Two more from the Farnes

[Terry]

Arctic Tern with Squid

 

 

Fishing Party

 

 

[JohnP]

Good captures Terry!  Interesting birds are Puffins, they spend most of their lives far out to sea. They only come ashore to breed in late April/early May and leave in early/mid August. Only one egg is laid, the puffling leaves the nesting burrow in early August under the cover of darkness (the parents never see it again) and spends about 5 years at sea never coming ashore. At 5-6 years of age they are ready to breed and come ashore to find a mate and pair for life.

[Barbara]

Two great captures Terry

[Terry]

Thanks for the info John. This is the first time I've actually seen Puffins, great little birds. It's coming to the end of the season on the Farnes but I've already decided to go back next year earlier in the season and do the all day photography trip. The amount of bird life on there is stunning and you can almost touch some of them. The only thing you need to careful of is being dive bombed and pecked by the Terns. They nest right next to the paths.

[colinb]

Two very well shot photos there Terry, you can almost feel the texture of the feathers on the first one.

[CanonChrissy]

Are the puffins still there? When were these taken? Lovely images,, I love the Farnes but went a little too early this year. Might go back if the puffins are still there.

[annie]

Great capture Terry..Love that Tern picture.

 

What about Gannets, where there any there?

[Terry]

Are the puffins still there? When were these taken? Lovely images,, I love the Farnes but went a little too early this year. Might go back if the puffins are still there.

Hi Chrissy, these were taken on Tuesday. 

 

Great capture Terry..Love that Tern picture.

 

What about Gannets, where there any there?

Hi Annie, saw some Gannets flying about but none nesting

[CanonChrissy]

OOO so they are still there? Excellent - might go up on Sunday

How did that happen? haha

[JohnP]

Thanks for the info John. This is the first time I've actually seen Puffins, great little birds. It's coming to the end of the season on the Farnes but I've already decided to go back next year earlier in the season and do the all day photography trip. The amount of bird life on there is stunning and you can almost touch some of them. The only thing you need to careful of is being dive bombed and pecked by the Terns. They nest right next to the paths.

 

I've only seen and photographed Puffins on the island of Skomer, off the Pembrokeshire coast. I've been several times. Did you know that last winter around 4500 Puffins died and were washed ashore in NE England, the severe gales mean't they couldn't catch Sandeels so they starved.

[Terry]

I've only seen and photographed Puffins on the island of Skomer, off the Pembrokeshire coast. I've been several times. Did you know that last winter around 4500 Puffins died and were washed ashore in NE England, the severe gales mean't they couldn't catch Sandeels so they starved.

That's more or less what the Warden on Inner Farne was telling me. However he did say the numbers nesting were well up on last year. You could see some of the adults starting to darken up around the face taking on the winter plumage. He also told me that when there was a lack of Sandeels they tried to feed the young with Bony Pipefish but the young were not capable of eating them, they were left in the nest and the young starved. He also told me they had a White Tailed Sea Eagle passing through last year that hung around for a couple of weeks, now that would be worth seeing If you ever get chance to go to the Farnes take it It's well worth while.