I don't care what the weatherman says...

A second-coat pup coming in to help...

...to start sweeping...good lad!

Fulmars meet Seal pups

Battered and bruised Staple Island Seal colony almost complete

The boys in final day action

It must be love. Bull and Cow seal share a moment

Thursday 6th December comments: Will we make it? The question that has been captivating the Farnes in the last 24 hours, as today, we spent (potentially) our last full day on the Farne Islands of 2012. However the unpredictable weather keeps on switching and we are now in the hands of the gods… will we make it off? With hotels booked, rangers travel booked (heading as far as Hertfordshire and Isle of Scillies), we hope so, we really do.

However today we remained focused and got on with last minute jobs including a final check of the Seal colonies, which was completed despite a below freezing wind-chill. Today’s Totals included 24 new pups on Brownsman, 11 on Staple Island and another 12 scattered across three other islands.

This brought out autumn total to a very impressive 1,542, higher than this time last year when we departed in early December. We’ll hopefully make another trip out to the islands for a final count in a few weeks time to count any late born pups, as we suspect our population will reach 1,600, the highest since the early 1970’s.

Now back to that weather. It’s an early start (6am) and we’ll hopefully see the boat by 8am. However the weather has teased us all season and I suspect it’ll have one more trick up its sleeve as get ready to leave. Mainland here we come. Or do we?......

Life on the snedge

Pups in a blizzard

White out Farnes style

Friends together sheltering behind stone wall

Cold on the Farnes and wind chill even colder!

Wednesday 5th December comments: The day can be summed up with one word: cold. The Farnes had the works today, with blizzards, hail and snow ensuring our final few days are bitter and cold. The temperatures continued to plummet and the wind whistled from the north. However we still have to get on with work on the Farnes and the team went about various work, although admittedly, it was all indoors.

As for the weather, we are now looking anxiously at Friday and the prospects of leaving for the winter. Will it happen? If I was a betting man, I'd be saying we'll be watching Match of the Day on Saturday night on the Farnes, but I'll try not alarm the team. Stranded...I'm starting to believe it.... 

Weather woes

Pups galore on the Farnes

A little ray of sunshine

Pot of gold....the Farne Islands

Tuesday 4th December comments: It was a topsy-turvy day on the islands as the weather picked up from the north (and it wasn't forecast) resulting in the team not being able to enter the Seal colonies. However work and life goes on, and we continued to pack and clean for our big leaving day on Friday....or is it?

The weather has taken a nasty turn for the worse suggesting we won't escape on Friday. The weather has certainly played its part this year (a terrible summer for our seabirds) and will it once again have the last laugh? We hope not, but let's wait and see....

On a final note, for those who saw it, I hope you enjoyed Planet Farnes on the One Show. Great work from the team, and the Seal pups played their part.

One Show tonight

Tuesday 4th December comments: Tonight the One Show (BBC 1 at 19:00) will be screening the Farne Islands Grey Seals with presenter Mike Dilger. The piece was filmed recently and features the seal pups and ranger team of the Farnes and well worth a watch. So tune in tonight.....

Its raining moles...

Fancy a cuppa? Second-coat pups (moleys) at the door

and under the Solar panels..life on Brownsman

Staple boardwalk work continues...

...with a little help

looking good!

Monday 3rd December comments: Our final Monday on the Farnes and it’s been a productive one. The boardwalk building continued on both Staple Island and Inner Farne whilst the packing has started. The island accommodation will be given its major winter clean this week as we prepare for life off island, back in the ‘real’ world.

Our big departure day has been set as Friday but I’m sure as usual, the weather will have its say…will it let us escape or trap us for longer… its exciting times. However before we worry about the weather, we have more work to complete and tomorrow we’re heading back onto the Seal colonies for some more counting.

On the birding front, its been quiet with very little to report although a Jack Snipe arrived today whilst our resident Merlin and Peregrines were seen.

Countdown is on...

We'll soon be saying goodbye to Inner Farne...

and goodbye to Brownsman for another year.

Sunday 2nd December comments: The countdown is on. After 256 days living on the Farne Islands the ranger team will eventually move off the Farnes for the winter. The team, as many as twelve at the height of summer, now numbers six and after a good autumn we'll be saying goodbye to the mighty islands for another year.

However before we leave we still have plenty to do on here. We’ve still got seal pups to count, a boardwalk to complete and an overhaul of the buildings (putting them to bed for the winter), so our work is not complete just yet.

It’ll be an action packed week ahead and one final thing we must check before leaving…the weather. Will it stay settled for us to leave? Start crossing those fingers, its the final week and its anything could happen. Anything.

Colony counting continues

Staple Sound looking calm

Welcome home to Brownsman cottage

Bull seal checking out his domain

North Wamses looking a lot quieter

...and second coat pups dreaming of fish

Friday 30th November comments: Today brought a bit of respite from the bitterly cold northerly winds, as the weather eased and the seas calmed. This gave us the window of opportunity to re-enter the seal colonies and check out what has been happening since our last visit, last weekend.

The birth rate has slowed (as expected) whilst some colonies are almost done; the North Wamses feels deserted compared with the thriving metropolis it was a few weeks ago. Once the young pups are old enough to fend for them selves (only three weeks of age), the females depart for the open sea and gradually the young pups also move off, leaving the islands empty for another year.

Today produced 77 new pups bringing our total to an impressive 1,495 with the top four island colonies including:

Staple Island 443
South Wamses 375
Brownsman 319
North Wames 276

This brings our autumn total to 1,495 – an impressive total by the Farnes and are we going to eclipse last years total of 1,555? Time will tell.