The Islands ready for our visit
Guillemots
Guillemots (Bridled Guillemot centre)
Kittiwake with chicks
Seal Colony
Puffins
Shag
Puffin
Puffin
Puffin
Razorbill
Ready for take off
In flight
A leisurely breakfast prepared us well for our day out on the Islands. We had booked the all day trip with Billy Shields MBE which involved a tour of the islands and a two hour visit to both Staple Island and Inner Farne.
The Farnes are 2-3 miles off Seahouses and are made up of 15-20 islands pending on the tide and is home to the most exciting sea bird colony in England. The tour cost was £28 per person which I thought was great value however if you are not a member of the National Trust you would be subject to a landing fee on each island of £6.80.
Staple Island is one of only two islands where visitors are allowed to visit. The Guillemots were first to catch the eye as they sat crowded on top of a group of rocks called the Pinnacles. Kittiwake nests sat precariously on ledges with young chicks. The Shags and Razorbills seemed to prefer the more rugged surfaces. The noise (and smell at first) took some getting used to, at times there was an increased cacophony when a bird landed or moved in the wrong place.
The Puffins paid no interest at all to the visitors, they just went about their daily business. The birds were flying over your head during the whole time and many had there beaks full of fish and eeals. Be warned if you are going there are no toilets on the island.
The nesting survey in 2010 recorded there was 10,672 pairs of Puffins, 11,279 Guillemots, 42 Razorbills and 1,160 Kittiwakes
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