North of England Tour

4th to 11th June 2016

Part 6 - Farne Islands - Terns & General

Farne Islands Map

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Part 1 - Keswick - Boat ride, Aira Force, Castlerigg & General

Part 2 - Keswick - Helvellyn via Striding Edge

Part 3 - Keswick - Blencathra

Part 4 - Housesteads Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall

Part 5 - Seahouses & Farne Island Seals

Part 6 - Farne Islands - Terns & General

Part 7 - Farne Islands - Puffins & Shags

Part 8 - Lindisfarne - General & Castle

Part 9 - Lindisfarne Priory

After touring around the islands, we landed on Inner Farne for an hour to view the birds at close hand...

Our boat on an early trip...

Serenity II

Miche at sea; it was calm, but my eyes were fixed resolutely on the horizon at this time...

Miche boat

Huge bird colonies from afar...

Birds

more birds

The cliffs are beautifully banded...

cliffs

Rare shot of a puffin with its mouth open...

First puffin groups

More clifftop Puffins...

Puffins 2

Guillemots - lots of guillemots...

Guillemots

After weeks of bad weather, we had a very smooth crossing - not taking any chances, I positioned myself within easy lurching distance of the toilet...

Keeping it close

cliffs 2

Guillemots...

Guillemots 2

Kittiwake zone...

Kittiwakes

Overhead formations...

Overhead

Razorbill...

Razorbill

Bamburgh Castle as seen from Inner Farne...

Bamburgh castle

Church built in 1370 and dedicated to St Cuthbert...

Chapel

St Cuthbert's Church...

Church

Terns

Some of the Tern nests were even on the walkways - closer even than these ones...

Terns 1

It was still a little early, but quite a few nests had chicks...

Terns 2

Bringing home a Sand Eel...

Terns 3

No lack of enthusiasm...

Terns 4

The very small chicks did struggle to take on a whole one...

Terns 5

Terns 6

Terns 7

The Terns were very protective of their nests - I received several pecks, just as this chap did - a hat was essential...

Terns 8

Miche getting some Tern attention...

Terns 9

Divebombing...

Terns 10

Miche had the bonus of being 'gulled', the mark of the dedicated true twitcher...

Terns 11

Next stop - Part 7 - Farne Islands - Puffins & Shags

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Full Index of links

Part 1 - Keswick - Boat ride, Aira Force, Castlerigg & General

Part 2 - Keswick - Helvellyn via Striding Edge

Part 3 - Keswick - Blencathra

Part 4 - Housesteads Roman Fort - Hadrian's Wall

Part 5 - Seahouses & Farne Island Seals

Part 6 - Farne Islands - Terns & General

Part 7 - Farne Islands - Puffins & Shags

Part 8 - Lindisfarne - General & Castle

Part 9 - Lindisfarne Priory