Touch Down!

Touch down....Arctic Terns are here!

Hats at the ready....

Coming to a head near you!

Eider increase in number on a daily basis

But not all good news...predated Eider egg

Friday 9th May comments: Time moves on quickly and this week has seen the return of our Arctic Terns...and they'll be coming to a head near you soon! The breeding season continues to advance and Sandwich Terns are starting to settle (at long last!) whilst Kittiwakes frantically build nests across the colonies. 

It won't be long before all our breeding birds are sitting on eggs and some even have chicks now...So don't miss any of the action and come out and visit. Welcome to Planet Farnes! 

Hats required....

Mallard with ducklings

Nesting Shag

Puffins showing well

Drake Eider attending nest

Female Eiders now on eggs

Migrants still moving through; Lesser Whitethroat

Robin taking advantage of boardwalk construction

Monday 5th May comments: The breeding season continues to advance as more and more birds are on eggs. With Puffins, Guillemots and Razorbills all settled, more Eiders are nesting whilst it won't be long before we are celebrating our first Shag chicks!

However it's not all go for everything as the last few breeding species have yet to get started (as usual). Kittiwakes have started frantically nest building whilst the Terns; Common, Sandwich and Arctic continue to display overhead and it won't be long before they are settled and pecking heads... 

You have been warned.

Here We Go.....

Puffins Spring-cleaning burrows (David Kinchin-Smith)

Nesting Eiders increasing each day

Kittiwakes busy nest building

Our first Ringed Plover nest doing well (David Kinchin-Smith)

Summer's on its way - one of our nesting Swallows

Friday 2^nd May comments: Spring has sprung on the Farne Islands! As we head into May all of our breeding birds are furiously preparing nests or are already on eggs. Mallard ducklings have already hatched and can often be seen dabbling in the pond on Inner Farne. After a slightly late start, Eider nests have begun popping up all over the islands. They are well camouflaged so see if you can spot one during your visit! Puffins, Shags, Guillemots, Black-headed Gulls and Razorbills have all been on eggs for a while now so it won’t be long before we hear the pitter patter of thousands of tiny webbed feet. Finally our breeding terns are beginning to arrive in huge numbers, scouting out their nesting sites before they settle, lay eggs and start pecking heads! So there really isn’t a better time to come and visit one of the natural wonders of the UK as it kick-starts back into life.

Wryneck Re-Tern

Our 2nd Wryneck of the year (David Kinchin-Smith)

Can you see me? Wryneck showing well (David Kinchin-Smith)

First summer, male Pied Flycatcher (David Kinchin-Smith)

Gone fishing - Arctic Terns are back! (David Kinchin-Smith)

Monday 28^th April comments: The easterly winds have continued for the last few days and with them have come more welcome arrivals to the Farnes. Just a matter of hours ago, our second Wryneck of the year was discovered on Brownsman, making it one for the inner group of islands and one for the outer group. The ‘cryptic critter’ didn’t really live up to its reputation and gave great views, showing well outside the cottage. Other highlights of the day have included stunning male Pied Flycatchers on both Inner Farne and Brownsman and the first record of Scaup for the year, as a drake was picked up briefly heading north earlier in the day.

As far as our breeding birds are concerned it’s been another busy day, with the first Razorbill egg of the year discovered on Staple Island. Meanwhile over on Inner Farne, tern numbers are building and Sandwich Terns have now been joined by both Arctic and Common terns. Numbers are increasing daily and with a roost count tonight of 275 Arctic and Common terns, it won’t be too long until these birds take over and start pecking heads.

So bring your hat and come and see this seabird spectacle. This is the Farnes and there’s no place like it!

Today’s totals: Scaup 1, Greenshank 1, Snipe 1, Little Tern 12, Wryneck 1, Dunnock 1, Wheatear 14, Robin 7, Redstart 2, Song Thrush 7, Blackbird 2, Blackcap 8, Whitethroat 2, Lesser Whitethroat 5, Willow Warbler 17, Chiffchaff 20, Pied Flycatcher 1, Mealy Redpoll, Brambling 3, Linnet 3 

Eider Don't Believe It!

Sitting tight - Our first nesting Eider

Dressed to impress - Drake Eider looking sharp

Barnacle Geese from Inner Farne (Laura Shearer)

Male Ring Ouzel (David Kinchin-Smith)

Friday 25^th April comments: What a day it’s been on planet Farnes! We have been shrouded in thick fog all day making the islands feel very murky, but the day has been far from dull. This morning our first Eider nest of the year was discovered in the old veg patch of Inner Farne. The female was sitting tight but allowed us a glimpse of her four eggs. She will be incubating these eggs for around four weeks and then we will be welcoming our first Eider ducklings.

And the bird news continued as a Moorhen was flushed from outside the cottage on Brownsman, representing the first record of this species in two years! This exciting news was soon followed by a large flock of almost 300 Barnacle Geese spotted over the Outer Group, which headed west and were soon giving the Inner Group fantastic views as they passed through the Kettle. Another highlight included a male and female Ring Ouzel on Inner Farne, clearly grounded by the fog.  

These are the Farnes and come rain or shine there’s always something going on – so why not come and see for yourself! 

Today’s totals: Barnacle Goose 290, Shoveler 2, Wigeon 2, Teal 1, Moorhen 1, Golden Plover 1, Common Sandpiper 1, Snipe 2, Wood Pigeon 1, Meadow Pipit 3, Robin 10, Wheatear 5, Song Thrush 9, Fieldfare 20, Blackbird 2, Ring Ouzel 2, Blackcap 6, Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 2, Chiffchaff 20, Brambling 9, Linnet 5, Reed Bunting

Starting to get Ready!

Resplendent Redstart (David Kinchin-Smith)

A steady passage of Wheatears (David Kinchin-Smith)

Good numbers of Chiffchaffs still present (David Kinchin-Smith)

A Linnet soaking up today's sun (David Kinchin-Smith)

The newest additions to Brownsman (David Kinchin-Smith)

Wednesday 23^rd April comments: The easterly winds have been blowing these last few days and with them has come some new arrivals to the islands. One of the highlights for both the Inner and Outer Group have been stunning male Redstarts for both islands. Other birds of note have included a Whitethroat on Brownsman today and a Garden Warbler on Inner Farne yesterday, both of which represent the first records of the year.

However, what’s really been evident today and yesterday has been the activity of our breeding birds – Tern numbers are building in the roost, we’ve now had numerous sightings of Guillemot eggs, Puffins have been busy excavating burrows, Rock Pipits have been display flying or ‘parachuting’ and the Outer Groups' first Mallard ducklings took their maiden voyage on Brownsman pond today. Spring certainly has sprung!

Today’s totals: Shoveler 3, Peregrine 1, Purple Sandpiper 132, Snipe 1, Iceland Gull 1, Sand Martin 4, Swallow 5, Meadow Pipit 7, Yellow Wagtail 1, Robin 12, Redstart 3, Wheatear 8, Song Thrush 4, Blackbird 1, Fieldfare 2, Blackcap 3, Whitethroat 1, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Willow Warbler 5, Chiffchaff 16, Linnet 3, Goldfinch 1.

Wry-ding The Easterlies

Cryptic critter! Our 1st Wryneck of the year (Laura Shearer)

Yesterday's ringed Pied Flycatcher (David Kinchin-Smith)

Today's Lesser Whitethroat (David Kinchin-Smith)

Keeping warm - our first Guillemot egg! (David Kinchin-Smith)

An unusual sight - a Puffin egg in the entrance to a burrow

Monday 21^st April comments: It’s a special time of year on the Farnes. Not only do we have the excitement of our breeding seabirds getting settled on land and laying eggs, but the Farnes also plays host to migratory species of bird which are travelling to their breeding grounds elsewhere in the UK and on the continent. These birds use the islands as a vital refuelling station so that they can feed up and continue on their epic journeys.

Over the last two days a steady stream of migrants has been moving through, aided by an easterly wind. A highlight yesterday was the appearance of a Pied Flycatcher and with continued easterly winds overnight and into today another smattering of migrants had dropped in, including a Lesser Whitethroat. An increasing number of Chiff Chaffs and Willow warblers were busy flycatching throughout the day but the star bird today came mid-afternoon as a Wryneck was spotted from the pele tower window on Inner Farne. The bird gave good but brief views before departing. A good record after a blank year last year.

However, it’s not all about the migrants, following the first Puffin egg on Inner Farne our first Guillemot egg was discovered yesterday safely tucked under an adult. In a few weeks our colony of more than 50,000 individuals will be alive with the sounds of new chicks and we can’t wait! No matter what time of year, there’s always something to see on the Farnes!

With continued easterly winds overnight and rain forecast tomorrow, no doubt we’ll have more new arrivals on the islands.....  

Today’s totals: Kestrel 1, Wheatear 6, Robin 2, Blackbird 1, Song Thrush 2, Wryneck 1, Swallow 1, Yellow Wagtail 1, Blackcap 3, Lesser Whitethroat 1, Chiffchaff 22, Willow Warbler 7, Linnet 2, Reed Bunting 1