Seahouses is described as the gateway to the Farnes and makes the ideal base for the North East Coast and has some striking geology along the cliff edges, note the layered rock and colours in the pictures above, better to be seen by the eye than through a camera lens.
Black Headed Gull in Flight
Inner Farne in background
John Howell and myself arrived at Seahouses on the Saturday 19th June due to return home on Tuesday 22nd June with a trip to the Farne Islands being top of the agenda but for the first two days the wind was blowing a gale and the sea was far too rough for the boats to leave the safety of the gated docks so the Farne visit was beginning to look unlikely.
Eider ducks breed on the Farne Islands but bring their chicks into the safety of the mainland where they find sheltered areas during rough sea's
Just to the south of Seahouses the coastal path takes you along the cliffs that run along side a golf course. Here you can see the Kittiwake colony during the breeding season.
The Holy Island is well worth a visit not just the opportunity of visitor attractions such as the Priory, Castle and the village but the wildlife around it. During low tide looking out onto the sand banks from the old coast guard building you are very likely to see a 1000+ grey seals basking in the sunshine and also more swimming close by in the sea below. Take the telescope.
Wildflowers against a rough sea on the coastal path just the the north of Lower Newton
Oyster Catchers
Along the coastal path from Lower Newton we came across a good many Six spot Burnet Moth caterpillars. Note the nearby cocoon in picture above, prior to hatching into an adult.
Orchid
The area around Newton Point is owned by the National trust and just north of the point on a small stretch of moorland we came across this juvenile Great Skua, still unable to fly but no doubt still being looked after by its parents who nest in such areas. They are indeed a large bird and prey on other smaller gulls.
Thankfully after two day the wind died down and the sea was much calmer, which meant our trip to the Farnes would go ahead.
The Farne islands are home to a four thousand strong breeding colony of grey seal where they have their pups during the Autumn. The tide was high so the seals were all in the water but was able to get a few picture's. The boats going out this time of year especially after the gales were packed with folk visiting the island so unless you were situated around the edge of the boats and not in the middle like we were then pictures of the grey seals were not to easy to take.
Guillemot's
Longstone Island, we where greeted by large colonies of nesting seabirds. The Wardens quarters were basic indeed. Four of them shared this cottage. Drinking water was supplied by the visiting boats and the luxury of a shower was rare.
Kittiwake
Lesser Black Backed Gull
Shag
Razorbills were fairly common on the islands another delightful bird
Puffin in flight
The staple diet for many of the Seabirds on the islands were sand eels, especially the Puffin who were very busy bringing in food for there chicks underground.
The two pictures above I got the wrong way round but one Puffin emerging from its borrow. They were certainly a delight and a great favourite. They had a pretty tough time bringing in the food to their chicks particularly on Inner Farne where black headed gulls waited for them by the burrows. If the Puffins did not land close enough the gulls were on them like a shot stealing their food. One Puffin was set on by three black headed gulls and really got well beaten up and another managed to gain the safety of a thick bush but two gulls guarded the bush and would not let the Puffin out. There is always a temptation to interfere but these puffins are made of tough stuff and their determination was admiral.
The Artic Terns nested close to the walkways and even inside the yard of the Wardens quarters and the church because they found there chicks were less likely to be preyed upon. One of these chicks was struggling to swallow the above sand eel so its sibling took advantage and pinched it out of its mouth and swallowed very quickly. Big meal for a chick.
Artic Tern eggs
The Artic Terns were very fiesty indeed and had sharp beaks so it was very wise to visit Inner Farne wearing a hat as they attacked and knew the tender spot was the top of the head. This indiviual must have decided it need a rest and just stayed perched on top of this guys head for about five minutes being well photographed by many including myself.
Swallows
The two pictures above were taken on the final day of our stay. We decided on a walk to from Dunstan Steads to Dunstan Castle and had this pair of Swallows posing for us on fence wire below the castle ruins. The second picture is near Emberton Bay.
Well worth the visit to this lovely coastline, could not have hoped for better and enjoyed some fine ales from the Hadrian Border Brewery in the Ship at Seahouses and on the Holy Island.
