Bidding Days

Farnes Experience

Despite being away for six days I'm glad to see that I've missed the worst of the weather. However news filters through that large numbers of Guillemots and Razorbills have returned to the islands, although they will disappear again in the very near future (as the bad weather continues). The 'Auks' are one of the first birds to return to Farne waters and its hard to imagine that little over ten weeks time, many will be sitting on eggs at nest sites on the islands!!

Anyway just to keep you posted, an auction on E-Bay is helping The National Trust raise money to help save Seaton Delavel Hall in the North-east of England. As part of the fund raising campaign, I've offered my services as seen below...

"Enjoy an exclusive 'behind the scenes of the Farne Islands with the National Trust's Head Warden and resident ornithologist, David Steel. These rocky islands off the Northumberland coast are a haven for 100,000 pairs of nesting seabirds like puffin and guillemot and are one of Europe's largest grey seal colonies. Bid for a chance for you and a friend to be met at Seahouses Harbour by David and enjoy a boat trip around the islands before arriving at the largest island, Inner Farne, for a tour of areas not usually open to the public. You'll see inside the 15th century Pele Tower, where the wardens live during the season, and inside the Victorian lighthouse keeper’s cottage, now the wardens’ office. Bring your binoculars for bird-watching and wildlife-spotting too. This tour is weather-dependent and also on the Head Wardens’ availability, but can be arranged from 1st April onwards. Bidding starts at £30 for your opportunity for this wonderful day bid now! Note that travel costs (from your home or place of work to Seahouses Harbour) are not included. No unaccompanied under 18s.

All proceeds will go to the National Trust's Save Seaton Delaval Hall Appeal (see www.nationaltrust.org.uk/saveit)

So there you have it!! Get bidding for a day out with me!!!!!

Visiting 2009

Nothing but doom and gloom in the world at present, so thought I would cheer everyone up and give you a flavour of the season ahead. Anyone wanting to visit the Farnes this year will not be disappointed...the islands last year supported over 78,000 breeding pairs of seabirds including (pairs of birds):

Fulmar 229, Cormorant 145, Shag 1,015, Mallard 11, Eider 718, Red-breasted Merganser 1, Oystercatcher 39, Ringed Plover 9, Herring Gull 530, Lesser Black-backed Gull 509, Black-head Gull 369, Greater Black-backed Gull 8, Kittiwake 4,275, Sandwich Tern 1,358, Common Tern 104, Arctic Tern 2,239, Guillemot 43,864 (individuals), Razorbill 326, Puffin 36,835, Rock Pipit 24, Pied Wagtail 6 and Wren 1 (our first ever confirmed nesting Wren on the islands!).

The islands will be open daily (weather permitting) from 1st April-30th September and again for the half-term at the end of October. Inner Farne is open all day during April, August-September. During the breeding season (May-July), Staple Island opens from 10:30-13:30 and Inner Farne opens 13:30-17:00. This half-day opening during the summer months help reduce disturbance to nesting seabirds. Please note Staple Island is a rugged island, with no facilities, whilst Inner Farne has (basic) toilets. For further information check out the National Trust website.

I'll give you all more information about the islands in mid-March and looking forward to seeing everyone out there!

Happy New Year

Happy New Year - A Farne Islands Seal Pup

Greetings everyone and welcome to a New Year. I'm glad to report all the counts are complete and I've been back to the islands on a couple of occasions to check that all is well - which it is!

The autumn of 2008 produced a final total of 1,318 seal pups, our highest birth rate since 1998 and its pleasing to report that mortality was lower than recent years, although the final figure has yet to be determined. Staple Island has taken the crown as the largest colony with a whopping 380 whilst nearby Brownsman produced a reasonable 219. Its now back to business and it won't be long before me and my team return for another action packed season but this time, you'll be able to log in to find out all the latest... so watch this space. Don't go anywhere and stick with me, its the Farnes 2009 show.

Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Greetings all. I hope everyone has a fantastic Christmas and a Happy New year and many thanks for all the support and lovely messages people have left, especially Kezia and Jan - make sure you visit the islands next year and say hello!

This mainland life is a bit strange (just getting use to running water and carpets) but it won't be long before me and my team return (I've already sneaked back once since coming off and hope to return next week - I really can't stay away). Best wishes from me and the Farnes team.

Thankyou lads

Farnes team 2008 (back row, left to right) David Steel, Richard Berridge, Kieren Alexander, Simon Capell. (Front row, left to right), Adam Scott, Ian McNee, Matthew Lipton, Anthony Hurd. (Craig Edwards not pictured)

Anthony Hurd, Senior Warden Inner Farne (complete with Puffin chick!)

Kieren Alexander, Senior Warden Brownsman (in Zodiac boat)

So the dust has settled, the hangovers cleared, its over, the Farnes season has come to an end. From Devon to Lothian and beyond, the team departed Sunday morning and went their separate ways to catch up with friends and family and to relive the tails of the islands. As for me, well it really is a case of starting all over again as the winter months will enable me to recruit new staff, prepare the islands for the new season and in mid-March we’ll be starting all over again. Having just escaped, I’m already planning a return this Friday..I just can’t keep away.

It’s been a brilliant season, as the seabirds have had generally a good season (with the expected one or two blips), visitors have come out in their droves (over 40,000 visited), media coverage has been non-stop (from Puffins to Otters) and I learnt how to write a blog. It wasn’t that long ago when the first mobile telephones arrived on the islands (how those have changed life out their!) and now I’m writing blogs from a fifteenth century Pele Tower on the islands. What ever next? GPS on Puffins…oh watch this space.

As for the team, well we started with nine from March-September and this was reduced to four in October. Although there are lots of people I need to thank, there are two I would especially like to say a big thank-you to; Anthony Hurd and Kieren Alexander.

It was a sad note when we departed on Saturday as both Kieren and Anthony will not be returning having spent three glorious years out on the islands. Both men came through the ranks and this season both held the ‘Senior Warden’ positions of Inner Farne (Anthony) and Brownsman (Kieren). Both led by example, both were a credit to the islands and both put 100% into their work as they believed in the Farne Islands. As head warden, I could not have got through the year without either one and it’s a huge honour that I had the privilege to work with them both. In Farnes terms, they won’t be forgotten as simply they were two of the best wardens who have set foot on those rocky shores and they’d be welcome back with open arms. Thanks lads.

As for everything else, well those Seals have done well, as its crunch time with the counting as I’m on the verge of working out the birth and death rate for the season…

Escape from Brownsman

Early morning start - the team move yet more equipment

Ready to go - various things to take away

Where not alone- a second coater keep a watchful eye on us

The boat approaches - its time to leave

Goodbye Brownsman - on our way westwards to the mainland

Time to celebrate - me with the 'usual' finish, a bottle of bubbly

Saturday 6th December. It was an early morning start for the team but all was not well. The wind was blowing from an easterly direction which was producing large swell around the islands and that did not bode well for our departure. Surely not, surely not a final cruel twist to our season. With everything cleaned, packed away, fridge-freezer defrosted, food removed, water containers emptied, furniture stored, surely we were not about to be trapped on the day we were due to leave...

However as dawn broke over the horizon, so did the shape of a familiar sight - the boat. Bobby and co had made it, we were heading off and saying goodbye. The boat was fully armed with four boatmen all ready to help the loading and we were going, no mistakes this time. The operation was as swift as ever, as everyone went about loading all the equipment and making sure we departed Brownsman in fine style. So that was it, we were off and just after 10am, the ropes were cast and we departed the island for the last time this year.

Its a sad moment for all concerned, as we were leaving 'home', having been living out here since late March. However I'll be back to fight another year but for some wardens, its the end of an era as contracts have expired and some won't return. This would be a big farewell for those lads as they head for pastures new over the forthcoming months.

However the job was not complete, as we popped the bubbly, celebrated and cheered a great season. We arrived in the small Northumberland fishing village of Seahouses just after 10:30 and we went about unloading, and storing everything for the winter. All the recycling and rubbish were sorted (we don't have bin-men out there!), the Zodiacs dismantled, computers locked away and that was it. The season of 2008 was over. As usual the team had one final night together as we stayed in Seahouses for the evening, catching up with friends and discussing the highs and lows of a great season. Eventually sometime in the small hours (and full of beer) we went to bed, having completed the mission - we were off and welcome to the mainland.

Thanks for every ones kind words and support but stick with me all this week as I'll bring you stories of the season from the wardens who made it to the seals which we counted. Don't go anywhere, I'm not finished just yet...

Close the Door!

This morning on the south end of Brownsman, yes another storm

An active colony, mating Grey Seals by Brownsman pond

Brownsman seal colony near the pond, starting to 'thin out'

My day started at 4am as I woke to thundering wind blasting the cottage on Brownsman and I opened my eyes wondering what had gone wrong. Wind? Surely not, the forecast was for calm conditions or so I thought. I soon realised that I wasn't dreaming as a storm force gale was lashing the south end of the islands. Oh dear, this is the last thing we needed with just a few days to go and this was very unexpected. However it was a storm and I had to venture down to the jetty to check everything and ensure all was safe from the North Sea, which was a bubbling frenzy. Following the unexpected early start, we now have to start wondering whether we'll actually get off on Saturday...

Regardless of our perils, the seals don't care although its almost the end game for them as well. The north beach of Brownsman is becoming deserted, like many of the Farne seal colonies, as successful cow seals are now mating before returning to the sea to put on valuable weight for the winter. The once white fluffy pups are now moulting into second coats and are well on their way to becoming the next generation of Farne seals. These little wanderers will soon follow their mothers into the sea and face the trials and tribulations of life as a seal and the islands will soon become empty once again. However its still reasonably busy, as pups will continue to be born on the islands throughout December but it'll be just a small handful of late stragglers which will do so.

As for the team, well with just days to go we’re full of busy as there are plenty of reports to write from birds and seals to butterfly's and cetaceans. Its been a great season, as a lot has happened over the course of the past nine months and its almost at an end. As for the door, well we left it open on our early morning raid to the jetty and returned to discover a seal in our bathroom. Remember, please close the door.