Farne away the best day of the week!

Maybe of the year for that matter. Perhaps not in terms of new birds for the year list [none for me, one for Barry at a stop-over on the way home.] More of that later. I'm rambling! Yes, we went to the Farne islands planning a two island visit. However that was not to be. Wrong kind of waves for Staple Island. Plus no departure till 11am - we needn't have got up before the dawn cracked! So we walked the shoreline seeing if we could break an arm before the Unst business. We survived. We watched the eiders and the kittiwakes. And I took some pictures.

Eider The eiders were in eclipse of course and the morning light meant I would be shooting into the sun if I wasn't careful. A little later one or two eiders were curious enough to approach us, giving this intimate portrait.

Eider

Barry heard a kittiwake colony on nearby cliffs so set off in that direction, judging we had plenty of time.

It was turning into a very pleasant morning. The challenge was dealing with the birds as they came into the sunshine from the deep shade of the cliff.

Kittiwake

I can't resist juvenile kittiwakes - their markings are really attractive.

Kittiwake Kittiwake Kittiwake We walked back along the [safer] clifftop path after I found a way up to the top. A small tortoiseshell was dancing along in front of us.

Small Tortoiseshell

The birds seen on our walk back were less exciting than the ones we hoped to see on our 'cruise' but still attractive or of interest. This house sparrow perched in the harsh light on a satellite disk support.

House Sparrow House martins were gathering mud from the shoreline - whether this was nest maintenance or preparations for another brood I don't know. The photo shows that swallows were there too. House martin on the left; swallow on the right.

Swallow & house Martin Starlings always attract me in a good light. Smart, intelligent birds. This one was by the stall where we had a coffee before embarcation!

Starling So we called back at the car and I had to photograph this sign. I know I'm very pedantic and I do know what they really mean but the ambiguous last line of this sign makes me want to say: 'Well I hope they wouldn't accept passes that are invalid!!'

We called at Billy Shiels' stall again to check where we had to meet our boat.

Whilst I'm in pedantic mode, what's a herion, Grace?

Photo copyright Barry Bishop

I thought I should show you a picture of the boat.

Pretty isn't it? Oh yes, ours is the one on the left!!!

At last! We're off! Now I used to think that once you've seen one seal ,you've seen them all. Maybe I'm wrong. Anyhow, I've put all the seal photos [of the hundreds I ended up with!]  in one block. Here goes. Ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Grey Grey Seal

Grey Grey A big bull. Wouldn't want to meet him on a dark night beach walk!

Grey Grey Now, photographing seals from a rocking motor boat is one thing, photographing seabirds in flight or on the water is something else entirely. You are trying to aim at the bird [first problem], then try to lock the focus, then take the picture. By this time your puffin is miles away. However persistence can lead to some surprising outcomes I hadn't expected. There's still a great thrill in sitting down to see what you've managed to catch!

Fulmar Fulmars aren't too hard. Even catching a puffin as it flies away from you is an achievement...

Puffin Birds up on the cliffs of Staple Island are much more straightforward. Pity the right hand puffin fell off as I was taking this one!

Puffin Shags are quite photogenic and amongst the blacks are hints of green and other colours. Here they are.

Shag Shag Who said dragons are extinct?

Shag A puffin was taking off to my left. Quick, grab, point, shoot! These are all the same bird: 3 consecutive shots. Not totally sharp but they catch the movement well.

Puffin Puffin Puffin

Oh, well. Got something nice there. Eventually we landed on Inner Farne - land of arctic terns, sandwich terns and puffins. Plus a few common terns and black-headed gulls. Bird soup: they were everywhere. Unbelievable how a pretty choice bird like an arctic tern is nesting at your feet by the path. A truly awesome experience. So brace yourself for the thrills of Inner Farne. By the way it's open each year for landings [£6.20 to the National Trust if you aren't a member] only until the end of July. The puffins will have gone by then.

Arctic Tern Blood red bill, no black tip. Short legs. Time for an arctic tern photo album, I think.

Arctic Tern As I said, blood red bill, short legs - and a ring on one leg. Time for a shake!

Arctic Tern Arctic Tern Many terns have an obligatory sand eel in their bill, especially for the visitors! Just think how far he came to get this little fish!

Arctic Tern I saw one wave a sand eel at its youngster and then swallow it all down himself! Must have been hungry. Talking of youngsters, I saw birds on eggs, birds that were very young and youngsters that had fledged. Maybe this summer's weather has disrupted things somewhat...

Arctic Tern If you are hungry then one thing you can do is wait in the middle of the paving outside the little shop and scream your head off.

Arctic Tern We paused in the shade by the lighthouse. Barry tempted a blsck headed gull down onto the grass for his sandwich. Sort of pale brown black headed gull.

Black-headed Gull Looking through my bins I realised the tern colony in front of us was not one of arctic terns but was a mix of puffins and sandwich terns. We wandered over.

Sandwich Tern Sandwich Tern Sandwich Tern Groups of puffins gathered on the cliff edge along with the occasional shag and kittiwake...

Puffin Puffin Shag Kittiwake

Puffin Puffin

From my vantage point I continued to try for flight photos. Some were rather grainy and into the sun....

Puffin Some were pretty good - it all depended which direction they came in from.

Puffin

If you didn't check out that blood red bill each time you got close to a tern on the ground you could easily miss the occasional common tern. This one was very vocal and very loud by the path.

Common Tern Tread carefully for you might walk on my children. This youngster was in the middle of the path. Wanted to be a celebrity perhaps...

Fledgling Arctic Tern As we made our way back to the jetty we were subjected to a very gentle warning by an arctic tern nesting by the path.

                                                            The above 2 photos © Barry Bishop. Used without permission.

It was protecting its egg, right beside the path. Egg photo copyright Barry Bishop.

Arctic Tern egg Finally this smart fellow wanted to say goodbye. It's the bird from the previous photo - probably saying 'Good riddance!'

Arctic Tern I hope I get back to the Farnes one day..............................................

P.S. Barry and I saw a red crested pochard on our way home. We took a break at Saltholme East Pool. Barry's tick.