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Monday, 23 July 2018

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



Friday, 20 July 2018

East Coast Puffins

Staple Island, Farne Isle's - 17.7.18


Another bird you'll find on Staple Island is the Atlantic Puffin, not as many as on Inner Farne and certainly not in the numbers I encountered last week on Skomer but still a fair few around feeding young or just sitting around on rocks behind the roped area at the jetty.

I'm starting with the big white for some static shots of the resting birds sat around on the nearby rocks eventually changing to the 100-400 for some flight shots. The Puffins are approaching from my right with bills full of sandeels and whirling wings, its a tough shot to get right as well as trying to find the best location for an uncluttered shot.

Learning for my last weeks attempts on Skomer I'm working at 5,000/sec to try and freeze the wings of one of the fastest seabird flyers, the camera auto focus is struggling a little and reviewing the images back home the shutter speed could be been even quicker as the images still lack that pin sharp clarity I am after....hey ho, the challenges of wildlife photography

Atlantic Puffin














Thursday, 19 July 2018

Shag's of Staple Island

Staple Islands, Farne Isle's - 17.7.18


In the last post I concentrated on Arctic Terns on Inner Farne, but on the all day trip you'll also get the chance to also visit Staple Island which is quite different to Inner Farne being more rocky with less vegetation.

As you depart the boat most people tend to push on up to the top of the island where the main breed colony is located, my preference is to remain near the roped area adjacent to the landing jetty where there are still a fair few Guillemots, Kittiwakes, Shags and Puffins, it also benefits from having the blue sea giving the image an uncluttered back drop.

Most of the adults shags have now lost there breeding plumage sticky up crests and iridescent green colours that seem to highlighted in the sunlight seem to have faded, but the plus point is there is some good photo opportunities of images of young Shags

I'm sat on the boardwalk again I'm using the 500mm, but there's so many photo opportunities and it's so easy to jump from one bird species to another when that unusual opportunity presents itself, on occasion I have to move back as the birds are too close, but only having the 100-400 and the 500 I much prefer the 500 for it's silky smooth bokeh.

Adult Shag



Fledgling Shag






Sunday, 15 July 2018

Arctic Tern "City"

Inner Farne, Northumberland - 17.7.18


Over the last week or so I've been getting updates from "Bird As Art" American photographer Arthur Morris who is visiting some of the well known bird locations around the North East of England including the Farne Islands, so no sooner than my return from Skomer it's a quick decision to head up to Seahouses for a trip to Inner Farne and Staple Island.

The Farne's are a cluster of small low lying islands located a couple of miles off the coast near Seahouses and during May to July have up to twenty three different species of breeding sea birds, as it's quite late in the season there's only a very short period of time before all the breeding sea birds depart for the open sea.

The last time I visited the Farne Islands was quite a few years ago as part of a local club Scuba Diving trip, but today its not so adventurous opting for my new career in bird photography. Arriving in Seahouses the night before my trip I have a walk around the harbour and a couple of local sites, Bamburgh Castle is sat on the headland in the distance with Lindisfarne further on, time to check out the B&B.

Today I've joined a Billy Shiel's all day boat trip visiting many of the islands with a couple of two hour landings on Staple Island and then Inner Farne, each of the islands is quite different in terms of breeding birds and in this post I'm on Inner Farne which is the main breeding location for the Arctic Tern. As there's so many images taken of different birds I though in this post I'd concentrate on the very engaging Artic Tern.

At the landing jetty Arctic Terns are everywhere, its a cacophony of sound with terns squabbling and constantly calling, fledgling terns are sat on the boardwalk not the slightest bit concerned by my presence but get too close a nest site, or the many day old young and you'l be dive bombed so be warned a hat is essential.

Most people have now made there way further up the small island but I've decided to remain at the roped area near the jetty where there's an uncluttered backdrop of blue sea and sky. I'm using the 500mm but it isn't really necessary as the birds are only 4-5 meters away but I like the separation the "big white" gives with that nice even out of focus background.

Now with hundreds of images taken it's time to move further up the island for some flight shots of terns, I'm sat down on the boardwalk near St Cuthbert's Chapel where there are a number of young terns being fed sand eels at a never end rate, I'm now using the 100-400 and it's a case of picking out a bird and tracking the tern as it approaches and rattling off a load of frames just as the bird lands. All of the images where taken at less than 150mm FL.

All too soon my time is nearly up, a quick look at the Sandwich Tern colony further towards the lighthouse and it's time to head back the the jetty for the return to Seahouses taking in on our return some very close views of Grey Seal.

A one day tour of the islands is never going to be long enough with only a couple of two hours sessions on the islands, I suspect to do justice photographing birds at such close encounters several trips would be the recommendation, but a heads up, boat fee's are £40 and on top of the National trust landing fee of £28 it gets expensive so it might be worth joining the trust.

It's been a good trip if you are interested in bird photography, the weather has been kind loosing some of the harsh sun over the last couple of days, next time I just may make a week of it.

Arctic Tern












This image would be superb if the tern had shown it's head, but I still like the wings posture





Arctic Tern - chick



Arctic Tern - even smaller chick complete with egg tooth on the end of the bill, must be only one or two days old


Further into the centre of Inner Farne not too far from the two ponds look out for the small Sandwich Tern colony hidden amongst the vegetation, during July they fly around overhead carrying fish for the eagerly waiting young always vocalising with their characteristic grating..."kerrick" call

Sandwich Tern