Lift off!

The team that did it (from left to right): Alex Ash (warden), Richard Taylor-Jones (producer), Matt meech (editor), David Steel (head warden), Andrew Yarme (sound/light) and Gordon Buchanan (presenter).

The team preparing to leave on Friday

(Sorry all for late update but back on track and daily updates will be posted)

The final day arrived and all the hard work put in over the past two weeks was nearly at completion. Thursday witnessed the final filming and editing on the Farnes for Autumnwatch 2008 and the program was beamed to over three million viewers, as they tuned in to bid farewell to the Farne Islands and the seal colonies. It was a great ending to a great two weeks and no one will ever forget the characters, the storms and the magic that is the Farne Islands. The BBC team of Gordon, Richard, Andrew and Matt have worked their socks off and all deserve a huge pat on the back for bringing you the amazing images from the islands.

Finally as we waved goodbye from Brownsman to the viewers, the credits rolled and the beer started to flow and the team celebrated and it was all over. Tomorrow the team would sail off the islands at 08:00 and that would be that...or would it.

It was an early start on Friday as everyone was up at 06:00 to pack and decamp to the jetty, with everything from satellite dishes to cameras. However it wasn't just the team that were up, as the wind was strong, very strong. Sunrise broke just after 7am and it was obvious that the team were not escaping the Farnes, as the big waves crashed all around us. Disaster. A quick check of the forecasts revealed a south-easterly weather-front had crept in and was due to sit over the Farnes for several days. The result was that storms were lashing the islands and the team would not be leaving the islands, for some time.

However, due to family life and work commitments, it was important everyone departed and therefore a helicopter was called and eventually, at long last, the team of four departed the Farnes mid-afternoon for pastures new. As for me and Alex, we stayed behind as the hard work has only begun. We've got another 800 seal pups to be born over the next four weeks and I'm going to bring you all the highs and lows and update you daily on Nemo and co and to tell the stories of the Farnes.

The Farnes 'photo of the day' blog will remain throughout November and I would be delighted if everyone would keep on reading and discover the trials and tribulations of this very special place. I'm heading to the north beach today and tomorrow I'll bring you all the news of Nemo and Lucky.

Penultimate Day

Matt at work in the 'cellar' which has been converted into editing suit

Gordon and Richard washing the dishes - multitasking!

Richard, the man who makes everything tick!

Welcome to Wednesday and it's the penultimate Autumnwatch show 'live' from Brownsman, Farne Islands. It's been a big adventure, bringing you the highs and lows of life on a 'rock', but all has gone well, so far...  As usual, it was an early start for the team (especially Richard and Gordon) who have worked their socks off. As for me, it was just another day at the office, with various Farnes business to sort (and more Waxwings to look at - watch out on the mainland!) although not before a brief visit to the north beach colony to check on all the seal pups.

A quick chat with Gordon reveals he had filmed what we all suspected, that the cow seal at the centre of all the problems was fighting off Nemo's mother. Little Nemo is helpless, as he watches his mother being driven back into the waves, but is it all bad news? From an early age Nemo was a fighter, swimming in the North Sea at a tender age of three days old and he's mot going down without a fight. Nemo appears to be gaining weight, but how? Regardless of how, it could be great news for this little fella and one we certainly won't forget. So has Nemo put on weight and how is he getting it? Hopefully all will be revealed.

One seal pup we fail to show, is Lucky, who is living the high life and it won't be long before we're reporting the success of Lucky making it to independence and beyond. Who knows, we'll probably see Lucky back on these beach's in a few years time as a proud parent. We wish him well but we'll keep you informed of progress. The seal colony is now changing in subtle ways as the bulls are starting to get more and more active. Cow seals come into oestrus about 14-18 days after giving birth, so mating is now being noted on a daily basis and the Autumnwatch team caught it all on camera.

So this is one interesting place and every day is different. Tomorrow will be a sad day as the last Autumnwatch program will be screened and the team will leave the Farnes early on Friday morning. For me, life will continue on this rock until early December, as the Farnes seals have still some way to go. I'll keep you all posted.

Count Day

'Archie' another addition to the Farnes

The Seal Team in Action

The Farnes Seal Team

(from left to right) David Steel, Ian McNee, Richard Berridge (sitting), Alex Ash (sitting), Anthony Hurd 

The mighty Tuesday had arrived and the islands were a beehive of activity as the BBC Autumnwatch team were active before first light (Gordon was out at 06:00 - one hour before sunrise). It wasn't just the Autumnwatch team, as the National Trust Farnes seal team were up, ready for the seal count.

It was the big day, as weather had prevented access to some of the remote seal colonies for several days and today was our chance. As expected the seal count took the majority of the day, as all seven pupping islands were visited, the seals marked and counted. It was pleasing to see the storm at the weekend had had little effect on the seals and their appeared to be good numbers of strong healthy pups, with attentive mothers. The South Wamses, the biggest Farne Island colony, produced over 150 pups (including little Archie) with the day bringing a total of 415 pups (a third of our overall expected population). The team of five worked hard all day and it'll be another four days before we return and can bring further updates from the colonies. 

Back on Brownsman, the Autumnwatch team were busy preparing for another 'live' and this time it featured the bulls, those ugly brutes of the north beach. If their is one thing you learn quickly on the islands, is that you don't mess with an adult bull seal. 

As for our characters, Lucky is growing by the day and is putting on the bulk weight we expect pups to have before independence. However attentions are back on Nemo, the pup with the underweight problems. Is Nemo going to make it? well I'll keep that for another day but he really could do with some milk... Keep watching.

The Bulls have arrived

Not one, but three...

Up close and personal, a bull seal

Its the start of a fresh week and the team are ready for action with an early morning start as the first 'live' link for three days will take place this evening with plenty to squeeze in. The team have been given an extended slot on this evenings Autumnwatch, so more hard work required and is it me being biased, or is the Seal coverage good?

So what news from the colony? Its obvious things are changing slowly. More new pups are being born, one or two are moulting into 'second coats' ready for independence and yes, the bad boys are in town, the bulls have arrived.

Bull seals have no part to play in the pup-rearing process as their contribution is solely genetic (with a few fights along the way). These 300kg (up to 700lb) blubber fighting machines are starting to make their presence felt on the colonies as they have started taking up positions within the colony of females and they will defend their right to stay in the group. If that means fighting rival males or wandering bulls, then so be it and savage bites can be exchanged and neck wounds common.

As for the pups, they have few cares in the world and thankfully the storms have long gone so its back to the milk feeding and trying to work out which mum is which. The female offering free milk all round is still at it, whilst Lucky stays clear of all the problems and Nemo has started moulting his first coat. As for the team, well we're now fully stocked with food and water (I'm pleased to report). Supplies arrived and the sense of relief was noticeable in the team as the long-life UHT milk could be confined back to the cupboard. The evening went smoothly and the Farnes were beamed into the homes of millions once again. Its the start of another busy week.

Relaxed Sunday

Bull Seal looking menacing

 

Inquisitive Seals

Its Sunday morning on the Brownsman and there is a relaxed atmosphere around the island, as the Seals are happily getting on with the day to day life and the Autumnwatch team are stirring for another day on the 'rock'.

The north beach has welcomed four new arrivals overnight, bringing the numbers to nineteen whilst nearby Staple Island has increased to forty-one. The colonies are still a few weeks away from peak season and we'll expect somewhere in the region of 150 and 300 pups on these two respective islands. As for our characters, Lucky is growing strong with its attentive mum, whilst Nemo snuggles into the rocky shoreline but still looks underweight.  

However it was the female at the centre of the controversy with the quadruplets, which caught our attention again, as she was back at it, but this time with another different pup, a newly born. Her odd behaviour has got us and nodoubt other cow seals very puzzled and her aggressive stance towards all others may have something to do with it. It may also be the reason why Nemo is underweight - has she being chasing Nemo's mother away? So many questions. Regardless, this free milk offering can not be turned down and even Nemo looked interested... 

The easterly winds continue to dominate and the big seal count across all the colonies is cancelled due to the difficult landing conditions on other islands, but this won't prevent us in the long term. Bird passage continues through the islands as a Little Grebe is discovered - only our sixth ever record!! although three Waxwings brighten things up as they move west to winter in the UK (watch out for those in your gardens!).

Otherwise all quiet on the ten acre island as we head into the final week of Autumnwatch, what will happen to the north colony pups? Will Nemo find his mum for that precious milk, will storms lash the islands again and what about those brute bull Seals which have just started to appear... all will be revealed.

Not all safe

Our newest arrival

A 'Seals eye view' of Brownsman cottage

Andrew (left) and Richard (right) capturing the latest from the seal colony

An early start and thankfully the storm has eased and moved off south down the North Sea. Clear skies and calm conditions greet us, as Saturday morning begins... First thing first, its to the north beach colony and what has happened to the Seal pups overnight? Has the storm claimed any lives? 

One, two, three, the head count of the pups begins. Nemo is present, that's a good start, but Lucky, where is Lucky? No this could be bad news... relief. Lucky is with its mum. So far, so good. It was obvious that the majority of the colony escaped the worst of the storm, but not all are present. Sadly it appears we've lost one pup to the storm the previous evening. It's sad and we'll never know how it was lost, as it will just become another statistic for the Farnes as the islands loose 50-55% of all the pups born in the first three weeks of life. It's a heavy toll as its a harsh existence being born on these rugged islands in the North Sea in late autumn. However life goes on and its pleasing to see that most survived and the storm has eased.

After the head count, Nemo is checked - still small, still underweight, but why? Suspicions may be that Nemo's mother is being bullied off the colony but its difficult to judge at this early stage. Theres no such worries about Lucky, he's growing up big and strong. Thereafter the team rolled back into action, with more filming and editing and a slight worry that we may be starting to run out of food, as its been some time since we've been able to escape this rock, due to the stormy seas. Its a challenge not only working out here, but also living out here, but the Autumnwatch crew have adapted very well (and that's just to my cooking) and we are loving every minute of it. As for tomorrow, its seal count day across all the islands on the Farnes and who knows what's out there...

There could be trouble ahead.

Seal pup without a care in the world

Gordon on north beach colony 

Stormy views from Brownsman towards Longstone

"Forth, Tyne, Dogger: north or north-east 7 occasionally gale 8, wintry showers, good"

For those not familiar with the shipping forecast, that brought only one thing on Friday: storms. Big cold northerly storms with powerful waves which crashed against the ten acre island known as Brownsman. Their was no escape. Weather is such an unpredictable feature of the Farne Islands at this time of year and when a storm blows, there is no stopping it. The day changed little throughout as wintry squalls constantly swept over the islands setting a dramatic scene, as moody skylines were broken by huge swell and large breakers.

This was not good news for the seal pups of the north end. Not good at all, but it wasn't the weather which was the main concern. The four pups were still being accepted and squabbling over the cow and its obvious she is losing weight but will the pups survive? Free milk may be an added bonus for any struggling pup, but will all four make it? But forget the squabbling quartet, something else caught the eye... Nemo.

Nemo may be in trouble. After nearly two weeks of life on the north colony, Nemo should be putting on weight, building up fat layers ready for independence, but its not and its clearly underweight. Why? That is a question I'll try and answer but its now in the balance whether Nemo will actually make it. Fingers crossed. Otherwise the colony was settled, Lucky was being just good old lucky and the cow seals were doing their bit to protect the pups from mother nature. 

It wasn't just the seal pups that were braving the weather, as the trusty team of four (the Autumnwatch crew) were out capturing the drama as it unfolded and eventually darkness fell to the sound of crashing waves and strong winds. Saturday will be a telling day. How many pups will survive the overnight storm? Will Nemo gain some weight and what about the troublesome foursome? All will be revealed, very very soon...