Farne Islands end of July (1 Viewer)

Jonny721

Well-known member

• Jun 21, 2010

• #1

Hey guys was wondering if you could help me with this.

I'm going to Northumberland for a weekend at the end of July (23rd-25th i think) and was wondering if there would still be any seabirds e.g. puffins or terns on the farne islands or would I be slightly too late to see them. Also if there is anywhere else that would be good at that time of year info would be appreciated.

Thanks Jonny

 

S

StarainBoy

Well-known member

• Jun 22, 2010

• #2

You'll definitely be fine for seabirds at that time. Most of the good Northumberland sites run south of the coast from there: Boulmer, Amble, East Chevington and Cresswell Ponds. Lindisfarne to the north is worth visiting anyway and inland, although much further away, is Kielder Forest.

 

martin kitching

Obsessed seawatcher

• Jun 24, 2010

• #3

By late July numbers of birds will be decreasing rapidly on the Farnes. Guillemots are already on their way. Tern numbers seem to have declined in the last week (effects of the poor weather? if so, the force 6 N forecast for three days time could do even more damage).

The earliest of the passage waders should be around by then, so coastal pools are worth visiting.

I spend a lot of time in Kielder, regularly leading tours, and I would never consider going there in late July.

cheers
martin

 

Pete Mella

Getting there...

• Jun 24, 2010

• #4

I went at the end of July once and if I remember rightly didn't see a single puffin. I think it was pretty much just kittiwakes and shags on show.

Early May - mid June is the peak time to go.

 

Barred Wobbler

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2010

• #5

In my experience puffins tend to vanish completely from the Northumberland coast at about the end of the first week in August.

 

C

Cactusdave

Well-known member

• Jun 24, 2010

• #6

"Force 6 Northerly in 3 days time"? I hope not. I'm going up there tomorrow and checked BBC and Weatherline forecasts before booking Billy Shiels for next Tuesday. Weather outlook looked very pleasant with light Southerlies/South Westerlies and temps. in the high teens and low twenties.

 

Stephen Dunstan

Registered User

• Jun 24, 2010

• #7

Linsdisfarne (Holy Island) is certainly worth a look. Depending how far you can travel I guess there might be Roseates available to the south. Whereabouts are you staying?

 

Jonny721

Well-known member

• Jun 27, 2010

• #8

Thanks guys looks like it's not going to be the trip I'd hoped for :-C

 

S

StarainBoy

Well-known member

• Jun 30, 2010

• #9

Well, I wouldn't give up just like that...