Happy New Year.

Happy New Year and I would like to thank everyone who has either sailed with me last year or just read my blog.

It's been a while since I have blogged as I have hardly been out around the Islands during December. The seas have been really rough and we all know how much rain we've had, but I did get out a couple of times so here is a short blog.

The last 2 trips I did was on the 9th Dec and Boxing Day and it was one of our Grey Seal Trips.
I only had 5 people join me but they thoroughly enjoyed the day out, but the Sunday's trip was cancelled due to the bad weather, which was such a pity as the gang were really looking forward to it.

I've done this trip a few times now and I still get a real buzz about it. We spend about 2 hours on the Island viewing the Grey Seals and their pups, with some fantastic views towards the Northumberland Coastline.

This trip is all about the seals, but we still have to remember that we are invading their home, so the up most respect has to be given to them, ourselves and a safe distance between ourselves and these beautiful creatures is the most important thing.

The other thing is that it's really slippy on the rocks and after telling everyone to be careful I fell over myself. Oh well I can't really go to clams direct now.

After a few hours on the Island we depart and take a slow cruise around the Islands looking for that perfect picture or just taking the scenery in. It was just a lovely day and I would like to thank everyone who joined me that day and here is a selection of seals from that trip.

We will also be doing these trips again next year and if you interested please just give me a shout.

Over the Christmas period I did get out on Boxing Day and I was really looking forward to it as there is only so much you can do at home, plus I was going a bit mad.

We had a few guests wanting to blow the cobwebs away or hangovers, so off we went. The sea was littered with branches and floating logs and see this was from all the bad weather we had before Christmas. The water was really brown and you could tell the rain had washed all the mud out of the Tweed and the tide had brought it down to the Islands, and even at the Longstone Lighthouse the water was brown.

As we arrived at Brownsman Island you could see tree's, rope, bouys and other bits of rubbish wash up on the grassy bank side. Well not so grassy bank side, as a combination of the big waves and the seals have turned it all into mud, then it hit me, "The Smell", it was stinking. This can't be the brown water, and as I got around the corner I realized it was not the water, it was the seals. Their were thousands of them, all basking in the sun, mourning and growling at each other, then giving me the look as to say "What the hell are you doing here".

I must admit it was the seal poo and its not a pleasant smell at all. I thought to myself for a while, but then I had to tell the guests what the smell was as I was getting some funny looks.

Oh well on with the trip. The seals were everywhere and the guests got some great views. We also saw lots of Turnstones, Purple Sandpipers, 2 Curlew, a Peregrine and 3 Long-tailed Ducks.

As we got towards the end of the trip we noticed a new born seal pup on the beach at the Inner Farne. I could not believe it as the seas were that big one day that the waves were as high as the Inner Farne Lighthouse and for this little fella to survive was just amazing. Whether it was born after the bad weather I'm not sure but you have to take your hat of to it for sticking it out.

Seeing the pup was just lovely but along the cliff face of the Inner Farne was a little sad as we seen a Razorbill covered in oil and it was trying to clean it off. I did not give this fella much hope but hopefully it will be ok. 

After some nice views it was time to head home, so here is a few more pictures for you.