Farne Islands Revisited

 It seems hard to believe, but Jayne and I haven't been to the Farne Islands since 2019, so last week's visit was long overdue. We also took the opportunity to have a return visit to the  National Trust's Long Nanny Tern Reserve.

Our first stop was Long Nanny, where we added 4 new species for the year: Arctic Tern (156), Little Tern (157), the returning American Black Tern (158 - first seen by us, last year) and a fly-over Hobby (159).

Later in the day, we drove up to Seahouses and went out to The Farnes. Luckily, the weather was pretty good and we managed to see all the usual species, and also managed to get a few nice photos. The first new species was Kittiwake (160), followed closely by Guillemot (161), Puffin (162) and Razorbill (163). We didn't seen any Sandwich Terns (164) on the Farnes, but we did spot two fishing on the River Coquet, near Warkworth, on the drive back.

Kittiwake

Arctic Tern

Guillemot (bridled bird)

Razorbill (on nest)

Puffins!!!!

Oban - 9th - 16th August 2025

 After our week in Anstruther, Jayne and I drove across to Oban, to meet up with the rest of the family. Whilst there, in between the touristy bits, we managed to add 3 new bird species to the "Year List", a new butterfly for the year and add a new species of butterfly and mammal to the Life Lists.

The 3 new birds were: Greenshank (190), when 2 were spotted on the loch near our holiday home, Black Guillemot (191); 2 birds in and around Oban harbour and Manx Shearwater (192), with a flock of c20 seen from the ferry, whilst crossing over to Mull.

Black Guillemot (moulting into winter plumage)

The new species of butterfly was a Scotch Argus, that flew past us on the beach (!) and landed, very briefly, hence the awful photo, on Ganavan Sands, Oban.

Scotch Argus

The other butterfly species seen were: Red Admiral, Green-veined White and Grayling (seen on Isle of Luing).

Grayling

Other species seen, whilst up there were: Common Buzzard, Raven (3 over the Isle of Luing and over the holiday accommodation), Hooded Crow (no longer on the Year List since being  "lumped" back with Carrion Crow, Jackdaw, Turnstone, Redshank, Oystercatcher, Gannet, Kittiwake, Herring, Common, Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls, Stonechat, Swallow, House Martin (nesting on our holiday home), Starling, a single Skua species (probably Arctic), seen harrying the terns (probably Arctic as well) on the ferry to Mull and some "pigeons" that could possibly be Rock Doves (seen on the Isle of Luing).

Hooded Crow

Mammal wise, we spent an enjoyable few hours out with the Heart of Argyl Wildlife Organisation in the Knapdale Forest on a "Beaver Walk", where we managed to watch an adult beaver swim the entire length of the Loch of Barnluasgan!!

European Beaver

Whilst on the ferry across to Mull, we saw a small pod of approximately 6 Common Dolphins (no photos unfortunately). The final animal of note, was a single Red Squirrel, seen disappearing into the bushes!

Northumberland - 25th May 2025

 Jayne and I have just spent a few days up in Northumberland. Whilst there, we added another few species to the year's "Year List".

Our first stop was the National Trust's "Long Nanny" tern colony. The main reason for visiting this site was to see the returning American Black Tern (167). Although not yet a full species, it was wonderful to see this elegant bird flying around the Arctic Tern (168) colony, looking for a mate. The bird, a female first seen in 2020, was seen just once during our visit, and it landed briefly behind the grass, allowing a quick, distant photo.

American Black Tern sub. surinamensis

Other birds seen at the colony included the Arctic Terns (settling down to breed), Little Tern (169), Skylar, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Swallow, House Martin, Sand Martin and Swift.

Arctic Terns

Afterwards, we drove up to Amble, where we had spotted out first Eider Ducks (170), bobbing around in the harbour. We then went out on a boat to the RSPB's Coquet Island. Unfortunately, landing isn't allowed, but we sailed around the island, spotting Gannet (171), Puffin (172), Guillemot (173), Kittiwake (174), and, best of all, Roseate Terns (175). The Roseates were tricky to see, but I did manage to grab this one, long distance shot!

Roseate Tern

Eider Duck

Wales Weekend - 26th - 28th May 2023

Jayne and I had a few days on Anglesey this weekend. We stopped in Treaddur Bay and visited a few well known spots and one new one.

Our first stop was the National Trust's Bodnant Garden, where we enjoyed a lovely walk around, including the beautiful Laburnum Arch, and spotted a few insects - Beautiful Demoiselle (male and female), Common Blue, Large Red and Azure Damselfly. We also spotted a Grey Wagtail feeding recently fledged young - with Large Red Damselflies!!

Beautiful Demoiselle (female)

Beautiful Demoiselle (male)

The following day, we popped into Holyhead Harbour to catch up with Black Guillemot, before heading off to RSPB South Stack. We had a wonderful couple of hours here, in bright sunshine, and spotted: Razorbill, Guillemot, Herring Gull, Fulmar, Linnet, Stonechat, Meadow Pipit, Skylark, Hooded Crow, Raven, Peregrine Falcon, Chough, Small Heath, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary, Wall Brown and Common Blue Butterfly.

Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary

Our final stop of day two was the North Wales Wildlife Trust's Cemlyn Lagoons, where we saw Common, Arctic and Sandwich Terns, as well as Black-headed Gulls and Oystercatcher. 

On our final day we visited  the National Trust's Plas Newydd site, in search of Red Squirrels. Unfortunately, we didn't manage to see any this time, but we did enjoy a lovely walk around the grounds and house.

Year List update: Black Guillemot (164), Sandwich Tern (165) and Arctic Tern (166).

Elegant Tern - Cemlyn Lagoon, 26th July 2021

I was out "twitching" again yesterday! This time, I went to Cemlyn Lagoon, a North Wales Wildlife Trust site, to see an Elegant Tern. This North American species appeared in t tern colony earlier in the year, and has spent the last few months attempting to find a mate. It hasn't been successful, and was still presenting fish to the Sandwich Terns there when I saw it.

Elegant Tern

Whilst waiting for the tern to appear, I watched (and listened to!!) the Sandwich, Arctic and Common Terns flying backwards and forwards with food for their chicks. Also seen were: Black Guillemot (2 on the sea), Whimbrel (2), Red-breasted Merganser (1 on the sea), Oystercatcher, Grey Heron and Little Egret.

One of the Sandwich Terns was wearing a darvic ring, KJC (black lettering on yellow). It was ringed on the island of Inish, which is on Lady's Island Lake in County Wexford, Ireland (182km) presumably as a chick, on 21st June 2017. It was seen a couple of times in North Wales in August 2018, and then 6 times at Cemlyn this year. Amazingly, the darvic-ringed Sandwich Tern I had at St Mary's Island last week, KAL, (see here), had also been ringed on his island, just four days earlier (17th June 2017)! This bird seems to like the east coast of England, as it has been reported 8 times at Coquet Island in July and August 2019 and 2020, before my sighting on 22nd July 2021. It has also been reported in Namibia, in a place called Walvis Bay, on 16th October 2019. A well travelled bird!!

Year List update:

156 - Elegant Tern

157 - Black Guillemot

158 - Red-breasted Merganser

BLACK_BROWED ALBATROSS!!!!!!!!!!!

 On Monday I drove up to RSPB Bempton Cliffs to see the long-staying Black-browed Albatross "Albert"!

I arrived on site at 5.50am, and saw the bird straight away, perched on the cliffs below Staple Newark, with the Gannets. It was well tucked in, but did keep stretching, and had a brief fly around, before disappearing into the heavy sea fret! A fantastic sighting, and a "lifer" to boot.

Afterwards, I drove further up the coast to Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, a regular spot for Mediterranean Gulls. I saw a minimum of  9 on the beach, along with Black-headed Gulls, a fishing Shag and Arctic and Sandwich Terns.

Mediterranean Gull

My final stop of the day was St Mary's Island, where another 20+ Sandwich Terns were roosting. In amongst them were 3 darviced birds, UBB, UVN and KAL. UBB was originally ringed on Coquet Island, on 5th May 2015. It was seen here again in 2018. My sighting is the first since then, and the first away from the island. UVN was also ringed in 2015, on Inner Farne. It has nested on Coquet Island since, but has also been reported in Namibia, in October 2018. I haven't heard back from KAL yet. 

UBB

UVN

KAL

A ringed Black-headed Gull, T73, was also at St Mary's. No details of where and when it was ringed yet, but a local birder said it was a returning German bird.

T73

Year List update:

151 - Black-browed Albatross

152 - Mediterranean Gull

153 - Shag

154 - Sandwich Tern

155 - Arctic Tern 

Northumberland Birding

 This Bank Holiday weekend I was up in Northumberland with Jayne. We had visits to St Mary's Island (Whitley Bay), Amble and Bamburgh, and recorded some nice birds, including six "year ticks".

We started at St Mary's Island on Saturday in 40 mph winds and driving rain!! Despite the weather conditions we saw many wader species including Dunlin, Sanderling, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Golden Plover, Curlew, Redshank and Oystercatcher. Other birds seen here were: Herring, Black-headed and Lesser Black-backed and Great Black-backed Gulls; Sandwich and Arctic Terns, Eider Ducks and 5 fly-by Pale-bellied Brent Geese.

On Sunday we had a walk around the harbour at Amble, where we added Mediterranean Gull (1 adult) and Shag to the weekend's bird list. The Shag, a first year bird, was ringed with a darvic XUN, and had been ringed on 20th June 2020, as a chick, on the Isle of May.

Mediterranean Gull

Shag XUN

After a quick walk around Warkworth, we headed up to Bamburgh, where we had a walk around "Stag Rocks", adding Purple Sandpiper (1 bird) to the Year List.

Year List update:

158 – Pale-bellied Brent Goose 

159 – Eider Duck

160 – Arctic Tern

161 – Golden Plover

162 – Sanderling

163 – Purple Sandpiper

Farne Islands

I last visited the Farne Islands in 2011 (see here), so, when deciding where to go away this year, Jayne and I decided to visit this group of islands off the Northumberland coast at the height of the breeding season. We visited on Friday 31st May, and, despite heavy rain for most of the visit (!), had an amazing time seeing all the birds at such close quarters.

We went across to the islands and spent about one and a half hours travelling around them (seeing Fulmar and Gannets), before landing on Inner Farne for an hour long visit. Whilst on the island we walked up through the Arctic Tern colony, passing the nesting birds (and being pecked by them). We also saw nesting Sandwich Terns, Eider Ducks, Black-headed Gulls, Shag, Guillemot, Razorbill and Puffin, all within touching distance of the paths - fantastic!!

Arctic Tern

Eider Duck

Razorbill

Guillemot (including a bridled individual)

Puffins

Black-headed Gull (and chick)

Year List update:

178 – Kittiwake

179 – Puffin

180 – Arctic Tern

A Week in Suffolk

I've just been down to Suffolk for a week's holiday, and in between visits to Southwold and Aldeburgh, and sitting on the beach in amazing 25 degree heat, I managed to see a few birds and increase the Year List, including a  new British Tick, in the form of a Collared Pratincole. Here's a terrible picture that I managed to get.

Collared Pratincole

 

Most of the birding, including the Pratincole,  took place at the superb RSPB Minsmere reserve, which was just 10 minutes drive from our cottage. I managed to see all of the year ticks except the Dartford Warbler and the Garden Warbler, at this site. Here's another poor shot, this time of the part breeding plumaged Curlew Sandpiper.

 

Curlew Sandpiper

 

Year List update:
153 – Red-legged Partridge

154 – Green Sandpiper
155- Curlew Sandpiper
156- Collared Pratincole
157 – Little Gull (20+ every day at Minsmere)
158 – Little Tern
159 – Sandwich Tern
160 – Arctic Tern (1)
161 – Dartford Warbler (Dunwich Heath)
162 – Garden Warbler (1 ringed at The Avenue, Chesterfield on 12th July)

As well as the birds I also managed to see a few butterflies and moths, so I'll add another post about those later.

"Commic" Terns at Linacre

Since I started recording the birdlife at Linacre Reservoirs began back in 2006 I have only ever had 1 sighting of any tern species, a single Common Tern. This morning's WeBS walk started well, with the first waterbirds seen being a couple of "commic" terns flying over the bottom reservoir. Commic Terns aren't a new species, but the name given by birders, to birds that can't be positively identified as either Common or Arctic Terns. Unfortunately I only saw them for about 30 seconds, before they flew off east down the valley, so today's birds fell into that category. Looking on Birdguides later, I noticed that there had been a big influx of Arctic Terns into the country, so its quite possible that these birds were Arctics, but as I didn't identify them as such at the time they'll have to stay as "commics".

After the excitement of the "commics" I carried on and walked around the site to carry out the rest of this month's WeBS count. Usually, at this time of the year, water bird numbers  drop off, as birds disperse to breed. This was the case today, but there were a few surprises in store as well.

First the expected birds: Mallard (43; including 2 broods of ducklings, two groups of 7), Tufted Duck (22), Canada Goose (1, the hybrid bird), Coot (10, including the incubating adult on the top reservoir), Moorhen (7, including the incubating bird ,also on the top reservoir), Great-crested Grebe (4, 2 pairs, both incubating eggs), Mandarin (2 males) and Grey Wagtail (1 heard only).

A little more unexpected were the "redhead" Goosander that was on the top reservoir, and a summer plumaged Black-headed Gull. Both species are regular winter visitors, but have normally left by now, so both sightings were noteworthy. Another species, Oystercatcher, was reported yesterday (thanks Jim), and was the first sighting of 2014. Again, this is a very uncommon species at Linacre, usually only recorded as flying through in the spring time, presumably "on passage", so all records are interesting.

As well as the water birds, the noteworthy birds today included the first 2014 report of Swallow (2 over the middle reservoir, about a week later than last year), a Little Owl, a calling Tawny Owl and singing Blackcaps (6), Chiffchaffs(8) and Willow Warblers (3).

Sightings of the Year!!!

Today was the last day of the summer holidays, the sun was shining and yesterday's strong winds had dropped, so I decided to pop down to Linacre for  a few hours to try and get some photos of the myriad insects that are usually on offer. I'm very glad I did, because in just one and a half hours I notched up 10 species of butterfly, including 2 "Linacre Lifers" in the shape of a CLOUDED YELLOW and a Painted Lady!!

Clouded Yellow (male I think)

Painted Lady

 

Both these species of butterfly are annual migrants to Britain from southern Europe and North Africa. Painted Ladies are usually seen in reasonable numbers every year, but Clouded Yellows are much rarer. This year, however, has been a bumper year with individuals seen across the country. Several individual have been recorded in Derbyshire as well, see here for details, but I was still VERY pleased to spot this individual today. Not only is it anew record for Linacre, but also a new species for me in Britain.

As well as these butterflies I also managed to find the following: Speckled Wood (5), Meadow Brown (5), Small Copper (5),  Small Tortoiseshell (1), Comma (1), Peacock (1), Large White (2), Small White (2) and another species that I've yet to identify- oooh!!

Comma (1st Linacre record this year)

Whilst looking at the butterflies, there was also a hawker species of dragonfly flying about, lots of hoverflies, bumblebees and some lovely birds including the flock of 15 Crossbills seen at the weekend, a possible family group of 4 Common Buzzards right overhead, 3 Swallows, 2 squabbling Kingfishers on the middle reservoir (my first record of more than one bird together) and Linnets, that were heard, but not seen (first Linacre record of 2013). Not a bad hour and a half, by anyone's standards.

Farne Islands - 1st June 2011

If you've never visited the Farne Islands off the Northumberland coast then can I suggest you go as quickly as possible? I've just been for a day's visit there and they are unbelievable. Birds are everywhere and, as far as I know, there's nowhere in Britain that you can get as close to such amazing birds as Arctic Terns, Sandwich Terns, Puffins, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills, Shags, Eider Ducks and Fulmars. They are literally within touching distance, or in the case of the terns, within pecking distance!

Our journey began in the seaside town of Seahouses travelling out to the islands courtesy of Billy Shiels' boats. On the trip out we had wonderful views of Gannets flying low over the water. As we approached the islands we began to see our first Guillemots and Puffins feeding on the surface of the sea. After about one hour travelling around the many different islands we eventually landed on Inner Farne, where we spent another hour looking at and photographing all the birds - amazing!

First up were the Arctic Terns. When you arrive on the island you have to walk up through the main tern colony and although the wardens have roped off a path the birds don't recognise this. As you walk past many of the adult birds fly up to scare you away from the eggs. Not content with screaming at you, they then begin to dive bomb you and peck at your head.

When terns attack!!!

Not all the terns fly up as you walk past and so it's possible to get some absolutely stunning photographs, even with a simple hand held, "point and shoot" camera like mine.

Arctic Tern

If you survive the terns, the next part of the island is where you find the Shags, Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins. Again, the birds are right next to the paths, but appear very relaxed and not at all concerned by the dozens of human visitors. Here are a few photos of some of these species:

Shag

Razorbills

Guillemots

Kittiwakes (with chicks)

Puffins

The islands remain open to visitors for several months yet and the birds will still be around until about the end of July, start of August, so if you haven't been yet, why not give them a visit?