Long-tail Ducks and Big Seas

This is just a quick blog to say we had a nice Long-tailed Ducks in the harbour over last weekend when the weather was rough and they were back again today. I also got some nice pictures of the seas, and Goldeneye's sheltering in the harbour. Even my 14 month Archie was feeding the Eider Ducks at the beach in the harbour. This is the best place to get some great pictures and remember to bring some bread with you for that close up shot. If they bite don't blame me.

Ship Wrecked ( Danio )

On Saturday morning I came down the harbour to move my boat when I heard about an 80 meter ship on the rocks at The Farne Islands.

To be honest I thought it was all rumors so I went out to have a look. Sure enough their she was high and dry just the north side of Big Harcar.

I was a little bit gob smacked really as I could not understand how she was there and why. I can't comment on it either as I don't know, so that will have to come from the Captain.

My main thoughts going through my head were all the Seals, and the Seabirds have just started to arrive. I also heard that she had no oil on board which was great news. The Islands are a very important part of my life, the village and all the people who come here to see it's beauty and the last thing we need is something like this.

I think if they somehow try to get the fuel of her and lighten the load by removing all the logs she's carrying they might have a sporting chance to get her off, but the tide changes tomorrow and they are not as big and it's looks like we going to have S.E. Gales on Monday which is the worst direction.  Other than that I would say cut it up as quick as possible before all the birds arrive in about 3 weeks time.

Here are some pictures from today's fun and games.

This was the first sight I got of her when I arrived and 8.30am this morning.

Notice all the logs on board. 

Here she is on the north side of Blue Caps

The guys put a rope ladder over her stern to see if the props were damaged

 Her Propellers

 

The tide has started to turn now

 

A tug came down from Leith to help her of the rocks.

The tide is covering the rocks now.

 

This was the last shot I got of her before I left at 8pm tonight. She was still on the rocks and they were going out tomorrow to see what they can do.

Lets just hope it's a happy ending. For hourly updates just follow me on Twitter @thefarnes

Guillemots have landed

I was out on Thursday and I was amazed by the amount of Guillemots that had arrived. We saw loads on Wednesday flying in from the North Sea, but I did not except as many as I saw on Thursday.

I had felt my camera at home so I decided to give it a go at filming them with my mobile. 

This is an amazing sight and I see it every year but every year I still get a big smile across my face. I do like the Guillemots when they first arrive as they are flighty and as I cruise past with the boat they jump of the cliff faces in their thousands.

Anyway here goes and I do hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Velvet Day

It was a beautiful day yesterday and I was heading out to the Farnes in the afternoon.  I was down the harbour early to put some paint on the boats before I went out, but the boat was frozen. I asked Peter to boil the kettle so we could melt the ice and dry the boat before we started painting. The things you have to do to get on.

After some painting I got the boat ready to go out. I picked the guests up and off we went. Once we arrived were saw about about 1000 Guillemots on the water beside The Inner Farne and their were more coming in from the North Sea, so lets see what the next day brings.

We had 2 Long-tailed Ducks and a single Goldeneye beside Knocks Reef a few Teal and a Pergrine Falcon.

We steamed towards Staple Island to see the seals and their were loads.

After the first trip I was going back out with some friends. They like their photography and the birds so we decided (Well I did) just to go to the Inner Farne and then head up to Stag Rock and Ross Sands.

Oh boy was I pleased they agreed to it as it was just stunning and the birds were just great.

We had lots of Waders along the shoreline at Ross Sands, 2 Red-throated Divers, 12 Long-tailed Ducks, 50+ Razorbills, 50+ Common Scoters and 1 Velvet Scoter.

Why oh why could we not have had this weather on Saturday when we did our 4 hour Winter Wildlife Trip. Never mind I was enjoying this weather and enjoying the trip.

Here are some pictures from yesterday and thank you to David for his picture of the Velvet Scoter as mine was a bit to far away and thank you to everyone else who joined me today.

Winter Wildlife Trip

We have been trying to do this trip for some while now but it keeps getting cancelled due to bad weather, but on Saturday we decided to give it a go.

With all our guests on board we set sail.

We had not even left the harbour and we had a female Long-tailed Duck and a male and female Maganser's. We slowly steamed towards the Farne Islands as it was a bit choppy and the wind was coming from the N.E. so I wanted to get the worst bit over straight away. Once we were there it was calm in the shelter of the Islands and we had 3 Long-tailed Ducks fly past the boat.

After that we headed towards Staple Island to see the Seals, and we were greeted by loads of Fulmars flying around. We had a few Purple Sandpipers, Turnstones and lots of seals. After everyone got a few photographs we headed towards Holy Island riding the waves along the way.

I have never known a day like it, as it felt like 4 seasons in 1 day. We had sun, cloud, wind, calm seas, rough seas but to top it all of we had a heavy downpour of snow just as we got to Holy Island. I kept on looking at my guests to see if they were ok as it was cold and the last thing we needed was snow but out towards the sea was a small bit of blue sky and my fingers were crossed it would come our way.

It did thank god and we were so pleased as out of the gloom appeared a Slavonian Grebe. It was so hard to get a good picture of this little beauty as my camera kept on focusing on the water instead of the bird.

After that we had 30+ Common Scoters and a single Velvet Scoter and along the way we also had 2 Red-throated Divers, some Guillemots and Razorbill and in total 17 Long-tailed Ducks.

We were arrived back at the harbour they guys noticed a male Long-tailed Duck in the harbour, so we had to pop across for a quick picture to finish the trip.

Once again I would like to thank everyone who joined me and next time I hope the weather is alot better for us.

Here are some very dull pictures of our trip and they are not very good either sorry. 

Long-tailed Ducks

After my last post I decided to head I needed a break and headed to the sun for a couple of weeks. Now I'm back, refreshed and ready to go.

I've been out a few times over the last few day's and the weather has been just stunning.

The Guillemots have returned in the thousands again. They may only be here for a few days and leave again but for the moment it's great to see them back. I have also seen a few Goldeneye's, Mallard, Teal,  lots of Fulmars, Shags, Turnstones, Purple Sandpipers, 1 Razorbill, 1 Common Scoter, 1 Great Northern Diver and 3 female Long-tailed Ducks.

Even though it's been great to see all the birds around the Islands again I did not have to go far as we have had 2 female Long-tailed Ducks in the harbour over the last few days and they have really stole the show.

The sunlight in the harbour on Sunday was perfect and the Ducks moved slowly towards the boat, so I lay down on the deck and put my lense through the scupper (A hole in the side of the boat to let the water run of the deck) and clicked away. The light on the water was stunning and the water looked like it was orange.

I have only cropped the pictures and never altered them one bit and you can see how colourful the Duck and water is.

Here are some pictures over the last few days........Enjoy

The light was poor on this Common Scoter but when the sun came out it was gone. Typical.

Guillemots on top of the Pinnacles this afternoon.

Female Long-tailed Duck showing well in the harbour.