St.Cuthbert's Day!

St.Cuthbert



His final resting place in Durham cathedral



Thursday 20th March comments: Happy St.Cuthbert's Day! The final day of mainland training is now with us and what a day; St.Cuthbert's day. The northern Saint lived and eventually died on Inner Farne on 20th March 687 before his body was taken to various parts of the north-east of England before finally resting in Durham cathedral. St.Cuthbert was the first 'warden' of the Farne Islands as he protected the local nesting Eider ducks; hence the local name 'Cuddy Ducks'. I'll be raising a glass to the mighty Cuthbert tonight as we prepare for life on an island; tomorrow morning we move back to the Farne Islands and then the real fun begins....BRING IT ON!!!!

Day Three and counting

Training week: Team hard at work

Deep in tought...rangers Lana and David

Everything you need to know about the National Trust



Male Crossbill; one of a flock of 32 seen at Gibside (David Kinchin-smith)

Wednesday 19th March comments: Three days down and we’re almost there. The team have been based at Gibside National Trust (well worth a visit!) learning and preparing for the new season ahead. Returnees and new faces amongst the team are gearing up for life on an island and they can’t wait!

With a First Aid course to complete tomorrow, the team will be ready and on Friday morning we’ll (hopefully) be sailing to the islands…weather permitting. It’s been a good start with everyone settling in well and the base at Gibside has given us the chance to catch up with some of its stunning wildlife including up to Five Dippers, 32 Crossbills and several red Kites. The Farnes season has begun!

Look who's back...

Monday 17th March comments: Look who’s back. Today marks the start of the ‘Farne Islands Season 2014’ as the team are gathering to spend the next five days on the mainland. During this time we’ll be training and preparing for another nine months on the ‘rock’ as the Farne Islands season is just about to start.

This year sees a few changes as a few old faces have moved on (to bigger and better things; but more to follow later), whilst the new staff are probably wondering what they have let themselves in for…

This is the Farnes, brace yourself, we’re heading back…Welcome to Planet Farnes!

Puffins Return

Puffins return to Farne waters

Very early; Shags with nest structures

Guillemots galore on the cliff-tops

Inner Farne looking mighty fine

Thursday 13th March comments: A brief visit to the Farne Islands yesterday produced more than expected as a lot of our seabirds have returned early. A good number of Puffins were discovered bobbing about the sea under the cliffs of Inner Farne whilst thousands of Guillemots were present. Even more surprising, Shag's were on next structures; all of this in complete contrast to last year.

The mild weather of recent has helped encourage birds back early and only time will tell if it's been a good move. March can still throw some poor weather our way, so I would not be surprised if these early returnees moved off again soon. However its a good sign and now we will all start asking the question; just how early will this season be?

Are You Ready?

Dawn of a new Farnes season (Graeme Duncan)

Rise and shine Inner Farne

Seabirds coming to an island near you!

Saturday 8th March comments: Are you ready? The team are preparing, the seabirds are returning and soon the Farne Islands will be alive with the sights, sounds and smells (!) of thousands of seabirds. We open our doors to the public on 1st April but we have some way to go before then.

In the next three weeks we have to prepare and train on the mainland before eventually moving out to live and work on the islands. As ever we’ll be bringing you all the news and views from the islands via the blog (or twitter: @NTSTeely) so stay tuned. Fasten your seatbelts, get ready, Planet Farnes is alive and kicking. Bring it on.

Mines a double!

Adult Sandwich terns on Inner Farne

Chick with dravic ring

Saturday 22nd February comments: This summer, for the first time on the Farne Islands, we ringed just over 100 Sandwich Tern chicks with small red darvics; special red plastic rings which have a unique three letter code enabling observers to read them in the ‘field’ with telescopes.

As a result we had a ‘return’ from a beach in Gambia in November as bird ‘UFA’ was spotted roosting amongst other terns on a beach. Now make that a double. News has just arrived that another of our Sandwich Terns has been seen, this time further south of Gambia in the Bijagos Archipelago off Guinee-Bissau. The bird fitted with the red darvic ‘UKS’ was noted on 22nd January.

This sighting shows you the value of such a ringing scheme and we hope this is the first of many sightings in future years so if you’re going abroad this winter, you may be a lot closer to the Farnes than you think!

Sandwich Tern ‘UKS’ movements
17th July 2013 ringed as a chick on Inner Farne
13th August 2013 seen at Findhorn Bay, Moray
18th August 2013 seen again at Findhorn Bay, Moray
22nd January seen on a beach at Bubaque, Guinee-Bissau

Rise and Shine!

Fulmars back...

Grey Seals galore

Migrant Seals in 'stick'?

Cliff tops remain empty

Mid-winter buildings closed.

Wednesday 19th February comments: Its been a while but slowly and surely the Farne Islands is wakening from its winter slumber. The team will soon return, the seabirds will follow and the daily visitors will enjoy. It’s nearly that time of year again; Farnes season!

It’s been a quiet spell over the last few weeks although a couple of visits have ensured that all is well on the islands. The cliffs remain bare, but with displaying Eiders, Shags in breeding plumage and Fulmars wheeling above the islands, it starting to feel like spring.

Over the next week or two, I’ll be bringing you all the winter news from the islands; from welcoming new staff to saying goodbye to old friends. Watch this space, the blog is alive…