When we'd checked in, I went to get the bags and watched another couple parking. I did the talking to strangers bit that embarrasses the hell out of our dottir and found that they had also driven up from Hull that day. I took the stuff up and told Barbara and then we unpacked and got sorted out. We had booked a table in the restaurant for that evening so we got cleaned up and then went down for a drink before dinner. After the meal, we went for a short walk around the area behind the hotel. When we returned to the hotel, Barbara had a coffee and we talked to the couple from Hull, John and Linda. They were planning the same sort of weekend as us.
The next morning, the restaurant was full with people who we saw later on the Farnes. The service was pretty swift and we were able to walk down to the harbour (about 15 minutes). En route, we went into the for a sandwich from Trotters Bakers (excellent). I walked on ahead and went to the boat kiosk. We went on the bird watching trip with Billy Shiels. I then went along and joined the National Trust. It is over a fiver to land on each island and the birdwatching trip takes you to Staple Island and Inner Farne so we got over £20 off the membership plus another 20% for paying direct debit.
There were lots of people for the birdwatching trip so there were two boats. We had met up with John and
Linda and were in the queue together. We were just at the end of the first boat which looked a bit crowded so said we were together and got to be first onto the second boat. We went out and around several of the islands looking at the birds in the water and on the cliffs plus the seals. I thought that bit was worth the money and then we were landed on Staple Island. Landing is only permitted from 10.30am hence the tour around. There was a bit of a bottleneck as people were paying to land and also looking a
t the Puffin on the left which was within a metre of the pathway with a mouthful of sand eel. Just behind it was a Shag on the nest. There were a bunch of photographers with thousand of pounds worth of bodies and lenses between them and the poor little Puffin that was trying to get into a burrow near the path was immortalised on hundreds of digital photographs. I took my share and then squeezed past to see what else there was. It was really amazing there were Puffins all over the place and around the edge of the island were Kittiwakes, Shags, Guillemots and Razorbills. There was also the odd Fulmar including one on a nest that was accessible and was soon surrounded by us lot clicking away. There were also the predators in the shape of the Black Headed, Herring and Lesser Black Backed Gulls. I never saw any Greater Black Backed but I'd guess there were a few about.We had two hours on Staple and then we made the short trip across to Inner Farne where there were all of the
above plus the Terns. There were one or two Terns on Staple but on Inner Farne, the Arctic Terns ( see left) are nesting right next to the path and they do not like anyone walking close to their chicks and eggs. They come up to the posts to protest and then fly up and attack your head. The advice is to wear hats and Barbara and I soon found out why. We were both pecked several times as we walked through
the colony. The Common (see right) and Sandwich Terns nest further away from the path and so don't get disturbed. We also saw a Roseate Tern flying round but I wasn't able to get a photo as we couldn't see where it landed. The weather was a bit drizzly in the afternoon but there were plenty of birds and they were so close that binoculars and telescopes were not needed. The two hours were soon over and we boarded our boat and went back to harbour. John and Linda offered us a lift up to the hotel which we accepted and we joined them later for a drink and a meal and then a walk down into town to walk off the meal!On Sunday, we had planned to go to Holy Island and have a walk round the Lindisfarne Nature Reserve. As you have to cross a tidal causeway to get over to the island, we had to wait until 12.45pm. We went into Seahouses for a sandwich and a walk round then up to Bamburgh and stopped just south of the castle. We set off for a walk along the dunes and then
I spotted a Stonechat on a bush. I went back for my paraphernalia but the Stonechat didn't oblige. However, there was consolation in the shape of a very friendly Linnet (picture right). There were lots of other birds flitting round so I was happy as Larry while Barbara read the newspaper she had bought for just such an eventuality.We drove up to Holy Island and just got to the causeway after it had opened.
We went and parked in the main car park and had our sandwiches then set off to walk around the nature reserve. Almost exactly halfway round, it started to rain. Fortunately, we were close to the Lough which has the only shelter around in the shape of a bird hide. We went in and watched the antics of Sedge Warbler and Reed Bunting. The poor bedraggled Swallow on the left had a nest in the hide we realised and sat there patiently waiting for us to move on. We did eventually but other people were coming and going so it kept diving in and out when we were all still. The rain had stopped when we set off but, within minutes, it started again. We got soaked. There was no escape and no shelter. We got back to the car and drove back to Seahouses to find that it had been dry there. Ah, such is life. As we were wet, we didn't venture out again until after dinner. We went for a walk around another area of Seahouses. Back at the hotel, we joined John and Linda for a coffee and talked over the day.The next morning, we were going to go to Alnwick Gardens but the weather was blustery and cool so we decided to head home. Good job we did as we wouldn't have got home if we hadn't. See my previous post.
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