne
Great black backed gull and young
great black backed gull chicks
Guillemots showing markings on sub-species
guillemot
Herring gull
rocky stacks
intrepid birders
puffins
We had been warned about the dive bombing artic terns and most of us were attacked several times, the hats and hoods were a very necessary protection. All the nests were clearly marked with red painted numbered pebbles. This island had more vegetation and a clearly marked boardwalk path although the terns didn't seem to mind using it for nests which were carefully surrounded by wire netting by the wardens,
There were also common and sandwich terns nesting but these were more docile and nested well away from the paths.
Dive bombing terns
arctic tern
... and again
arctic tern on nest
arctic tern egg
common terns
common terns showing black on tip of beak
sandwich terns
On this island we were almost in touching distance of the birds, particularly the shags which, when they moved, showed young beneath them, The green and blue guillemots and razorbills eggs were also visible when they stood up and we did see a couple of young fluffy birds amongst the thousands of adults. Puffins were in abundance and posed nicely for photographs. Some obviously had young in their burrows and were taking in sand eels.
On Inner Farne there were a also few eider ducks with youngsters.
Eider with young
Guillemot and egg
razorbill on egg
puffin
puffin
puffi
puffin in burrow
puffin
shag
The sun was starting to come out and warm up as we left after a fantastic day amongst the seabirds.
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