Seahouses 2025 Part 2

21st to 23rd July, 2025 (Mon-Wed)

Monday afternoon, a boat trip to the Farne Islands. I think this is the 15th trip I've done since the 1980s. Often gone with Billy Shiels, as we did this time, but, the boat was very crowded, and would have to say I think the Serenity boats, or the newer Billy Shiels boats are probably nicer - but still, a great trip, as were the previous 14. Often done this trip the end of July, and this year we were a bit earlier, July 21st, but there were fewer birds than previously, breeding had been early and a lot had departed. Extremely few guillemots (I think just n the sea, none on the islands), the odd razorbill, no sandwich or common terns, but quite a few arctic terns, puffins, shags, cormorant and kittiwake. Enjoyed trying to catch puffins flying carrying fish.

One of the boats returning from the islands.

The route was 14 miles (including walking round Inner Farne)

Female goosander

Cormorant

Puffins

Cormorant

Puffins

Kittiwakes

Puffin

One common sandpiper, rather distant, was on Longstone.

Longstone lighthouse looking typically bright.

Plenty of grey seals.

Was a nice day, had the usual 1 hour on Inner Farne. Our boat, moored at the jetty.

Arctic tern

The one Razorbill we saw on the island.

Shag

Kittiwake

A flock of feral pigeons - not really a highlight - and not included in the bird list for the holiday.

Lesser black backed gull

Puffin with sand eels.

The pinnacles (in the distance), usually famous for the thousands of guillemots, but deserted this year (and rather blurred in the heat).

Arctic tern

And a black headed gull.

Young gulls - hopefully their mother loves them.

And a meadow pipit.

Typical views, from sailing away at the end of the trip, the lighthouse on Inner Farne.

Back at the harbour, the colours were lovely in the sunshine.

Still plenty of male eiders.

And oystercatchers, trying their best.

Back on the balcony, the starlings were looking for food.

And we then went on the beach at Beadnell for an evening barbeque, stopping to admire the tractors in the carpark - a Fordson Dexta and an International.

Tom had his drone out, and later we walked along the beach to the Long Nanny tern colony - plenty of terns, including some little terns.

That night, 1:30am, the lifeboat had another call.

Back on the balcony next morning (Tuesday), sparrows were back looking for food.

As were the starlings.

And the swallows were back on the wires.

The lifeboat was back, but not put away.

We decided to drive to Kielder Water, having a BBQ en route. We also stopped at a bridge over the River Coquet near Hepple, and a flock of small birds included great and coal tits - useful for the holiday list. Saw quite a few siskin and chaffinch in Kielder Forest.

Surprisingly little to do at Kielder - we had a short walk, no sign of any osprey. Lovely countryside, came back through Coquet Valley. Had a picnic in the valley, and watched ravens overhead.