Whatever the weather

Leaving Gibside, 6am

Loaded with kit

boat filling up

Local media interest...Bex being interviewed

The team in action

A full jetty...

...and later all gone

work to do - visitor centre will need sorting

Dunlin (race anyone?) were on of several highlights

Thursday 21st March comments: The day can be summarised in three words; we made it.

The day commenced just before 6am (in snowy conditions) as the team packed and cleaned the accommodation at Gibside, the National Trust property we have based ourselves at for the past four days. Eventually we were on the road heading north arriving in Seahouses just before 8am.

Then the hard work began, as we moved, carried and lifted everything we needed for island survival for a week or two (everything from LPG gas to food supplies galore). Due to the conditions (the rough sea) it was touch and go whether we would make it to the islands but it also meant we had to leave behind some of the larger items for another day. However crucially we sailed and following a bumpy crossing (not recommended for the faint hearted) we landed and we were back.

However our day wasn’t complete as the kit had to be moved off the jetties, the island scanned for seabirds and the MV Danio monitored. It was a long tiring day and with temperature plummeting, I suspect its also going to be a cold night on the Farnes. But it’s good to be back.

Migrants: Greylag Goose 13, Long-tailed Duck 4, Goldeneye 13, Velvet Scoter male, Lapwing 8, Woodcock 2, Skylark 4, Blackbird 18, Son Thrush 8, Mistle Thrush 2, (unusual for the islands), Dunnock 5 and Twite male still singing.

Highlights: Very few seabirds present (due to the weather) with only a scattering of Guillemots, Kittiwakes and Shags. The breeding season will start later than last year, a direct result of the weather.