Day One...
We got up bright and early and headed up north along the A1 and after a welcome stop for some brekkie near Durham we made the final leg of the journey up to Seahouses.We had booked on the all day birdwatching trip with the legendary Billy Shiels boats visiting Staple Island and Inner Farne and it was a fantastic day to say the least.It was our first visit to Staple Island and the Puffins here,were even closer than on Inner farne which was hard to beat i thought.It is an experience just to visit these amazing islands and see the closeness of the wildlife and birds and i fully recommend it to anyone who is interested in the natural world.
Highlight of the visit after the locals of course was a cracking duo of Roseate Terns near to the landing stage on Inner farne just before we left for the mainland.These are the rarest of our seabirds nesting around the British Isles and are just stunning with their black bills,pinkish 'Rose' tint to the underparts looking like mini Sandwich Terns.It is a considerable length of time since i have had the privilege of seeing this beautiful species,so it was a very welcome one indeed.
Day Two...
Today was spent visiting Lindisfarne,the National Trust property at Cragside and a nice walk along the beach area at Beadnell to end the day.
Highlights today included a flock of 40 plus Red-breasted Merganser on the sea off Lindisfarne castle which was an impressive sight to say the least,600 plus Grey Seal and the tamest House Sparrows i have ever seen.
We ended the day by walking along the beach and harbour area at Beadnell and enjoyed some amazing close views of Eiders with their ducklings,fishing Sandwich and Arctic Terns and masses of Auks offshore with a single Harbour Porpoise also logged and a House Martin flycatching around our feet!.
Day Three...
I was up bright and early today and went for a walk before breakfast up to Long Nanny and back and enjoyed some nice sightings which included Little,Arctic and Sandwich Terns,a flock of summer plumaged Sanderling,a pair of Ringed Plover with 2 chicks and all the other usual suspects from the previous days offshore.
After breakfast we travelled the short distance over to the lovely little seaside village of Craster and walked along the coast here to the impressive Dunstanburgh castle.Some great sightings along the way included a smart female Wheatear and around the castle itself breeding seabirds included Kittiwakes,Razorbill,Guillemots,Shags and the closest views i have ever had of Fulmars passing by at just over an arms length away...just superb!!.
So after our visit to Craster and Dunstanburgh it was sadly time to head back south after another amazing visit to this beautiful part of the world and its stunning wildlife...one of which we will be returning again to see next year.
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| Puffin,Staple Island. |
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| Puffin,Staple Island. |
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| Puffins,Staple Island. |
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| Adult Shag,Staple Island. |
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| Shag Fledglings,Staple Island. |
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| Breeding Guillemots And Kittiwakes,Staple Island. |
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| Guillemot,Staple Island. |
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| Grey Seal,Inner Farne. |
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| Arctic Tern,Inner Farne. |
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| Arctic Tern,Inner Farne. |
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| Newly hatched Arctic Tern chick,Inner Farne. |
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| Arctic Tern,Inner Farne. |
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| Roseate Tern and Arctic terns,Inner Farne. |
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| Roseate and Arctic Tern,Inner Farne. |
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| Drake Eider,Beadnell. |
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| Sanderling,Long Nanny. |
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| Female Wheatear,Dunstanburgh Castle. |
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| Fulmar,Dunstanburgh Castle. |
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| Razorbill,Dunstanburgh Castle. |
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