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Farne Islands

Northumberland  >  United Kingdom

The Farne Islands are one of the most exciting seabird colonies in England, with unrivalled views of seabirds, including 36,000 pairs of Papegaaiduiker.

Geplaatst* door SanderW
Meest recente update 27 oktober 2024

Beschrijving

From Seahouses it is a easy visit to the Farne Islands. Everyone visiting the Farnes needs to get on a boat at Seahouses harbour. There are 28 islands, of which three are accessible; Inner Farne, Staple (May-July only), and Longstone. As well as sailing around the islands, you can also go ashore and actually walk between the birds on the islands. A great experience and paradise for photographers. There are lots of B&Bs to stay the night in Seahouses, making it easy to visit the islands early in the morning.

The best time to visit is May-June. At this time, you get great views of breeding Papegaaiduiker, Alk, Zeekoet, Kuifaalscholver, Drieteenmeeuw, Grote Stern, Noordse Stern, Visdief, and Eider. One or two pairs of Dougalls Stern can also be seen in some years.

Jan-van-gent does not breed on the Farnes, but birds can frequently be seen passing by, as can more rarely species like Kleine Jager, Noordse Pijlstormvogel, and Grauwe Pijlstormvogel. Other rarer seabirds have included Kortbekzeekoet, Bengaalse Stern, Brilstern, and Europe's sole record of Aleutian Tern.

Passerines are normally few, but many pairs of Oeverpieper breed, and Boerenzwaluw nests in St Cuthbert's Chapel on Inner Farne. In east winds, a wide range of vagrants from Europe and Asia have occurred, including species such as Kleine Spotvogel, Goudlijster, Blauwborst (up to 30 at a go!), Bosgors, Wilgengors, and many others.

Although spring and summer trips are the norm, occasional winter trips are held, when species to be seen at sea can include Kuifduiker, Kleine Alk (exceptionally in tens of thousands!), Zwarte Zeekoet, IJsduiker, and seaduck like Zwarte Zee-eend and IJseend. Large numbers of Paarse Strandloper and Steenloper also winter on the islands.

Details

Toegang

Go to Seahouses and park your car (see the P on the map) and book for one of the 4 or 5 boats in the harbour (also marked on the map). As a general rule, if you are visiting between May – July then there are sailings on the hour between 9.00 and 12.00 to Staple, while those between 13.00 and 15.00 are to Inner Farne. An all day ticket costs about £35; all day trip boats sailing May - July visit both islands but have limited capacity. An Inner Farne only ticket costs £12. Inner Farne is open all season (April-October) and Staple Island opens for the main breeding season from May-July. Both islands are subject to variable opening times dependent on the time of year, weather and other factors; in particular, visiting is not possible in strong winds. See the link below for further information.

Boats resumed landings on the Farnes in 2024 after the 2022–2023 Avian Flu epidemic, when landings were suspended and boats only sailed around the islands.

Terrein en leefgebied

Strand , Zee

Omstandigheden

Vlak , Glad , Geen schaduw , Open landschap , Rotsachtig

Rondlopende wandeling mogelijk?

Ja

Telescoop meenemen?

Nee

Wanneer hier vogels kijken?

Lente , Zomer

Toptijd voor dit gebied

Lente , Zomer

Route

Breed pad , Smal pad

Zwaarte wandeling

Gemiddeld

Toegankelijk via

Te voet , Boot

Vogelkijkhut aanwezig?

Nee

Extra info

When on the islands, you are advised to wear a padded hat, to protect yourself from injury by Arctic Terns defending their nests!

Links

Bekijk vogelgebieden in de buurt op Birdingplaces

Kaart

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