Seawatch season begins

Good day for Great Skua's

Friday 20th July comments: The seawatch season is upon us. Following yesterdays strong northerly winds, the wind eased although the swell remained (but boats sailed) and as a result a large number of Shearwaters moved north off the islands. Throughout the day the team logged and recorded various seabirds on the move with the main highlights including two Pomarine Skuas and over 400 Manx Shearwaters.

It was a great day with the sun beating down - not a bad start to the seawatching season. Over the next two months, many more seabirds will be recorded and the rangers will be on duty to show anyone the variety of birds the islands record.  

Today's Totals: 462 Manx Shearwater, 7 Sooty Shearwater, 14 Great Skuas, 13 Arctic Skuas, 2 Pomarine Skuas, 165 Common Scoter, 3 Velvet Scoter and Tufted Duck. Also Roseate Tern, 10 Knot, 13 Dunlin and  230 Turnstone.

Radio Link Broadcast

Quick update, BBC Radio Newcastle (iPlayer) link to todays Farne Islands broadcast. Click and listen - its interesting and funny. Enjoy!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00vdw10/Jonathan_Miles_16_07_2012/

Radio Newcastle come to town

BBC radio Newcastle: producer Jo with presenter Jonathan Miles 

Jonathan chatting to the team 

 Live on air; head ranger David Steel

Dr Richard Bevan put through his paces 

Local boat operator William Shiel does not escape

Tuesday 17th July comments: Today has been a busy one as BBC Radio Newcastle visited the Farnes to broadcast live between 10am and midday bringing the listeners news, views and life from the Farnes Islands. Presenter Jonathan Miles worked his magic as he interviewed a number of people on the islands including several rangers, Farnes historian Anne Wilson, scientist Richard Bevan, local boat operator William Shiel and Coast and Marine officer (and of course ex-warden!) John Walton.

It was a fun, entertaining morning which brought the world of the Farnes to the front rooms of several hundred thousands listeners across the north-east and beyond. Once I have discovered the link to the iPlayer, I will ensure its put onto the blog for everyone to listen (just ignore my opening lines - was stumped by the question!).

I hope for those who listened, you enjoyed and for those waiting to listen, its a good laugh. The strange and wonderful world of the Farne Islands continues to entertain. Welcome to Planet Farnes.

Farnes live

Tuesday 17th July comments: Get ready! BBC Radio Newcastle live from the Farnes this monring, from 10-12 with presenter Jonathan Miles.

Click: http://tunein.com/program/?ProgramId=181437&StationId=18219

Start listening!!!

Amazing Aurora

Stunning: Northern Lights off the Farne Islands at 01:00 with Longstone lighthouse (David Steel)

Dance of the lights (David Steel)

Longstone Lighthouse with the aurora (David Steel)

Monday 16th July comments: (this is one very early update - its just gone 01:15 but well worth the update). The Northern Lights have been showing well across northern England tonight and just after midnight, we started to see them off the islands. With no light pollution and no cloud cover, the aurora  performed well for the rangers sitting out on the observatory deck. It was an amazing show as the spikes raced across the skies and as I type, more have appeared, so heading back out. What a show. 

Unusual Ouzel

New born Arctic Tern chick (Jack Ibbotson) 

Behind bars - Arctic Tern chick nearly ready to fledge (Jack Ibbotson) 

Ciaran ringing Oystercatcher chick...

...and nearly fledged Ringed Plover chick

Sunday 15th July comments: The Farnes breeding season continued to advance by the day and plenty more chicks are now flying especially Sandwich and Arctic Tern chicks. There has also been good news on the wader front this year as both Ringed Plover and Oystercatchers have fared reasonably well with chicks fledging from several islands (and plenty ringed as photos show above).

Passage waders have started moving back through the islands as Purple Sandpipers are now evident once again with Redshanks, Golden Plovers and Turnstone in a supporting role. However the most interesting sighting of the day came on the form of a Ring Ouzel on Brownsman - a very unseasonable record (the first ever July record on the islands) as birds have started dispersing from upland breeding grounds.

The weather appears to have settled and the team are looking forward to the broadcast by Radio Newcastle on Tuesday, but I'll bring you more details in the near future.

Farne Islands Live...

BBC Radio Newcastle live and exclusive next Tuesday...

 National Trust Arctic Terns on show

Live from Inner Farne 

Broadcasting from the Lighthouse cottage on Inner Farne 

Listen to life on the Farnes on Tuesday

Friday 13th July comments: So you can’t get enough of the Farne Islands? Well, next Tuesday (17th July) we have BBC Radio Newcastle broadcasting live from the islands between 10am-12pm that day. Presenter Jonathan Miles will be talking to the rangers who live and work on the islands and covering everything from island life to the highs and lows of the season.

I’m sure it will be a great event and well worth listening to. I’ll keep you posted with frequencies and online details nearer the time. I’ll also be tweeting throughout that morning, so plenty of Farnes coverage come Tuesday. However the day relies on one thing…the weather! So watch this space and fingers crossed for some good weather and flat seas, but I’ve been saying that all season...