The Little Egret comes and goes

The Little Egret has been coming and going for a little while now but it's great to see at the islands.

I found out the other day that the area that we have been seeing it has a little fresh water pond on the top but because it's in a dip we can't see it from the boat. I wonder if it's been there more than we think. Who knows.

I got a chance to see it alot better the other day before these winds stopped play, so here are a few pictures for you all.

Strong Winds

Well it's blowing a hooly up here today. I chickened out today and decided today would a good day for jobs at home. Yeah I know I'm a wimp, as Shirley Reed @maniccollie put to me on Twitter.
I must be getting wiser or older more like it.

As the Lads and Lady (Becky) including Will battle it out on the Islands, I'm sitting on my couch at home enjoying the comforts of Sky T.V. while they huddle together until the storm is over.

In some weird way I wish I was out there seeing the wonders of what the storms can do. The birds and seals must be thinking what the hell is going on, and it also shows you how hard the rock is at the Farnes, as it never seems to bat an eye lid, at the waves that hit them.

All the pictures were taken about 2pm today.

Female Peregrine

With strong west winds today we only got out for one trip, but it was worth it as we were given a beautiful display from a female Peregrine flying around Staple Island. She was standing on Kittiwake's nest with the sun baking on her. After watching her for a while we decided to keep going and we would come back later and have another look. After seeing the seals we cruised slowly towards Staple Island to see if she was still there. There she was sitting in the same place, then, she took to the sky.  She hovered gracefully in the sky with the wind holding her perfect, then all of a sudden she dived down, grabbed a Pigeon and off to have her lunch.

A Mixed Week.

On Thursday there was an old converted  dutch barge moored at the islands. She was called The Spirit of Loch Ness and was built in 1930. She looked well for her age. I found out that she has been working as a Luxury Hotel for the last 10 years in the Caledonian Canal.

The day itself was very overcast but every now and then the sun tried to get out. I got some nice pictures of the sun trying to break through over Bamburgh Castle.

On Friday it was very quite and it looked as it was going to rain but it held off. I was pleased it did as we had a Charity Doo up to Holy Island for a few hours. Well they were all on the drink for a few hours. While they were at the pub I went for a walk around the Island. The light was not the best but I did manage to get some nice pictures of Juvenile Goldfinch and Swallows.

On Saturday it was overcast again but with showers. You can tell everyone was heading home after the summer holidays as it was dead. On our last trip it just started to rain when we noticed 3 Harbour Porpoise on the way home. The rain was a problem but all of a sudden when we seen the Porpoise the guests seem to forget about it. We watched them for about 15 minutes before heading home. It was the first time for while we had them really close, plus I switched the engines off as they are very shy and I wanted to see if they would hang around a little longer. It worked for a little bit but they were feeding so it was not long before they were off catching fish again.

On Sunday it was just amazing. The seas were flat calm and the sun was out to play. It was about the best day of the year. I heard over the VHF that 4 Minke Whales were spotted of Beadnell and I had my fingers crossed that they would head towards the Islands. I gave David Steel (The Head Warden) a shout and he went up to the top of the Pele Tower to have a look. I laughed at first but then I heard that he had a new scope. When he told me he seen them about 2 miles of Beadnell Point I just thought WOW, that must be some scope. He also said that he would be surprised if they came up to the Islands as there were boats chasing them around. Sure enough they disappeared.

Today it was beautiful to start but by the end of the day we had very heavy showers. Keith spotted a Peregrine on Staple Island. I grabbed the camera as 2 Great Black-backed Gulls were chasing it. Only got one picture but I was pleased with it as I could hardly keep up with it.

We should start to see a few birds of prey throughout the rest of the year now. Longstone Island seems to be the place for the birds at the moment and the Golden Plovers count is up to 900 now. I'm also looking forward to our 4 hour winter trips soon, and it will not be long before we will see our first Grey Seal Pups so hopefully I will see enough to write about over the Autumn and Winter.

Bonxie

A single Bonxie flew past the bow of the boat this morning as we were going towards Longstone Island to see the seals and all the waders. This is the first time this bird have been close enough for me to get a picture. We have had a good few passing over the last few weeks but it was nice to see one so close.
They are a big bird with what seems to be a large chest with white on its wings. You can see the white on its wings from a distance so they are quite easy to spot. 

We have been noticing a few Blue and Yellow tags on Shags lately so we have been writing the letters down and reporting them. This one is from the Isle of May in the Firth of Forth Scotland.

Little Egret

As I passed Longstone Island on Monday I spotted a Little Egret resting on the grass beside Sunderland Hole, which is where Grace Darling and her Father launched their boat.
As the tides are big at the moment, and it was near high tide I could get a good look at the bird. The only problem I had was trying to keep the boat still as the tide was raging.

Bingo, I got a picture.

Typical Bank Holiday Weather

Well you can tell it was Bank Holiday Weekend as the weather changed and the wind picked up. We never got out on Sunday but made it out today. We only did 2 trips as the tide was getting high and we would have lost our shelter from the Islands. It was like seals city today as all the seals were on the south side of the Islands sheltering from the heavy seas on the north side.

After mooring up about 3pm I walked along the pier to have a look what was going on as it was Lifeboat Fete Day.
After looking around for a bit I heard kids screaming with laughter. As I look across toward the harbour pier I noticed lots of people gathering. Then all of a sudden a wave can crashing over the pier.

I watched for a while and it even got me laughing so I ran back to the boat a grabbed my camera.

It just shows you that we can have all the technology in the world but something as simple as this can make the kids day.

 I Love You Really Son

Oh No

To late it got you

Is that your best shot

No but this one is

I give up.

Dripping Wet

Even the Adults were loving it

Fits of Laughter

Sea water and cars do not go together

Over 100 White Beaked Dolpins

On a trip out a few weeks ago a customer said that he had over 100 Dolphins following him and he had put it on You Tube. When I seen the video I could not believe it so I had to let you all see it to.

He seen them about 5am in the morning as he was sailing back from Germany and he was about 80 miles east of Whitby and was just about to swap shifts with his friend when the Dolphins turned up. I'm so pleased he did not go to bed as this is just amazing.

 ENJOY

600+ Golden Plovers on Longstone Island

Just a few pictures of the Golden Plovers that have been on the Longstone Island lately.

I also saw a Mallard with some chicks which seem to be very late.



Arrivals

As a charter skipper I want calm seas, sunny and lots of birds but if I got that all the time I would be god. In the real world I have to put up with the British weather. Now its not very often I say this but we could do with a little South East, East or North East wind to bring some birds to The Farne Islands.
Yes I know, if I get winds from this direction I will not get a chance to get out to sea but I'm not asking for gales just slight winds would be nice.

Well god must of heard as my prayers, for over the last couple of days we have had slight winds from the South East and it has pushed a few birds our way.

The Longstone Island has been full of birds over the last few weeks. It's had Golden Plovers, Grey Plovers, Knots, Turnstones, Purple Sandpipers, Curlews,  Heron's, Swallows, Pied Wagtails, Rock Pipits, Wheater,  Little Egret and not for getting those inquisitive seals.

We were really surprised to see the Little Egret on the Longstone Island and it was resting beside the all of gulls. It was only the 3rd Little Egret to be on the Islands since 2003 but sadly it flew past the Inner Farne about 3pm heading west to mainland. Oh well at least I got to see it and so did some of my customers.

I had my little girl Charlie with me all day today and she wanted to go on the Inner Farne. My crewman took her for a look around and I knew she would not last for long. Sure enough she was only on there for 15mins and wanted to come back. I was not in a hurry to get them as there was a Wryneck on the West Wideopen and the Wardens had gone across to see it. I was stuck between picking up Charlie and missing the bird or leaving her their a little longer and hopefully get to see the bird.
The look on her face made me feel guilty so I had to go and get her. When she got on the boat the first thing she said was "Daddy I need the toilet" Bless her, she did not want to come of the island but she needed the toilet so much she had to.

After toilet duty I steamed around to the other side of the West Wideopen to see the bird as the Wardens said it was showing really well.
Unfortunately I never got to see it but at least I tried.