Monday 5 April 2010

Windy weekend

Puffins up close on the Farnes


Razorbills mating
Monday 5th April comments:
It’s been a mixed weekend – a typical bank holiday weekend for the Farnes – we’ve had some good weather and we’ve had some poor weather – in fact we were closed today! The breeding birds have performed well during the open days, with vast numbers of Guillemots, Puffins and Shags on display. However the strong winds of today pushed them back off to sea, so the erratic behaviour continues.

Breeding birds: Shags on eggs, Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins all seen copulating, Black-headed Gulls inspecting the main nesting colony, Kittiwakes on cliff ledges, Mallards five females on nests on Inner Farne.

Recent Highlights
Saturday 3rd Highlights: Red-throated Diver 4N, Sparrowhawk female, Black Redstart 6, Blackcap male, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff 2 and Lesser Redpoll.

Sunday 4th Highlights
: Black-throated Diver summer-plumage adult north, Red-throated Diver 2N, Canada Goose 2N, Swallow 2N (first of the spring), Black Redstart 3 including one singing and Chiffchaff.

Monday 5th Highlights: Mediterranean Gull first-winter, Sandwich Tern 37 in evening roost, Sparrowhawk female, Black Redstart 2 and Chiffchaff.

2 comments:

Jan said...

How common are sparrowhawks on the Farnes? You seem to have a good population of small birds, but what about the raptor population?

Male sparrowhawk on my fence this morning, he missed his chance with the dunnocks in the hedge nearby.

kezia said...

Oh Puffins how I love them I cant wait to get back to the Farnes and see them again and get some pics . Please David tell me that mid June is still a good time to see them ??? The photos are absolutely amazing thank you so much . Any news yet on that etching as well ??