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kittykat23uk

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kittykat23uk

On the weekend of the 6/7 July @BigBaldIan and I travelled to the Northumberland coast with the intention of doing a couple of boat trips with Billy Shiel to see the puffins and other seabirds. We didn't book a room at Seahouses (too expensive) instead we opted for this airbnb (room only). It was a lovely place to stay set in farmland and walking distance from a sandy beach. 

 

We arrived on the friday evening. After setting in we sought out a suitable place for dinner and opted on the Barn at Beal. I had a delicious pan-fried hake with sweet potato and cauliflower curry. Very tasty!

 

The saturday monring we headed out taking the scenic coastal route to Seahouses arriving an our or so before our boat trip. We parked above the harbour, note the car park at the harbour itself is out of use owing to works. We then went to the nearest pub for a buffet breakfast. 

 

We had a fantastic first day with the all day birdwatch with broken cloud. I shall probably bore you all to death with the many photos of puffins etc. I somehow managed to take over 4000 shots trying to get those images of puffins flying in with sand eels and still barely managed anything usable! 

 

Initially it was touch and go whether we would get on Staple Island as the fist time we tried to land the swell and tide made it impossible. So we spent some time with the seals and then went back when conditions were more favourable.

 

 48291525657_1c769ff16a_b.jpgP7060048 Guillimots by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291521532_06e62d975f_b.jpgP7060108 (2) Grey Seals by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291395046_d92d2c8bd3_b.jpgP7060239 Grey Seal by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291492977_0ef8348dfa_b.jpgP7060275 Grey Seal by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291347392_f2310bb534_b.jpgP7060305 Grey Seal by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

 

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offshorebirder

Nice trip report thus far @kittykat23uk.   The Barn at Beal sounds tasty!

 

I assure you I will not be bored by lots of Puffin photos - or Alcid photos in general.  Pinnipeds either!

 

 

 

 

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Glad you got on Staple Island this time, I remember the swell was too great last time though there were good shots to be had from the sea.

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kittykat23uk

Thanks both yes we were very lucky!

 

So from the boat, pretty impossible to get flight shots. We did see several groups of gannets, but always flying far off. Cliffs full of Guillemots, Kittiwakes and fewer Razorbills and shags. Some cliffs were stacked with puffins, by from the boat it was mostly the Guillemots we saw. Lots of gulls and auks fishing on the sea. sadly no cetaceans on our trip. 

 

48291423306_99b009faed_b.jpgP7060058 Guillimots by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291523332_8ba7e081ab_b.jpgP7060087 (2) Shag by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291414031_2118e3261d_b.jpgP7060191 Grey Seals by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291378896_ebc74e8b25_c.jpgP7060533 (2) Guillimot by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291478292_1573afbcc4_c.jpgP7060555 Guillimots by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291473537_d508d8fdda_b.jpgP7060601 Guillimots by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291471852_179fb8b6b3_b.jpgP7060610 Guillimots by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48239745231_871d3f59e5_b.jpg20190706_100140 by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291470877_cb1c12581e_b.jpgP7060684 (2) Guillimots by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291367456_ac916db25e_c.jpgP7060694 adj Guillimots by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291462302_6b50f838cd_b.jpgP7060768 Guillimots by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

We began to see more and more puffins! 

 

48291461132_016a4eb0f6_b.jpgP7060801 Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291355311_a1d466acaf_b.jpgP7060844 (2) Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291353901_51b4bb1475_b.jpgP7060853 Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

But still not able to land so more time with the seals

 

48291454627_079dacf0ba_b.jpgP7060937 Grey Seal by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Last time we were earlier and the eiders were in full breeding plumage. But this time of year they are already in eclipse:

 

48291453272_f844a0cc81_b.jpgP7060949 eider by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291350076_21f25178ff_b.jpgP7060967 Lighthouse by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

How many seals can you see? 

 

48291345461_11bbe0710a_b.jpgP7060991 Grey Seals by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

One day I should go diving with these furry friends.. 

48291445192_e6462491a5_b.jpgP7061059 Grey Seal by Jo Dale, on Flickr
 

 

48291339661_28831e92e6_b.jpgP7061139 Grey Seal by Jo Dale, on Flickr

Edited by kittykat23uk
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kittykat23uk

Finally we land on Staple Island , the puffins are waiting for us.

 

48291438697_ec416221c4_b.jpgP7061178 adj Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291437807_6f3b51a6b4_b.jpgP7061180 Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291334741_4776055594_b.jpgP7061190 Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291436022_ae6ed93e32_b.jpgP7061202 (2) Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291333251_c27c846b11_b.jpgP7061209 Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291433977_fce8431aa8_b.jpgP7061264 (2)  Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291433632_e76ebeb406_c.jpgP7061286 (2)  Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291329931_3209f07324_b.jpgP7061312  Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

 

Edited by kittykat23uk
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Jo, I notice in one of your photos the guillemot has white 'spectacles'. I saw this on several birds when I was there. 

Do you know the reason for this marking?

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@Soukous They're short-sighted. :rolleyes:

 

It's a form of common guillemot called bridled guillemot but not a different species. There are spectacled guillemots but they are a different species from the NW Pacific.

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kittykat23uk

For comparison,  here is a spectacled guillemot from my japan trip: 

 

P3033576 adj Spectacled Guillimot

 

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16 hours ago, JohnR said:

@Soukous They're short-sighted. :rolleyes:

 

It's a form of common guillemot called bridled guillemot but not a different species. There are spectacled guillemots but they are a different species from the NW Pacific.

 

thanks John, another mystery solved.

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kittykat23uk

Had some fun trying to get flight shots of the puffins 

 

48291431192_92959935a2_c.jpg

P7061334 (2)  Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291430817_942e17d646_b.jpgP7061357 Flying Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291428872_490c6f79b3_b.jpgP7061542 (2) Flying Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291310996_3046d564bb_c.jpg

P7061784 (2) adj Flying Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291302001_bfdc05daa2_c.jpg

P7062298 Flying Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291398782_9bb6e968e9_c.jpg

P7062351 (2) Flying Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291398262_c6ce32ed56_c.jpg

P7062360 (2) adj2 copy Flying Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291294946_9432020cf2_c.jpg

P7062376 (2) (2) Flying Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291395952_003c96ec72_b.jpgP7062392 Flying Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

There were fewer razorbills than guillimots

 

48291420992_85c6f4d5ed_b.jpgP7061623 Razorbills by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Shag chicks were big by this time of year

 

48291419512_5e0ca80cee_b.jpgP7061627 (2) Shags by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Kittiwakes are still young though

 

48291418487_19a2b9a8b9_b.jpgP7061661 Kittiwake by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

 

A few Puffin portraits 

48291312816_017b3b1b54_c.jpg

P7061700 (2)  Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291410492_2abab1f21d_c.jpg

P7062005 (2) (2)  Puffin with sand eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291410957_ba48239a18_c.jpg

P7062000 (2) (2)  Puffin with sand eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291303906_7c66da8441_c.jpg

P7062257 Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291391427_e175bf71d6_b.jpgP7062493 by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

What I really wanted was to get some photos of flying puffins carrying sand eels.

 

48291412552_e4c5d8d79c_c.jpg

P7061832 (2) Flying Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291310081_19319702e6_c.jpg

P7061837 (2) Flying Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291291546_43654067eb_b.jpg

P7062423 (2) Flying Puffin with Sand Eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291286596_b4129c834f_c.jpg

P7062562 (2) Flying Puffin with Sand Eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291388277_16d6f2cea9_c.jpg

P7062594 (2) Flying Puffin with Sand Eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

Edited by kittykat23uk
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kittykat23uk

This shows the scale of some of the colonies

 

48239748796_3aa22b9ab9_b.jpg20190706_115058 by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

More puffins with sand eels 

 

 

48291284716_350dc6dc0b_c.jpg

P7062630 (2)  Puffin with sand eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291385977_982f2973af_c.jpg

P7062641 (2)  Puffin with sand eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291283341_d0d359161a_c.jpg

P7062666 (2)  Puffin with sand eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291281796_13f139a9a7_c.jpg

P7062689 (2)  Puffin with sand eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291382302_a67fb2ef60_c.jpg

 

P7062700 (2)  Puffin with sand eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291381347_74990d206d_c.jpg

P7062702 (2)  Puffin with sand eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291380422_5b53ddd3c6_c.jpg

P7062759 (2)  Puffin with sand eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291379347_9f61845036_c.jpg

P7062781 (2)  Puffin with sand eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

48291263526_84c2cf2f42_b.jpgP7063079 (2) adj Flying Puffin with Sand Eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291263016_105173949b_c.jpg

P7063084 (2) Flying Puffin with Sand Eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291364697_b33e1e6768_b.jpgP7063100 (3) Flying Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291260961_a226d5f745_b.jpgP7063144 (2) Flying Puffin with Sand Eels by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Jumplings

 

48291384432_a22227394f_c.jpg

P7062682 (2) Guillimots & Jumpling by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291272951_fe307e16fb_c.jpg

P7062862 (2) Guillimots by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291271971_140f76c7dd_c.jpg

P7062876 Guillimots by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

 

More fufnips

 

48291371802_b7eba530dd_b.jpgP7062940 Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291267146_d241026f14_c.jpg

P7062986 Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291362502_c1a9932334_b.jpgP7063154 Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Young Shag

 

48291367532_357ae1df1d_b.jpgP7063045 Shag chick by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

Edited by kittykat23uk
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kittykat23uk

After spending time on Staple Island we go to inner Farne. 

 

This island is a lot noisier with the arctic terns making a hideous racket 

 

48291477422_8bcf757a9f_c.jpgP7060571 Arctic tern by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291356472_885065b742_b.jpgP7063299 Arctic Tern by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291252201_393235972c_b.jpgP7063304 (2) Arctic Tern by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291252861_ae6b31930c_b.jpgP7063303 (3) Arctic Tern by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Of course they are just trying to protect their babies. They don't take kindly to photographers lingering close to their chicks.

 

48291361462_17f844ce6d_b.jpgP7063187 Arctic Tern chick by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291257936_aac5af1fb7_b.jpgP7063196 Arctic Tern chick by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291256646_2392f48241_b.jpgP7063203 Arctic Tern chick by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291357772_072a59e6f2_b.jpgP7063295 Arctic Tern by Jo Dale, on Flickr

48291353282_036f1c9b51_c.jpgP7063306 (2) Arctic Tern by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291477422_8bcf757a9f_b.jpgP7060571 Arctic tern by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291349657_460b06bd77_b.jpgP7063378 (2) Arctic Tern by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291246221_b0f502083e_b.jpgP7063387 Arctic Tern by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291468142_83f1f6864f_b.jpgP7060700 Guillimots & Jumpling by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291346062_69771e6c14_b.jpgP7063421 Kittiwake & Chick by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291530747_31f8c7561e_b.jpgP7060004 Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291425851_2f774f350c_b.jpgP7060042 pigeon by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291517992_ea686e1524_b.jpgP7060153 Puffins by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291497457_c08e76b887_b.jpgP7060234 (2) Flying Puffin by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

 

Puffiling!

 

48291488332_82faa8c846_b.jpgP7060380  Puffin with Puffling by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291372501_622a4d6af0_b.jpgP7060588 (2)  Puffin with Puffling by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291384771_44b9b1b56f_b.jpgP7060427 Puffins in love by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291483007_9a0fc6e3fe_b.jpgP7060505 (2) Puffins fighting by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291380486_8643dfaa44_b.jpgP7060514 (2) Puffins fighting by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291380116_d398185f2d_b.jpgP7060518 (2) Puffins fighting by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291464602_8f700f409d_b.jpgP7060733 (2) by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited by kittykat23uk
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@kittykat23uk

Excellent. What a productive trip. Your Puffins in flight worked really well

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Peter Connan

Some really lovely shots in there @kittykat23uk

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kittykat23uk

Thanks both!

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kittykat23uk

A few more terns

 

48291459917_893cd6f034_b.jpgP7060825 (2) Arctic Terns by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291357206_cd5b90f7f9_b.jpgP7060839 (2) Arctic Terns by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48291458097_51a8f0f3d7_b.jpgP7060841 (2) Arctic Terns by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

The next day we were supposed to have a boat trip to Holy Island but unfortunately there was too much swell so we found out around 10:00 that our trip was cancelled. Not to be thwarted, we drove across the causeway to the island instead. We spent some time at the winery and had a wander around the abbey before heading back. 

 

48292876106_e5f7d1e9a4_b.jpgP7070519  Lindisfarne Castle by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292975322_7026d94098_b.jpgP7070524  Lindisfarne Castle by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292977847_98dfff3c4d_c.jpgP7070540 Lindisfarne Priory by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292869786_24ecafc0fc_c.jpgP7070543 (2) Lindisfarne Priory by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292968032_692885f937_c.jpgLindisfarne Priory by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292965562_48605ec1c7_b.jpgP7070547 Lindisfarne Priory by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292860906_cb1c398d87_b.jpgP7070548 Lindisfarne Priory by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292856501_22fddf5e2a_b.jpgP7070557 (2) Lindisfarne Priory by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292953447_1fb27eab79_b.jpgP7070566 Lindisfarne Castle by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48293004567_869eda1d50_c.jpgP7070061 (2) Lindisfarne

Castle by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

We also drove past Bamburgh castle a few times.

48292946227_9cdfa36816_b.jpgP7070570 Bamburgh Castle by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292840136_4a265a9bfc_b.jpgP7070571 Bamburgh Castle by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48293000217_d33e627be3_b.jpgP7070076 Bamburgh Castle by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292893511_05c7f92cbd_b.jpgP7070082 Northumberland coast by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292990532_bf2dc100ff_b.jpgP7070085 Bamburgh Castle by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Our accommodation was a half hour walk from the beach

48292886016_373c98dd39_b.jpgP7070098 Linnet by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292885026_5ef6d51683_c.jpgP7070147 by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292982557_49debd4789_b.jpgP7070211 Six Spot Burnet by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

 

 

48292981327_e95f01b352_b.jpgP7070349 (2) Swallow by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292881091_4c68d8a68c_b.jpgP7070353 Barn window by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292930112_b2930835f1_b.jpgP7070696 (2) Swallow by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292927602_f4fe956c7d_b.jpgP7070850 Swallow by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292926687_e5f15a4154_b.jpgP7070854 Swallow by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292926012_fdb84042d4_z.jpgP7070874 Swallow by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292824376_65066864f5_b.jpgP7070886 Swallow by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

48292823461_d873611547_b.jpgP7080943 Yellowhammer by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

Finally a little brown hare was there to see us off..

48292918757_8f1381f0ed_b.jpgP7081023 Brown hare by Jo Dale, on Flickr

 

 

Edited by kittykat23uk
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Peter Connan

Beautiful shots. 

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