It's Windy !

Inner Farne - 04.07.2025

To finish up on the blog post on the recent Farne’s Islands trip. 

I’m back on Inner Farne although the star species on Inner Farne are the puffins the other major attraction you’ll encounter are Arctic Terns, but it’s easy to overlook other stuff rushing about in the brief one hour slot. I’ve manage a second trip so hopefully I can catch up with the other less common species missed first time round.

At the jetty area a Ringed Plover has set up territory, it’s giving the tern chicks a hard time relentlessly attacking any that ventures near it’s nest, it landing on rocks quite close but slightly obscured by a rope, I don't want to move and flush it and I rattle off a few shots, time to move on and spend some time with the terns.

As I walk up the track a pipit calls and lands on a post...it's a Rock Pipit, a few pairs I'm told breed close by. It only stays a few seconds but it's facing in the other direction, I'm holding off pressing the shutter button and then it turns...boom !

This year the Arctic Terns are mainly located only around the church buildings, sitting on walls they are very vocal adding to the the cacophony of noise, just keep your wits about you avoiding the arial attack, oh and the “white stuff”

The wind’s up today much stronger than yesterday so much that I’ve had to remove the lens hood to keep the lens from swing about. After more of the same shots I'm finishing off in the last remaining minuets with the puffins. And that’s it....time over and back to the boat.

See you next year.

Ringed Plover

Rock Pipit

Arctic Tern

Atlantic Puffin

Grey Seal

Trip To The Far Side

Donna Nook - 11.12.19

After the trips to the Farne Isles in July seeing Atlantic Grey Seals at some distance a trip over to Donna Nook on the east coast viewing seals at close quarters was on the "bucket list" during the brief end of year breeding season. The weather over the last week or so has been pretty grim but tomorrow for one day only the forecast is looking pretty good so not wanting to miss out we decide to go for it.

Never having visited Donna Nook previously I really didn't know what to expect other than a few images I've seen online. After a two hour drive and parking up in basically a large field flanked on one side by a sea embankment I asked for directions, I'm told the seals are just on the other side of the embankment, sounds good not having to hump loads of gear around. A short walk and I mean a short walk over the embankment....boom !...the sight isn't quite what I had expected with literally hundreds of seals laying out over the mud flats even right up to the grass embankment no more than half a meter away, an unbelievable sight.

Resisting the urge getting the camera out I'm happy to just view the the action of one of the UK's most successful seal breeding colonies to-date, males fighting each other, females chasing off other females that have strayed into their territory, young pups being sent packing attempting to suckle the wrong cow, it's a fantastic sight, even better the sun's out shining too !

The camera's now brought out into action trying to pick animals on slightly elevated ground giving a nice clear background. Now normally by the end of the day I would have racked up approach 2K of images but some days it's good just immerse yourself and experience the sight and sounds.

Probably three weeks late in the season for the best of the action so I've marked the diary for a return trip,...see you next year.

Atlantic Grey Seal

Looks Like A Grand Day

Inner Farne - 26.6.19

Day two of the trip and again we are on, or supposed to be on, the all day boat trip out to Staple Island and Inner Farne, but as was the case yesterday we are unable to land on Staple Island due to the heavy sea conditions so plan "B" again, the late morning boat with some touristy stuff around the outer islands before the 1.15pm landing on Inner Farne.

Longstone Lighthouse

Longstone Lighthouse famous by the Darling family who were the first occupants of the lighthouse. You may have read the story of how Grace and her father saved five people stranded from the stricken ship the Forfarthshire that wrecked on nearby rocks.

Atlantic Grey Seal - "cow" (female)

When visiting the Farne islands I don't usually get the camera out photographing sea birds on the boat with all the congestion as there's better shots to be had on the islands, that said you don't want to miss the opportunity of shots of the Atlantic Grey Seals basking on rocks at low tide, and if your lucky you will often get groups of up to twenty.

Atlantic Puffin

Once you've landed on Inner Farne the best location to see Puffins, Staple Island being the best, is at the far end of the island near the lighthouse, but first you have to run the gauntlet of the dive bombing Arctic Terns so a sturdy hat is essential.

Making your way along the boardwalk in front of the lighthouse you will come across the Puffin nesting burrows with the inevitable watchful gulls looking to rob the Puffins of their catch before diving down the burrows. At the lighthouse the more usual cliff nesting species can be seen such as Razorbills, Guillemots and Shags along with a few off duty Puffins basking on the rocks further back.

Work in progress, more images to follow....

Farne Islands Atlantic Grey Seal

Inner Farne - 17.7.18

One of the best ways to actual land on any of the Farne Islands, in-fact it's the only way, is to get yourself on a all day boat trip. As part of the trip you will do the tourist part taking in some of the sea bird nest colony's and a couple Grey Seal haul outs which usually takes place at the start and finish of the boat trip. Surprisingly you can get quite close to the seals who are just content to just look at you wondering if you a re a threat.

Being on the boat with all the rocking and rolling the the best lens in my armoury is to use the Canon 100-400, its fast, lightweight and easy to manoeuvre and covers quite a range of distances, and if needed I can slip on the 1.4 extender.

After not seeing any seals on the Skomer trip last week it was nice to see these animals at such a close range.

Atlantic Grey Seal

Occasionally you may get an inquisitive seal that will come quite close and investigate what you are up too !

I am informed this was last years Grey Seal pup, they normally give birth on the East Coast of the UK during months of November - December