A single Roseate Tern was on the rocks close to the quay at Inner Farne on Tuesday 5th.

I went to the farnes this weekend from friday till sunday. i had an amazing time ! its my 4th time there i absolutely love the place. Landed on staple island and got some amazing photos of puffins ! one of them is of two gulls chasing the puffin with a beak full of sand eels in mid air, took about 1 hour to get that shot ! had some good views of the guillemots, and a few bridled Guillemots too ! hardly any terns on staple which is a bummer but the puffins were just great as usual ! once back in seahouses we went to the arctic tern and little tern colony at newton on the sea where some great views of both species were to be had as well as some wonderfull LRP chicks and a few good sightings of common lizard which was great !

all in all i had an amazing weekend as always when in the farnes !

- Jake !

Sunday 27th June...

Our trip consisted of Sue Fargher, daughter Toni, Paul Wilson, Simon Johnson, Nik Grounds,Cliffy and Phil Jennison.
£28 for the boat crossings and £6..(unless you're a N/Trust member) on each island.

Everyones breakfast paid for by Mr Wilson (must remind him next year, this might become a tradition )

We got at Seahouses in record time, l believe just 2 and 3/4 hours.We got aboard the Glad Tidings Vl and headed for the first of the two islands.

On route you are shown the Seals that are lounging around on and around the rocky islands,also in the waters were lots of Jellyfish. Plus the sae captains tell you historical info about the surrounding island and Lighthouses.

Once on Staple island the smell of the birds excrement is strong to say the least.
Most of the Shags have fairly large young all 'panting' heavily under their downy feathers and the baking heat. It is amazing to admire these birds so closely.
Many fluffy Kittiwake young were also seen, although the girls amongst our group re-named them Pretti-wakes
Sue found a couple of nesting Fulmars, the rest of the island gave way to Guillemots, Razorbills (both with young) and of course Puffins, one fledged on Saturday night.
We found a Eider duckling down a deep gorge, unable to get out and no mother around, we located a Warden who scooped it out and took it over to the water where several females had young, one was the same age as our orphan. Once with the others, this little fella was accepted and swam along like he was part of the family ...turns out that the Eiders, that aren't mothers still have a very maternal side and often will be referred to as 'Aunty Eider' where orphans are concerned.

Along with the good, we have to accept the inevitable ugly side of nature. We saw a Herring Gull, pecking and tearing apart, what we decided was a Kittiwake chick, it was a fresh kill and very gruesome, (then we were involved with the baby Eider) only a few minutes later see either the same or another Gull take another large K/chick.On speaking to a witness, he said this Gull had drowned the bird before eating it. Where this was taking place the K/wakes were nesting very low down so they were easy pickings for any predator.

A couple of rock Pipits were around and one was feeding a chick near us.
Simon found a couple of Manx Shearwaters making a very brief appearance, everything else was the usual, one sad sight was a pair of K/wake chicks who's parents hadn't chosen the best nest sight and this poor pair were covered,no...caked in the faeces of the birds nesting above, How would these young literally be able to spread their wings and fly
What a crap start to life...literally.

We then left for our second island Inner Farne

Before you now get off the boat a N/Trust member warns you that the nesting Terns are dive bombing and so to be aware. Several steps have now been taken to try and ensure the young and eggs are protected from the public but they (in my opinion) need many more Wardens dotted around the place.

Along the board walk up to the Information block, the birds are nesting very close to peoples feet so now chicken wire is used to deter run-away chicks and small boards line the area's where wire is of no use. The improvements aren't great but it is better. Still the daft amongst us( think that 'running the gaunlet' of divebombing birds is the real treat on the island and see it as such
There were many Sandwich Terns and the skulking Juv' Black Headed Gulls in the same area.
The Terns were as beautiful as ever, one obligingly stood still for several moments whilst we admired it's striking beauty, the feet are teeny tiny, and so were the chicks, even the biggest, hairiest fella's found themselves ooh-ing and ahh-ing at them.

We were lucky enough to see two comical siblings trying to outdo each other as they tested out their wings . The Puffins were being bullied as usual by the Blackheaded Gulls who almost like soldiers were patrolling their burrows or literally standing guard, so when a Puffin came back with sand eels, the Gulls would snatch them off them. But the poor Puffin, on see-ing the guard outside his nesthole would the steer back out to sea and fly around and hope that when he returned the Gull would be gone
On the beach before we left we saw a couple of Ringed Plovers and two Turnstones.

A good day with great company, afterwards we all went for a big plate of fish and chips, l was giddy for them on the boat over

Thanks to the drivers for geting us there and back, safe and sound

I've read elsewhere that the wardens are now taking no chances and talking to each boatload before disembarkation which sounds like a good plan to me [shame its required but better that than any further needless bird fatalities]...

Sent the link to this story to the Springwatch website with a suggestion that they might like to highlight it on the programme.
So far they've upheld my message...presumably because it doesn't contain enough fluffy Avocet chicks...or is that me being cynical again ?

I know what you mean about how the majority should know Melanie but I hadn't realised the sort of tourist sales pitch there is nowadays at the end of the jetty/harbour area - again its no excuse for idiots but just a thought that some people will book it as they wander past in pure tourist mode and not have a clue? I did have a chat with one lad and suggest it wasn't a good idea to stick his hand down the burrows he could reach from the path

Anyway still hope they have enough evidence against last weeks malcontent!

Not sure what stage they'll be at in June but there was some interesting mobbing by gulls of incoming Puffins at the south west of inner Farne and an Eider nursery nearbye in a rock pool. The Sandwich Terns showed well from the landing area - I'm jealous that I couldn't do the full birders tour!

-- Edited by Pete Welch on Wednesday 9th of June 2010 09:34:12 PM

I was lucky enough to do the same trip as Holly describes last Friday and even my four year old found the tern attacks funny once she got over the initial shock, so why on earth someone chose to attack a bird like that is beyond me. I hope they are prosecuted.

The only thing I would say is that I remembered what the terns were like 33 years ago when I last visited, so we all went with a hood or a hat for protection but speaking to a few of our fellow passengers on the boat [and helping them with a few IDs] they didn't have a clue what awaited them. It's no defense for the senseless actions of the individual concerned in the death of the tern: which were unbelievably extreme, but in general perhaps non birding people should be warned at some point prior to boarding the boat?

Anyway thoroughly recommend the 2.5 hour trip as a family trip which just happens to have some good birding along the way and the looks on the kids faces as they watched Puffins from five feet away were brilliant to behold. I can also recommend the chippy on the roundabout for tea

Saw Sandwich, Artic, Common Terns, Black Headed Gulls terrorising Puffins returning with sandeels, bridled guillemot plus normally marked ones, Razorbills, Shags, Fulmar, Kittewake, Ringed Plover, Eider but didn't see any Skuas which I thought might have been following the terns back in?

PS If you're in the National Trust take your membership card and the landing fee is waved.

-- Edited by Pete Welch on Wednesday 9th of June 2010 07:19:52 PM

Read this from yesterday..

http://farnephoto.blogspot.com/

The full day trip was about £25 per person Matt and allowed just over 2 hours on both Staple and Inner Farne. The time varies a bit though depending on tides and weather.

Did the day trip to Staple and Inner Farne on 3/6 and couldn't have picked a better day to visit one of Britains best wildlife treasures. The sea was as flat as a particularly flat pancake, with a gentle sea breeze to keep the most of the stifling heat off us during the day. Classic views of all the Puffins (reportedly 35000 breed here, although I only counted 34900), guillemots (c45000!), razorbills, kits, fulmars, shags, gulls and common, arctic and sandwich terns were had, a right spectacle! I couldn't pick out any Roseates despite there being reports of one pair there this year but the vegetation is quite tall already. Arctics on Inner Farne were really aggresive this time as all were still on eggs, a highlight of the trip. Bits and bobs also seen on and around the islands included small numbers of Cormorants, Gannets, Eiders, Mallard, Ringed Plovers, Rock Pipits, Pied Wagtails, Oystercatcher and Turnstones.

Sun 28 June with Melanie, Paul & Sue, Phil Jennison, Jill Islam and Ken and Sharon.

A great day was had by all with overcast conditions being perfect for the photographers amongst us. You are never dissapointed with the Farne Islands birds everywhere and so far its been a good breeding season with good numbers of sand eels around, lets hope it continues. Even Roseates are breeding on Brownsman this year with upto 3 pairs present but no access allowed. 2 hours on Staple Island and 3 hours on Inner Farne where did the time go. All the usual seabirds within touching distance of you but my personal favourite the Arctic Terns with their relentless divebombing and one took a fancy to Melanie perching on her head for 5 mins care is needed not to stand on the tiny chicks all over the place. Meanwhile female Eiders walking right past you taking their young down to the sea for the first time. Highlight for most was the adult Roseate Tern by the jetty on Inner Farne making it 4 species of tern for the day. Beltin.

-- Edited by Simon Warford on Monday 29th of June 2009 02:41:29 PM

I think we have one spare place in a car for a day trip to the Farne Islands this Sunday if anyones interested. Cost is £25.00 plus landing fee visiting Inner farne and hopefully Staple island weather permitting. Anyone interested let me know.

Thanks Henry and Sid,
Will report next week as I am staying an extra two days with friends near Alnmouth.

Geoff

Henry didn't realise that you had experienced problems of getting to the Farnes - but Geoff if you book with Billy Shiel's they are apparently very reliable.

"We Four" are going up to Seahouses for three days this coming week, so looking forward to time on the islands, and the coast in general.

Hi Mike
Saturday was my first ever visit but it won't be my last....l think you can easily do two days or more depending on what you want to see.Two hours on each island is great but you are aware of the time slipping away when you are becoming engrossed in watching birds so closely living out their lives.l could've happily gone back the next day and 'mooched' around and explored the corners l missed,will definitely go again though ....best wishes

7 years since my last visit to the Farne Islands and you forget how good a place it is. Having only ever been on Inner Farne before (twitching Elsie) the chance to visit both Inner Farne and Staple Island in the same day was very appealing. The sight of a guillemot chick being murdered by an adult was rather disturbing and at one point we couldnt bare to watch! Yet on inner farne we watched new life being born as an arctic tern chick pecked its way out of the egg right next to the path. Highlight was probably the Arctic Terns as always very aggressive and at one point one perched on a chaps head, wasnt you Mike was it?? Good to see so many tern chicks all over the place but sad to read signs put up by wardens that one chick got trodden on and killed and 2 others got squashed to death by a careless birder putting a tripod case on them

No sign of any Roseate Terns and couldnt find the wrens which have apparently bred for the first time ever on the islands. A terrific day out and highly reccomended to anyone who has never been before, just watch where your walking

-- Edited by Simon Warford at 18:18, 2008-06-22

Hi Melanie

The Farnes are stunning - I am just back from spending a week up there and managed to get two full days on the trip you went on - one of the most amazing experiences I have had.

Did you manage to get a Roseate Tern on Inner Farne?

When I was there no young Terns had hatched and I did wander round several times with an Arctic Tern perched on my head!

Glad you enjoyed the trip.

Mike