Unbridled Terns

Artic Terns

A trip to the Farne Islands is great with or without rarities, and the fact that a Bridled Tern was reported on Inner Farne was coincidental to our trip. Just as well as it had 'gone fishing' when we were there.

Still, plenty of fine feathered friends to provide one of natures great shows.....

Guillemots

Guilletmots with young

Bridled Guillimot

Kittiwake

Puffins

And boat loads of people

Surfing Wild Thurso

The lads surf trip to Thurso was the usual mix of ripping waves, great crack and fantastic wildlife.

Best waves were in the 'Bowl' at Brims Ness

Surfing with Dolphins

A rather friendly Razorbill

Best estimate was 12,000 auks passing by every hour. Here, two Puffins

 lead the way followed by Guillemots and Razorbills

We visited John O'Groats to see the Killer Whales, but missed them by an hour.

 They've been seen every day for the last two weeks.

Great Skua

Kittiwake harrassed by an Artic Skua

The bright light outside our hotel chalet attracted this stunning White Ermine moth

Blame it on the moon

Up early today to board the Sarah JFK at Amble for another day surveying the North Sea with Martin Kitching for sea birds and cetaceans. It was a beautiful day with great visibility offering fantastic views of the Northumbeland Alps (Cheviot Hills).

The only complication was missing high tide to get back into Amble Harbour. 4 hours later we arrived in North Shields. Still, we got to see plenty more...............

Gannets with the snow covered Cheviot Hills

Guillemots

Razorbill

Puffin

Kittiwake

Hardcore Science

No relaxing Sunday morning at the Wildupnorth ranch yesterday, it was an early start and off to Amble (Meadow Well by the sea) to catch a boat to take part in a marine survey looking for cetaceans and birds. The 3 metre swell that had scuppered the survey on Saturday had dropped to 1.5 metres so we left the harbour at 8.40am with four souls on board.

While the sun came out to see us off, the temperature on land was -5 deg C, and as we headed 35 miles out, the horizon to our south grew darker and darker. And the sea got rougher and rougher! Eventually a blizzard hit.



The good news is that the weather cleared after half an hour and the survey continued.

Species seen:

Red-throated Diver - 2 leaving the harbour and 1 about 25 mile out.
Guillemot - numerous
Razorbill
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Common Gull
Black-headed Gull
Gannet - numerous
Carrion Crow (heading out to Coquet Island)
Fulmar
Puffin

One possible dolphin - a blow and a fin were seen by the skipper.

 Martin 'Pelagic' Kitching hastily writes his Last Will and Testament.