The islands are a changing...

Summer 2012 on the Farnes. Storm clouds gather (a typical scene) 

Kittiwake chicks now on the wing in good numbers 

Sandwich Terns still in attendance 

Cute factor - Ringed Plover chicks going well (normally suffer from heavy predation)

Tuesday 10th July comments: It’s been an interesting start to July although in terms of weather, not much different to May or June! However we are gradually seeing a change on the islands as the end of the seabird breeding season is nigh.

The vast majority of Guillemots and razorbills have now gone, departed for the open sea having had a successful breeding season. Young Shags and Kittiwakes are fledging by their hundreds whilst eiders have long gone. The terns are not far behind in the race to leave, as young Arctic, Common and Sandwich Tern young are on the wing.

That doesn’t leave much – mainly the Puffins and following their poor breeding season (they’ve suffered the most out of all the seabirds), it won’t be long before they depart. The change in the islands will be more noticeable in August although still an exciting time, as today’s Bottle-nosed Dolphin will testify.

Glorious rain

Huge numbers of Puffins still present 

Kittiwake feeding chicks 

Sandeels galore: its been an excellent year for food 

Migrant Silver-Y moths moving through the islands in large numbers 

Flowers blooming on Inner Farne 

'The Churn' doing its thing...

Monday 9th July comments: The weather continues to challenge the resident's of the islands, as both the seabirds and the rangers are starting to feel the effect of the dismal summer. Our weather records indicated we've had 47mm of rain this month alone, with the average rainfall for July standing at 52mm. It's been that bad.

Despite the weather, the food supply has been exceptional with the seabirds still producing thousands of young but we'll see what the final results are in the next few weeks. On a brighter note, we had some great results from the population figures, but I'll bring news of that soon. However before that, heading back outside...umbrella anyone?

Scientific Farnes

A 24 hours GPS track from a Brownsman Kittiwake (taken last week) reveals interesting movements 

Bird ringing provides valuable data

The importance of biometrics - a Puffin having its head measured  

Dr Chris Redfern leading with adult Arctic Tern 

Night time Storm Petrel ringing 

Monitoring Eiders

Friday 6th July comments: Away from the usual reporting of daily life on the islands, I’ve decided to bring you news about some of the work we do behind the scenes on the islands. Despite the weather’s best efforts we’ve had another busy summer. The ranger team has worked tirelessly with the visitors and seabirds to keep the islands open and running smoothly and to conduct scientific research.

Monitoring over 2,000 pairs of seabirds allows us to gauge the successes and failures of the breeding season. We do this primarily by directly counting the vast breeding seabird populations on the islands alongside ringing (including taking important biometric data) and tag birds with GPS (Global Positioning Systems) and TDR (Time Depth Recorders) devises. Alongside this we study food supplies and feeding ranges to collect information about the lives of our breeding seabirds.

It can feel like 24/7 job on occasions but the immense amount of valuable data collected enables us to have a better understanding and helps inform our decisions about the conservation of such special sites in future years. The Farnes is one of the most important seabird colonies in Britain and it’s our job to keep it that way.

Puffintastic

Puffins galore in flight 

Puffin enjoying life..on a wall 

Showing well 

Enjoy a spot of sun on the sea 

Its not been easy for those nesting underground

Thursday 5th July comments: I'm not going to make any excuses about the update on the blog today - its all Puffins and nothing but Puffins. They've had a tough season as monitoring results will no doubt reveal a hard season, with flooding of burrows being the major reason for failure (we've had so much rain!). However away from the doom, I've posted several photos of our Puffins because they won't be on the islands for much longer (will all be gone by the end of July) so sit back and enjoy the pictures. News of their breeding season performance will be released soon...but fear the worst.

Summer here?

Puffins galore - showing well on islands at present 

It's been a good day to see Puffins on the islands 

Not many left - the final few Guillemots remain 

Last stand - a handful of Guillemots (over 4,000 nested here this summer!) 

A harsh end - a Guillemot chick becomes snack food for the Gulls  

Fulmars now on chicks 

At long last - Butterfly weather! Red Admiral on Brownsman

Wednesday 4th July comments: The day began with thick fog and ended with thick fog, but we had something which resembled summer between the bouts of fog - sunshine! The birds took full advantage with plenty of food being brought in for hungry mouths and some species showed particularly well including Puffins, which were present in huge numbers today.

The final few Guillemots remain, with over 90% of the breeding population already gone but the final few chicks are finding life hard as the large predatory Gulls are mopping up the unwary. Elsewhere on the islands, the first Butterflies of the summer are appearing...summer at last? We'll have to wait and see.

Farnes Fledgers

Puffin chicks on the way (and nothing like adults!) 

On the wing - Arctic Tern chicks now flying 

Fledgling Black-headed Gull chick 

Guillemots well on their way - clifftops empty

Tuesday 3rd July comments: The season continues to progress and with sunshine beaming down on the Farnes (well we've had no rain) so it's starting to feel a bit like summer! The seabirds continue to raise young and despite this years weather, the birds are having some successes, which is great news.

In the last two days we’ve had our first Fulmar chick hatch, the first Arctic Tern chick has taken to the wing and the first Kittiwake fledgers have flown. Each day brings something new and interesting to report and you can't keep your eyes off the islands. The final touches to the population figures are being sorted, so I'll bring you that news once complete.

Welcome July

Puffin chicks have started fledging 

 Sandwich Tern young will soon be on the wing

Shag chicks starting to fledge 

Cow Seals fattening up

Sunday 1st July comments: Where has time gone and what really has happened to our summer? It’s now the 1st July and the seabird season has peaked with lots of youngsters getting ready to take to the wing for the first time. So what can a July visit to the Farne islands bring you?

The Farnes will be experiencing yet more change as the first Fulmar chicks will start hatching during the first week, Arctic and Sandwich Tern young will be flying by the second week, whilst Guillemots and Razorbills will continue to lead young off to the safety of the open sea and almost the entire population will have departed by mid-month. Young Puffins will start fledging under the cover of darkness (to avoid predation) while the cliff tops will be a buzz of activity as young Kittiwakes and Shags will be fledging.

As well as the seabirds, the islands will have good numbers of Grey seals loafing around as pregnant females continue to fatten up whilst July should signal the start of potentially even more exciting things like our first Minke Whales of the year. Its never dull on the islands and well worth a July visit.

So keep on following the blog and I ask only one thing, can we have some better weather please?