Fair-ground Island



Longstone with its new helter-skelter (Graeme Duncan)



Tuesday 1st April comments: It's the news we have been waiting for as the Farne Islands have been given permission to build its very own theme park. The concept is to help attract a different audience to the Farnes as thrill seekers will flock to this new attraction. Designs include a helter-skelter around the famous Longstone Lighthouse, a zip-wire from the Pele Tower into the sea and a giant slide off lighthouse cliff which will hopefully be used by visitors and seabirds alike. Work will commence later this year with the attractions opening in early 2015. 

Shag Eggs!

Thats no fish....

Shags nest building last week

Stunning birds!

Sunday 30th March comments: Kick-off! It hasn’t come as a great surprise that we’ve discovered our first Shags on eggs today up at the lighthouse cliff on Inner Farne. With birds on well established nests when the rangers arrived last week, its only been a matter of time and today was the day!

In 2011 and 2012, the first eggs were laid on 23rd March but last season the poor late March weather delayed everything and the first eggs were not discovered until 29th April. So it appears we are back to an early start to the season. Following the collapse in the population (the breeding population halved in 2013) we really could do with a bumper year this year. Fingers crossed.

Under the Boardwalk

New boardwalk section begins

Out with the old, in with the new

Team hard at work

Looking good!

Saturday 29th March comments: The last few days have seen the team preparing the island as we open to the public on Tuesday (1st April). As part of the management work, we've been busy laying a new boardwalk...and it's not as easy as you may think!

The problem with the Farne Islands is that it is covered in Puffins and more to the point, Puffin burrows! The need for a boardwalk is obvious but laying a new pathway is tricky, so we've been inching around the burrows and laying the new footpath. It looks impressive (if you don't mind me saying!) and we are almost ready. All we need is a drop in the wind and things will be cooking on gas come 1st April. Are you ready?

Ready-to-Start

First Black Redstart of the year (Ed Tooth)

Showing well (Ed Tooth)

Lingering Long-tailed Duck (Ed Tooth)

Grey Seal taking it easy (Ed Tooth)

Friday 28th March comments: It’s been another bitterly cold day as the easterly winds continue to dominate and judging by the forecasts, will do for some time to come! The team have been busy preparing the islands for our grand opening on Tuesday, whilst our seabirds have moved off back to the open sea whilst the bad weather remains.

On the bird migrant front, it’s been a quiet start but today brought our first noticeable arrivals. A cracking Black Redstart was discovered alongside a Chiffchaff whilst a handful of Goldcrest lingered. The change in season is very evident as a Long-tailed Duck alongside an immature Iceland Gull at roost gave a very winter feel but two Sandwich Terns reminded us that summer is just around the corner….

Half a lifetime!

John Walton (right hand side)

At 11.45 on Tuesday 27th March 1979 I set sail for the Farnes, aboard a ‘Glad Tidings’, for my first stint as a seasonal warden. My intention was to get a couple of years experience and see where it led – 35 years later and I’m still here! Then, as now, the weather ruled our lives as I should have sailed on the 26th…………………..

Meal time for the team of 1979 on Inner Farne

John Walton sitting down (on right hand side)

I had abandoned an eight year career with Lloyds Bank for £25/week, no running water, no electricity, limited communication with the outside world, and an uncertain future – and I loved every minute of it. Island living is the ultimate Marmite experience, love it or hate it - boy, was I in the former camp! Five seasons passed in a flash and in 1983 I said my farewells. Contracts on Brownsea Island, Sandwich Bay, two seasons with the RSPB on Stone Curlew research – and still the Farnes, as I came back each autumn to manage the seal team. Blakeney Point in 1988 was my final contract – as the Bible should have said ‘Man cannot live on contract salary alone’. A full time job as a Ranger on Cannock Chase was my choice and that, I thought, was that.

Two years into the job an envelope arrived through the post from a Farnes team-mate of the 1982/83 seasons. In it was a single sheet of paper: the National Trust internal job sheet, and ringed in red felt-tip ‘Head Warden, Farne Islands’. To save his blushes I won’t reveal the sender’s name – but he changed my life.

Maureen and I came up to Seahouses in October 1990 and I started as Head Warden, then promoted to Property Manager. I added the 12 miles of Trust-owned Northumberland coast a few years later and, for one year only, ‘baby-sat’ Lindisfarne Castle. A couple of years ago I moved away from the ‘business’ side of things back into conservation as the Coastal & Marine Officer – those who know me will appreciate my first-love is/was/always will be the Islands, coastline, and seas (oh – and Maureen!)

Maureen, without whom………………

Highlights: seen some great birds/missed some great birds – don’t mention the Aleutian Tern of 1979! Brilliant cetacean sightings – yes, the Killer Whales were genuine. Being hospitalised by an angry cow seal – I could go on. But the one thing that has really made my life fun have been the teams of people it’s been my pleasure to work with – all memorable in their own inimitable way. Islands attract ‘characters’ and, believe me, the Farnes has had its fair share. No names, no pack drill – you know who you are! You all made my job the brilliant experience it’s been – even the instigators of the ‘Great 1992 Lifeboat Fiasco’ (don’t ask!). Thanks for the memories.



Happy the Man.........



Oh, and 14 years ago, I appointed a fresh-faced, dark-haired, youngster called David Steel – I always wondered what became of him?

Auks Galore

Puffins back in good numbers

Looking at you, looking at me; Razorbill pair

Guillemot pair

Guillemots galore

Wednesday 26th March comments: It’s still all go on the Farnes as the team continue to prepare for our grand opening whilst the seabirds are still performing well. The weather has very much changed as an easterly weather front is now dominating dropping the temperatures and stirring the sea; it’s rough and we’re now cut off.

On the bird front, plenty of seabirds are present with thousand of Puffins, Guillemots and Razorbills. Shags remain on well built nests (the first egg won’t be far away!) whilst Kittiwakes are attending nest sites on the cliff sides. Migration remains slow although the first Chiffchaff has arrived alongside several Goldcrest.

We are now just six days away from opening our doors to the public; are you visiting?

Much ado about Puffin

Puffin coming in to land

Plenty on the wing today

Touch down!

In there thousands

Puffin with Shags

lingering Snow Bunting (David Roche)

Monday 24th March comments: Welcome back Puffins. Today the wind increased from the south-east but the Puffins took full advantage and landed in their thousands. For many it’s their first time on land since last August; it’s hard to believe that these hardy seabirds have been sitting on the sea since then!

Regardless there back in good numbers and its great to see! The Puffins are here, The Guillemots have returned, the Terns are heading this way – so where are you!!? We open our doors on the 1st April….we’ll see you then.