Winter Wildlife Trip

I had a few people asking about our Winter Wildlife Trips so I decided put a trip on for Saturday 22nd November and I was really pleased with the response and I was looking forward to it.

With the weather changing its mind every two minutes I decided I would take a chance and go for it and I was really pleased I did as it ended up being a cracking day.

On our way out the seas were really big at times and there was a heavy swell in the water but I had to give it a go as some people had come a long way for this trip and I did not want to disappoint them.

Once we arrived at the Farnes I had a little plan in my head of which way I wanted to go and what I was hoping to see, but I did not except to stumble across a cracking Grey Phalarope tight into the corner of Knocks Reef.

My main reason for being there was that I wanted to see if there were any seals pups on the beach at the Wide Opens and hopefully some ducks would be around too, but to see this cracking little bird was a total bonus.

As we got closer I had to be really careful as the swell at times really big and I did not want to be picked up dropped onto the bottom in the shallow waters. Its a great bird but not worth destroying my boat for. Anyway after manoeuvring the boat so everyone got a good view I moved away. I did manage to get a couple of pictures myself but they were rubbish as I had the wrong settings on my camera and I was not in the right place to start to change them.

We headed across to Staple Island were we saw a new born seal pup on the jetty and it gave us a real dirty look as if to say leave me along.

While we were watching the seal its mother decided to come and say hello to, but it was more like stay away from my child.

We moved further along looking as we were going when we spotted my Lapwing on it own which was a little surprising to see.

We decided to keep on going to see some more seal pups and after a while we turned and headed towards Holy Island.

The seas had calmed down a bit and we were surfing them so it did not seem that bad.

We passed a few Little Auks in the distance. We also saw a few Razorbills, Guillemots and Puffins on route and then again another Grey Phalarope flew straight past the boat. Two in one day. Get in.

Once we arrived at Holy Island it was flat calm and it was a good time to give everyone a cuppa.

We were really surprised that it was very quite but we all had our fingers crossed that we would stumble across something good.

We went really close to the rocks and sand banks at Holy Island and we saw loads of Oystercatchers and some Godwits.

After our cuppa and spending a bit of time near Holy Island we went along Ross Sands.

I just took my time just in case something mega would fly past and say hello but it was not until we got level with the entrance to Budle Bay that we saw a few Common Scoters and some cracking Long-tailed Ducks.

The light was perfect and so were the seas and I had a feeling things were going to get good.

We tried to get good views of the birds but they were not playing so then I decided to go slowly then switch off the engines and just drift into the birds with no noise at all. It worked perfectly.

It was so calm and peaceful then all of a sudden I heard the Long-tails calling. This is the first time I have heard them call and boy it was a great call it is. I could have sat there listening to them all day, but they were really close now so it was time to get some pictures.

 
After some great views of these beautiful birds we went down towards Stag Rock were we saw a Red-throated Divers but it was not playing ball at all.

Then all of a sudden I heard Andy (my crewman) shouting Grebe.

Everyone was on the wrong side of the boat and if it was not for Andy we might have missed it.

It was a Red-necked Grebe just sitting there right beside the boat and it put on a really good show.

It was not bothered about us at all and it seemed to enjoyed the fact that we were getting very good views in the beautiful winter sun.

This was the height light of the trip for me and I was smiling from ear to ear.

I would like to thank everyone who joined me on this trip and I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

I will also be doing another one at the end of January if anyone is interested in joining me then give me a shout.  I have not decided on a date just yet but either watch here or my Facebook Page or Twitter Feed.

www.facebook.com/serenity.boats     www.twitter.com/thefarnes

1st Winter Wildlife Tour 2011/12

I watched the forecast with anticipation this week as we had our first Winter Wildlife Tour on Saturday and I was praying for good weather. God must have heard me as the weather was great. We had a little wind from the north but nothing to worry about.

With all the guests on board we left the harbour about 10.30am and slowly steamed north as the wind was in our faces and I knew the second we turned it would feel a lot warmer.

We got past the rocks outside Seahouses and turned towards the beach hoping to see some Divers, but just before Bamburgh Castle we were greeted by 2 Red-necked Grebes resting on the water, and anoother one 2 seconds later, but we could not get close enough for a decent picture. After that there was 12 Whopper Swans flying west towards the land and then about 10 Common Scoters flying south. A little further on we saw 1 Red-throated Diver flying north close to the shore, then 2 minutes later we had 5 more Red-throated Divers took us by surprise by flying in from behind the stern of the boat then veered across to our starboard side. They were really close to the boat and I managed to get a couple of shots but not very good.

A little further on someone shouted that they has seen a Little Auk. Quick as a flash I turned the boat to see if it was still there, and it was. Now this Little Auk was a beauty and did not want to go away. I got a few good pictures and hopefully so did everyone else.

As we were all smiling at seeing this little cracker when I noticed a Puffin and a juvenile Great Northern Diver just a little further out, so of we went again. Yet more little posers.

On arriving at Holy Island we were not disappointed by the variety of birds. We first made our way across to St Cuthberts Island where there were lots of Oystercatchers and a single Curlew hiding in the rocks. On leaving the St Cuthberts Island we went across to Black Law Rock where we greeted by lots of Shags, Cormarants, 2 Red-throated Divers, 1 Grey Heron, 20+ Curlews, Turnstones and lots and lots of Eider Ducks.

    
After leaving Holy Island we steamed slowly along Ross Sands in the hope that would see some Long-tailed Ducks, and we were not disappointed as a single male duck appeared in the distance. We slowly creeped closer but it was not in the mood to let us get very close. Never mind, we did get close enough to get a poor picture. I was very surprised that we did not see very many Long-tailed Ducks, as it was about the same time last year when we did the same trip and we did see a few more and they showed a lot better.

After that we steamed over to The Farne Islands to see all the Grey Seals and their pups. On the way across we saw another Puffin and a Razorbill. I just love these little birds so I have to add a picture.

When we arrived at South Whames to see the all the Seals and pups we also saw a few Turnstones, Redwings and Purple Sandpipers. The rocks are just covered in seal pups at the moment and the weather has been really kind to them, as the numbers have been increasing daily. The last I heard there was over 800 pups and still growing.

It is a magical time of the year around the Farnes as you are never quite sure what you will see. A lot of people think that when the breeding season has finished there is nothing left to see but the Seals, but they are so wrong. You have to keep your eye's peeled and you will see more than you think.

To finish the trip off we saw a Merlin on Staple Island and a male Peregrine on West Wideopen. I also noticed that the Shags were starting to get their crest of feathers back on their heads again.

The Merlin picture below was taken on Sunday not on Saturday.

After I had tied the boat up and drove home I could not help myself to stop and finish the day of with a lovely sunset picture.

I would like to thank everyone for joining me on our first Winter Wildlife Trip and I do hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

Our next tour is on the 19th November so don't miss out on this special place.

First Winter Birdwatching Tour - Sat 6th November

We couldn't have picked a better day to start our first season of Winter Bird & Seal tours around the Farnes and Holy Island, bright sunshine, calm seas and big Northumberland skies made for a great backdrop to the day and the wildlife didn't disappoint either.

Using Serenity II our purpose built catamaran we headed straight north to Holy Island to catch the tide. Keith our on-board wildlife guide picking out small numbers of Long-tailed Duck including some stunning males as we went.

As we reached the end of Ross Back Sands with the tide dropping we were able to manoeuvre in close to many of the roosting wader flocks on the sandbars and islands at the entrance to the National Nature Reserve. Oystercatcher,Redshank, a good size flock of Bar-tailed Godwit all put on a great display. A single Knot was picked out amongst the crowd and a Red-throated Diver in the vestiges of summer plumage entertained passengers off the starboard.

 

With the tide dropping we moved back south close to the beach, benefiting from the access afforded by a catamaran. A small flock of Common Scoter dived in the waves and we soon picked out five Slavonian Grebes and a Red-necked Grebe amongst the breakers. We added another five Slavonian Grebes as we moved back opposite Budle Bay, as well as double figures of Long-tailed Duck.

The second part of our four hour tour took us out to the Farnes, an altogether different place in winter. As we moved through Staple Sound we found small numbers of Little Auk, the smallest of our auks and a regular winter visitor. With the weather changed a few days later over 1700 were counted passing by the Farnes Wardens.

After some close in views of adult and pup Grey Seals and two encounters with two different Peregrines it was time to head back to shore after a great first trip. A fantastic start to the winter season and we're all looking forward to see what the weeks ahead will bring.