Double take

Keeping a close eye on things - an adult Grey Seal

One on the wall - a Goldcrest checking for food against the cottage wall

Tuesday 13th October comments:
It’s the autumn and that means one thing: seal pups. The team were up bright and early this morning, as the weather allowed our first major check of the Seal colonies and we were not disappointed. The main colonies of the South and North Wamses produced six pups, although sadly two were dead, but this is expected on the Farne colonies at this time of year. The first pup of the season born on 4th October is doing well and being well protected by its mother, but sadly I forgot my camera so no photos today!

On the migrant front, the day brought a reasonable movement of Thrushes as well as a few other migrants and the lingering Richard's Pipit was still present on Brownsman for its third day. However we were stunned whilst watching the bird mid-afternoon, as there was not one, but two birds, as a second had arrived and decided to join up with the first - a double bonus but not surprising as this is the Farnes!

Highlights: Goldeneye 6, Merlin, Peregrine female, Woodcock, Arctic Skua one mobbing a Kittiwake, Short-eared Owl on Inner Farne, Richard’s Pipit 2 on Brownsman (one having been present for three days), Wheatear, Skylark 3, Blackbird 112, Redwing 933, Song Thrush 22, Fieldfare 113,Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff 2, Blackcap female, Goldcrest 4, Greenfinch, Brambling 10 and Reed Bunting 7

Pups away!

Blackbird's on the move - heading west to winter in the UK

In coming - Redwing on the Farnes

Sunday 11th October comments:
Following yesterdays avalanche of birds, the wind switched direction and increased in strength, almost reaching gale-force from the north-west. The result was an almost complete clear-out of passerine migrants from the Farnes although the day brought one surprise. As the team were about to start work on building some new boardwalk on Brownsman, a Richard’s Pipit, a rarity from Siberia, dropped in and showed well before flying off to nearby Staple Island. The bird was refound on Staple by the team before it returned to Brownsman later in the day, the 18th Farnes record.

Whilst I was away on the South Uists (meeting no fewer than three ex-Farne wardens – great to see you boys!), the team recorded the first Grey Seal pup of the year! The pup was born on the South Wamses on 4th October and both mother and pup are doing well. So the first (of no doubt many) have been born and it'll probably be another roller-coaster of a ride over the next six weeks, so stay tuned - the Seals are taking over and weather is on its way...

Highlights: Woodcock, Snipe, Richard’s Pipit – one on Brownsman at 11:30 moved to nearby Staple Island before returning a few hours later, Whinchat, Wheatear, Redwing 14 west, Chiffchaff 3, Greenfinch 4, Chaffinch 9, Reed Bunting 3, Snow Bunting male lingering. Sadly Inner Farne was not checked due to the severe weather.

Migrants role in...

A cracking male Firecrest on Inner Farne (by Davy Still)

Red-breasted Flycatcher Inner Farne (by Davy Still)

One of todays Yellow-browed Warblers

Saturday 10th October comments:
Welcome back! and what a welcome - its been a cracking day on the islands as a huge 'fall' occurred with a few rarities adding to the spice. The blog is up and running again and I'll be bringing you all the news from the Farnes over the next two months and read tomorrow as I'll bring you news of our first Grey Seal pup of the year....

Today's highlights:
Pintail 1N, Great Skua 4N, Sparrowhawk 1 on Longstone, Short-eared Owl 1 on Staple, Peregrine 1 on Brownsman, Jack Snipe 2 (Inner Farne and Staple), Woodcock, Quail 1 on Brownsman and then Staple Island - 2nd record of the year and latest ever Farnes record, Skylark 9, Wheatear, Redstart 4, Whinchat, Robin 37, Dunnock 11, Redwing 3,567 west, Blackbird 75, Ring Ouzel male on Inner Farne, Garden Warbler, Blackcap 15, Lesser Whitethroat, Yellow-browed Warbler 2 - singles on Inner Farne and Breownsman, Willow Warbler 1, Chiffchaff 18, Goldcrest 3, Firecrest male on Inner Farne - first since 2007, Red-backed Shrike immature on Inner Farne, Red-breasted Flycatcher 1st winter on Inner Farne, Brambling 16, Greenfinch 12, Chaffinch 14, Snow Bunting 5 and Reed Bunting 4.

Recent highlights:

Friday 9th October
Seawatching: Red-throated Diver 1N, Manx Shearwater 244N, Sooty Shearwater 71N, Arctic Skua 35N, Great Skua 64N, Pomarine Skua 4N – all adults, Puffin 2, Ring Ouzel - 1st winter on island, Snow Bunting 1 on island.

Thursday 8th October
Long-tailed Skua 1 adult north, Great Skua 4N, Snow Bunting on island

Monday 5th October
FEA’S (type) PETREL 1N at 18:00 – skirting past Crumstone and then Brownsman – 5th for the Farnes following accepted records in 2002, 1999, 1996 and 1993.

Lanced...

The one - its not a great image but enough - Lancy on the rocks

(well done lads for snapping this in difficult conditions and fading light!)

Wednesday 30th September comments:

Its been a while since I updated the blog so here goes…

It’s been a long, slow September for the birders on the islands, as a series of westerly winds has produced very little in the way of bird migration. In fact nothing. I suppose it’s a bit harsh as we’ve had a Black-headed Bunting amongst others, but it’s been slow going at times.

However that changed on Tuesday and I should have known. I walked off the islands on Monday evening to attend an all-day ‘conflict and resolution’ training course on Tuesday as part of my job. After weeks (it has felt like an eternity) of westerly winds, I decided to leave on the only day an east wind decided to blow and that proved to be a big mistake, a real big mistake...

As forecast, the wind switched and by Tuesday morning, the islands were full of common migrants, as Skylarks and Pipits were present in their hundreds, Brambling and Chaffinch arrived from the east and the occasional oddity was discovered including a Lapland Bunting on Inner Farne. Then it happened.

The lads decided to check the most easterly island as time slipped away, as they arrived on Longstone (some 4.5 miles out from the mainland) at 18:30 and were greeted by a small number of migrants feeding amongst the lichen covered rocks (which is always an odd sight). The rain was falling and light was starting to fade but in the gloom, the team picked up on a small creeping warbler as it ran around on the open bare rock. The bird, small in appearance with the odd behaviour of preferring to walk rather than fly, was seen well by the lads and then the penny dropped. The team had discovered a ‘Lancy’ – (also better known as LANCEOLATED WARBLER) a very rare warbler from eastern Siberia.

Unlike anything else this season, this was a real rare – less than 120 records in the UK and most of those are from the Northern Isles of Scotland. Even Northumberland only boasts two previous records – on the Farnes in 1995 and Tynemouth in the late 1980’s. As light disappeared, the lads returned to Brownsman, to celebrate, but in the knowledge the world would be watching.

Due to a set of unforeseen circumstances, the internet ‘dongle’ was on Inner Farne and photos of the bird could not be forwarded to an anticipating head warden. Eventually the pictures were sent to me (I’m still mainland-bound at this moment) and the discussion began. At this stage, I got Ian Fisher, a very knowledgeable and well respected Northumberland birder ‘in on the act’ and following a review of the photographs (not the best of quality due to fading light and poor conditions), everyone was happy and the bird was a Lancy (not that my team had any doubts!).

It was great news for the lads (brilliant work team – that’ll be something you’ll not forget for a long time!), great news for the Farnes and the County, but not such good news for myself and many other birders who would have loved to have seen it!! To their credit, the team were on the Longstone complex very early Wednesday morning, but sadly the bird was gone.

So WHAT a bird, what a bird to miss...

Look who's back...

Monday 21st September comments:

The weekend produced mixed weather, as Saturday brought a spot of rain strong southerly winds, whilst Sunday was as good as we could have hoped for mid-September- plenty of sunshine and calm conditions. The resulting weather brought very little in the form of migrant birds although our first Pink-footed Geese started moving west towards the mainland, as they migrate to wintering grounds in deepest north Norfolk. Otherwise a very quiet few days and even quieter for the team, as we've now lost Paul and Joe.

However one noticeable visitor reappeared around the islands on Saturday - the monster returned, as the Humpback Whale was seen again!! Just after midday, reports started filtering out that the beast had been seen off Newton Point (about four miles south of here) and as we waited, the animal moved north, eventually reaching Crumstone just after 3pm. However it then went quiet and no-doubt disappeared back into the depths of the North Sea. It'll be interesting to see if the animal lingers and what a sight that would be for the daily visitor! Otherwise all quiet and the first seal pup can't be too far away...

Leaving day

Joe with his trusty camera - the blog will miss his photos!

Paul at his best - in a zodiac boat

Thursday 17th September comments:
It’s been an eventful week on the islands, as we’ve experienced huge whales, rare birds and some stunning weather. However today was a sadder day, as we said goodbye to two members of the team. With the autumn well on its way the island team is reduced as warden’s move onto pastures new.

Today Joe Cockram and Paul McDonald said goodbye to the Farnes after a great season, having spent the previous six months living and working on the islands. Both lads brought a lot to the Farnes and I’m certain neither one will forget an amazing experience. Joe will start at Bournemouth University in the very near future and we wish him well – it’ll certainly be very different to island life. Paul will begin a year’s adventure touring Canada, so I’m certain island life will probably have trained him well for the wilderness of North America.

We wish them both all the very best and, lads, if your reading this, a big thank-you for all your hard work and great company. Despite there departure, I’m sure they’ll be back in the future and already we look forward to their return. Tonight the atmosphere has been subdued, they’ll be missed.

Highlights: Common Rosefinch present for its fourth day on the islands, otherwise very quiet for migrant birds.

Whale of a time...

Tail fluke of a monster - Humpback Whale (phots by Julie Forrest)

Humpback off the Farnes, on Monday 13th September (photos by Julie Forrest)

Wednesday 16th September comments:

Following the euphoria of Monday evening, the following few days have been more settled as most of the migrant birds departed overnight with no sign of the Black-headed Bunting on Tuesday morning. The only bird of interest lingering for a second day was the Common Rosefinch, which moved from Longstone to nearby Brownsman.

On the cetacean front, following the spectacular sightings of the Humpback Whale and Risso’s Dolphins, things were back to normal, although photographs of the whale have now emerged. Julie Forrest, a local diver, was lucky enough to be onboard Glad Tidings, when the whale was originally discovered. Many thanks to her for forwarding the photographs – I superb record shot of an impressive beast in Farnes waters. For those who witnessed the whale, it will long stay in the memory.

Otherwise the islands remain quiet, as small numbers of visitors arrive daily and the team await the first Seal Pup of the year – it’s surely just around the corner…