Open!

Inner Farne looking good to start early morning

First boat about to land...

Ciaran sorting the boat - visitors have landed!

Ranger April giving group talk to our first visitors

Geese galore - three species! (Will Scott)

Sunday 1st April comments: Kick-off. Today the islands opened to the public in great style - with glorious sunshine, almost flat seas (almost!) and a ranger team brimming with confidence. The only let down was the birds -as the vast numbers of Guillemots and Puffins had gone, with very few in sight. However the nesting Shags and the stunning weather helped save the day.

On the migration front, the male Black Redstart continued to sing in territory from the veg garden whilst a Chiffchaff arrived in the cemetery. The evening roost produced an impressive 138 Sandwich Terns (a huge number for this time of year!) and a lingering first-summer Mediterranean Gull. The most interesting record concerned a flock of Geese which included four Canada, three Pink-footed and a Greylag Goose. Crazy!