What will the season bring?

Population decline - a better year needed for Cormorants

Puffins: Next year will bring a full population census - but how many?

Guillemots: Will they eventually topple the 50,000 mark?

Heading out - only 500 pairs of Sandwich Terns nested last year

Arctic Terns need another good year

Sunday 5th February comments: It's still early days but I've been wondering what the new season will bring. Just like any Farnes season, we'll have the good, the bad and the ugly. We'll have successes to shout about, but we'll also have the bad - those birds setting the alarm bells ringing. Last season both the breeding populations of Cormorant and Sandwich Terns continued their recent declines and if this year brings one thing, it could do with a reverse of fortunes for both of these species.

On a positive, we could do with some 'business as normal' for the auks (Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins) which have been doing well of recent whilst Arctic Terns, Shags and Kittiwakes could do with just a little tweaking.

Finally, we could do with some good weather during the summer months, so the birds can have a great breeding season, the rangers can have an enjoyable summer and just as important, that the public can come and share the lot with us. If you've never been before, its about time you did, so what are you waiting for, come and visit the Farnes and say hello.

Opening times:

April: Inner Farne open all day (daily)

1st May - 31st July: Staple Island opens 10:30-13:30 then Inner Farne from 13:30-17:00

1st August-31st October: Inner Farne open all day