The Farne Islands

Where else can you take pictures of seabirds a few inches away from your feet. The Farne Islands. About 50 miles north of Newcastle you find the tiny fishing village called Seahouses. 10am Billy Shiel, runs a 6 hour trip for £25, which includes two 2 hour stops on islands (staples and Inner Farnes), stuffed with seabirds. St Aidens hotel in Seahouses is where we stayed for one night. You can't go wrong staying here, All rooms command sea-views, Staff are great, and food as good as you expect. A very short walk gets you to the Harbour. If you don't do boats (My Wife) there is a dial and ride bus service that takes you to the very impressive Bamburgh Castle.
If you fancy an opportunity to take cracking bird photo's no matter what equipment you use - even my mobile took great shots - then here in May, that's where you should come.
Year Total 129.

TERN-ed out nice again.

June is the time to attempt a full sweep of the five tern species that breed in Britain. One place that gives you this chance is Cemlyn Bay, Anglesey. The Tern colony is mainly made up of Sandwich terns, with a fair number of Common Terns, and a couple of Arctic Terns. About this time of year, you could be lucky and get our rarest tern, the Roseate Tern – I should have been here yesterday.., none today. Also worth trying is Rhosneiger. Little Terns often put in a n appearance too Cemlyn also. Very rare migrant terns have also shown up here too, Sooty and Bridled Terns in resent years.
After a couple of hours, it’s off to Holyhead Harbour. At the right time, (not today) you have a chance of three species of divers (winter months best). At the moment Black Guillemots are here – can’t miss them, follow the AA signposts. Also a Phalacrocorax aristotelis fishing close in.
South Stack RSPB. A typical seabird colony, but the speciality here is Chough. Looking out to sea, a good number of Manx Shearwaters, glide effortlessly inches above the waves. South Stack sometimes holds breeding Peregrine, which you can watch on CCTV from the RSPB information centre. (Not this year though). If you are into Flora, the place is full of plants that beg to be identified. Sea Campion, Sea Cail etc.
One the way back home. Call into Point of Ayr, near Prestatyn and walk West towards Gronnant where a colony of Britain’s smallest terns are easy to see.
This is the longest trip I have to make each year, around trip of 320 miles, but thoroughly enjoy it , as long as it is only the once.