Puffins return

Puffins Galore - scattered over Inner Farne today

Thursday 26th March Comments: We appear to be stuck in a cycle of strong winds, as the islands were buffered by north-westerly winds reaching gale force on occasions. However it didn’t prevent the team from working, as we continued working on various projects including the construction of a new water-pump housing and painting of the toilet block (we really do turn our hands to everything). Despite all the hard work, the team do have regular breaks to appreciate the returning Puffins and the Peregrine which buzzed the inner group, all part of island a day in the life.

Weather: NW 6 increasing up to 8 (gale force) with bright sunshine

Highlights: Whooper Swan 24 north through Inner Sound – the good showing continues, Peregrine adult male lingering swooping at Puffins and Pigeons, Wren - the male continues to sing daily in the veg garden, Jackdaw one west (a scarce visitor!!!).

Breeding Birds: Puffins return! Following four days away the majority of the population returned to the islands, landing on Inner Farne early morning and remaining throughout the day (despite the wind). Guillemots and Razorbills were still scarce although Fulmars were back, cackling away on cliff ledges. As usual, the Shags remain tight at nest sites whilst Cormorants remained around the two main nesting colonies.

Wednesday 25th March Comments
Some of the team which had being away on the mainland (and stuck their last night) finally returned to the island mid-morning. It was a warm welcome and the team were back together, but very little was evident for the returning lads, as breeding birds and migrants were scarce.

Weather: NW 4-5 (so still windy) but bright sunshine

Highlights: Another quiet day all round for birds, with very few migrants or breeding birds to mention. The islands remain empty although its not unexpected at this time of year, as the breeding birds remain erratic especially if its windy (which it is!!). So very little comment for today - but its still early days.

Stormy Days

View from the Pele Tower (Inner Farne) looking at the 'white tops' of the waves

A very quiet Inner Farne, no birds and very little vegetation

Monday 23rd March Comment
The day brought complete contrast to the previous few days as the islands were hammered by strong north-westerly winds, reaching gale force on occasions. Some of the team had departed the previous night for two days of power-boat training (essential for all Farne wardens), leaving a skeleton crew to get on with the work on the islands. However the strong winds ensured all jobs were inside, with more painting of the lighthouse cottage and general sorting of the rooms. Otherwise we battened down the hatches and let the storm rip across the islands, although I’m starting to worry I might not get the rest of the team back tomorrow night if this wind continues. The problems of living on an island…

Weather: NW 7 occasionally gale force 8 with sleet showers

Highlights: very few!! The strong winds made birding very difficult and very few birds made it to the islands today

Breeding Birds:
Almost everything has disappeared from Farne waters, including Fulmars, as the strong gale force winds have unsettled any attempts at early nesting. However despite this, the Shags remain in good numbers although the early nest structures are starting to feel the affects of the strong winds.

A day for painting

Sunday 22nd March Comments
It’s a busy time for the warding team as we prepare the island for all the visitors and breeding birds which we’ll see over the next nine months. Today brought a change in the weather as strong north-westerly winds buffered the islands, restricting bird movement and warden activities! However despite the wind, the team set about upgrading the ‘Roseate Tern Terrace’ on the island, ready for the forthcoming breeding season. The task of weeding and re-sanding took the majority of the morning whilst the afternoon was spent painting two rooms in the lighthouse cottage and generally cleaning the accommodation. The bird highlight of the day came in the form of a stunning Glaucous Gull just off Inner Farne, whilst we eagerly anticipate our first Sandwich Tern arrival any day soon.

Weather: NW 5-6 occasionally 7 with bright sunshine

Highlights:
Whooper Swan – a total 75 recorded moving north early morning – a new Farnes day count, Merlin 1 chasing a Pipit in spectacular fashion (but failed to catch it), GLAUCOUS GULL first-winter individual drifting into first-summer plumage, showed well in the ‘Kettle’ just off Inner Farne, Grey Wagtail 1 on beach.

Breeding Birds:
Shags remain and continue to nest build whilst Kittiwake numbers increase slightly. However all the Auks (Puffins etc) were scarce and appear to have departed Farne waters for the time being with the onset of the windy weather. Wren – male singing in vegetable garden.

Wardens Return

VERY distant Whooper Swans flying north over St.Cuthberts Chapel, Inner Farne

The Farne Island warden team return for another season - a full round-up will be given in the near future.

Saturday 21st March

Highlights:

Whooper Swan 4N, Goldeneye 8, Long-tailed Duck 3, Lapwing 1W, Short-eared Owl 1 west, Peregrine 1, Wheatear 1 female - first of the year, Blackbird influx (25+), Snow Bunting 1N, Goldfinch 1.


Mallards discovered one eggs - two nests - 11 and 10 eggs, very few Puffins or Guillemots, Shags and Cormorants present in good numbers, Pied Wagtail and Rock Pipits singing.


Porpoise 3 in Inner Sound, Small Tortoiseshell butterfly, Lumpsucker fish predated by GBB Gull

Friday 20th March

Highlights: Wardens return to islands!!

Whooper Swan 35N (a Farne record count), Peregrine 1, Woocock (flushed), Red-breasted Merganser, Snipe,


Huge numbers of Auks - Puffins galore on the islands, Guillemots on cliff tops, Shags on well built nests.

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.