Un-Bridled Joy!

On Saturday (21 June 2014) I joined the RSPB Local Group on a trip to the Farnes. We sailed from Seahouses and soon were amazed at the number of sea birds to be seen. The numbers increased even more as we reached the islands ................

We were overwhelmed by the sight and smell of so many birds .....

and also had close-up views of seals ..

After c2 hours we landed on Inner Farne where we spent 1 hour and enjoyed an amazing wildlife spectacle.

We had stunning close-up views of Shags and their young ...............

 

.... as well as Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and Puffins plus the ever present Black-headed Gulls waiting to try and steal a Puffin's meal .....

 

 

The stars, however, were the terns. The Arctic Terns nested close to the footpaths .....

 

... and defended their territory against all comers (take a hat if you visit!)

 

 

We also saw Sandwich Terns, Common Terns and one Roseate Tern. However, the real bonus was a BRIDLED TERN which I managed to pick up just as we were about to leave. I was too busy, shouting directions to fellow birders, to get a photograph. So here is one I took earlier, in the Seychelles (a scanned copy of a slide, those were the days! )

 

 

We returned back to Seahouses and celebrated with an ice cream! But our day had not finished. Some of us headed off to Tyninghame in Lothian and thanks to Fiona, who had some insider information, we were standing in a small clearing observing Spotted Flycatcher, Nuthatches and eventually a GREENISH WARBLER!

 

What an end to a superb day's birding.