Gutted

Happy Birthday Ciaran - cake made by Bex and April!

Puffin - Nuffin: remains discovered - note the egg fragments (Ciaran Hatsell)

Eider crossing - prospecting pair on Inner Farne (Ciaran Hatsell)

Boys in action - Ciaran, Andy and Will in Zodiac

Wednesday 11th April comments: In complete contrast to yesterday, the wind was light, the sun was out and the clouds were gone. It was a cracking day on the islands, which improved throughout the day and the team, visitors and birds enjoyed a welcome return to calmer conditions. The team were celebrating our second birthday of the season - this time Ciaran enjoying his Birthday on the islands - Happy Birthday mate!

The day began in dramatic fashion, as a Puffin was found dead, having been taken by a Peregrine in the first few hours of the day. Although this is nothing unusual, it was made special by the fact the bird was carrying an egg - the fragmented remains of the egg shell can be seen on the photo - a very unlucky Puffin and a reminder of the harsh realities of nature.

On the breeding bird front, Guillemots have started laying across all the islands - it now won't be long before all our Guillemots are on eggs. Eiders are starting to creep up onto the islands to check out nest sites whilst Kittiwakes have started nest building. Its now all go. On the migrant front, six Manx Shearwaters were noted heading north in one hour seawatching during the evening, whilst a 'White' Wagtail on Brownsman was our first of the year.

Pear shaped

First (and only) Guillemot egg of the year (Will Scott)

Trouble ahead - Herring Gulls eye the single sitting bird and its egg (Will Scott)

One hour later - game over. Egg predated (Graeme Duncan)

Our hardy, wet and cold visitors - enjoying a talk from ranger Will

Tuesday 10th April comments: WHAT a day. Tuesday started with rain sweeping across the islands along with a cool, cold north-westerly wind blowing - and it didn't change all day. The morning brought out some hardy visitors, but as the weather deteriorated, the boats stopped sailing. This allowed the ranger team to catch-up on some vital management work - the rain wasn't going to stop them!

On the bird front, it was bitter-sweet on the clifftops, as we celebrated our first Guillemot egg of the season, but not for long. This very early nester was discovered on the lighthouse cliffs, but the bird was alone, without the support of any fellow Guillemots. And the Herring Gulls sensed weakness....

Just over one hour after the first egg was discovered, it was gone. The Herrings Gull were in and the bird was gone, having departed for the open sea. The harsh world of a seabird colony was very evident, but do not worry, it's not the end, just the beginning. The Guillemot will relay, alongside many thousands, and the birds (hopefully) will go on to have a brilliant breeding season despite the predation. Herring Gulls are notorious but they have young to raise as well and thankfully they are having very little impact on our Auk colonies. Life goes on, on planet Farnes.

Display day

Fulmar squabble with Pele Tower in background (Andy Denton)

Advanced second-summer Mediterranean Gull displaying

Cormorants displaying (Andy Denton)

Sunday 8th April comments: Easter Sunday brought more cool, unsettled weather although the sea state remained reasonably calm to allow boats to sail. The breeding seabirds continued to settle although the Auks are still hit and miss at present - Puffins were here first thing but gone by mid-afternoon - typical behaviour at this time of year (it won't be long before they settle).

On the East Wideopens (one of only two Cormorant colonies on the Farnes), up to 49 pairs have nests and birds were seen displaying. Sandwich Tern numbers continue to increase (it won't be long before our first Arctic Tern arrives) and Fulmars are very evident across the breeding ledges.

Highlights: Red-throated Diver 9N, Sandwich Tern 312 at roost, Mediterranean Gull second-summer displaying with Black-headed Gulls, Song Thrush 7, Blackbird and Lesser Redpoll west.

Back to normal

Sandwich Tern numbers continue to build

Grey Seals very evident around islands (Ciaran Hatsell)

Kittiwakes return

Black-headed Gulls prospecting for nest sites (Ciaran Hatsell)

Saturday 7th April comments: The islands continue to change on a daily basis as the breeding season is slowly advancing. Sandwich Terns numbers continue to increase (over 170 now) whilst vocal Black-headed Gulls are prospecting for nest sites on stone walls. The appearance of our first full-summer plumage Mediterranean Gull of the year may hint at even more spectacular things to come...

Following the extreme weather mid-week, the Puffins and Guillemots have all returned and are showing very well for visitors. It won't be too long before we are discovering their first eggs. On the migrant front, things remain quiet although Porpoise are being recorded almost daily between Inner Farne and the mainland (Inner Sound), so keep you eyes peeled if you are travelling to the Farnes.

Open again

Birthday Girl - Happy Birthday April!

Boats and visitors return to islands (Ciaran Hatsell)

St.Cuthbert's Chapel window looking good

Snow still on the Cheviots

Thursday 5th April comments: Following the big storm of Tuesday, life on the Farnes is gradually returning to normal. Today the wind and sea state had eased, allowing boats to sail and visitors to come out and enjoy the islands. Sadly the Puffins had not read the script and remained elusive although Guillemots started to return to the cliff tops as the day progressed.

The rangers enjoyed the rest bite from the wind and carried on with work - new fence posts were erected whilst April celebrated her birthday - the first ranger birthday on the islands this year. Migrants were few and far between although an almost adult summer plumage Mediterranean Gull was a noticeable highlight. The weather appears to be settled for the next week, so fingers crossed for a settled period.

Storm troopers

Stormy seas over Staple Sound (Will Scott)

Crashing times (Andy Denton)

You can't blame them, Eiders sheltering

Amongst the chaos Shags still on eggs

Monitoring stones being sorted ready for marking nests

Coloured monitoring stones (the right colours - red and white!)

Wednesday 4th April comments: We were closed for a second day (no surprise considering the storm of yesterday) but gradually things began to settle. The sleet and snow showers had disappeared as the sun was shining but it didn't disguise the fact it was cold - the wind chill remained low as the strong wind continued from the east.

Despite the weather, the rangers got on with business as usual, as work continues to sort the islands. Everything from new fence posts to boardwalk clearance was the order of the day, but the main job was sorting monitoring stones ready to mark the nests of Terns, Eiders and Puffins which will breed on the islands. Bird highlights were few and far between, with no sign of yesterday's Great Grey Shrike and only a handful of Thrushes present whilst a Robin is making the Chapel its home for the time being. Hopefully we will be open again tomorrow, but the wind may have its say.

So far today...

Snow covered Cheviot Hills from Inner Farne

Wednesday 4th April comments: The wind remains strong from the NE but the sleet/snow/rain has stopped allowing some bright sunshine. However the wind chill is still well below freezing and the views across to the nearby mainland suggest a covering of snow - the Cheviot hills are white today. On the bird front, the Great Grey Shrike has departed whilst very few migrants have been noted. Seabirds are scarce, so all quiet on the western front.