Tag: Sandwich Tern

  • Sealed; Bespoke North Northumberland Coast Safari 22/08/2014

    After some poor sea conditions recently, things looked more promising for Friday’s trip; a seal cruise around the Farne Islands, followed by a few hours of birdwatching along the North Northumberland coast.  A change is as good as a rest, and the North Northumberland coast is quite a change from the sand dunes and coastal…

  • The magic of dusk; Otter Safari 20/08/2014

    After four consecutive successful Otter Safaris since mid-July, I was fairly sure that dusk would be the best time to search for them, and the afternoon could be spent enjoying some excellent birdwatching with the added possibility of stumbling across an Otter in broad daylight… I arrived in Craster to collect Dave and Naomi and…

  • Challenge; Farne Islands Photography 20/07/14

    Our rearranged Farne Islands photography workshop was a second day out with NEWT for Bryan, and a chance for him to take on the challenge of Puffins in flight 😉  We sailed across to the islands on Glad Tidings IV (returning at the end of the afternoon on St Cuthbert III), and amidst the chaos…

  • Farne Islands; Beginners Photography Workshop 28/06/2014

    Saturday afternoon was our Farne Islands Beginners Photography workshop.  I picked Peter up from Eshott as I headed north, and we met up with Doug at Seahouses harbour.  This was Peter’s fourth trip this week (on his birthday, following his North Pennines trip on Friday – his wedding anniversary!).  Doug had been out with me…

  • A game of two halves; Farne Islands Safari 24/06/2014

    Even when you can see inclement weather ahead of you, there’s usually a light at the end of the tunnel 🙂 I collected Stephen from home in North Shields, and then Peter from his holiday cottage at Eshott, and we headed north towards the Northumberland coast and the Farne Islands, our destination for the afternoon. …

  • Six of the best; Cheviot Valleys and Druridge Bay 09/06/2014

    Monday’s trip was a birdwatching tour of two of Northumberland’s excellent locations; the Cheviot Valleys in the morning, and Druridge Bay in the afternoon. I collected John, Graham, Andy, Sue, Sue and Lesley from their cottage in Shilbottle and we set off inland towards the imposing landscape of the Cheviot massif.  As we got out…

  • Bottlenose Dolphins; Farne Islands safari 06/06/2014

    Whenever I head out for a  day guiding clients, I have a plan.  Occasionally we deviate from that plan… I was heading to collect Liz and Mark from the Lord Crewe in Bamburgh, for their Farne Islands prestige tour, and I thought I knew what we’d be doing throughout the day – a walk along…

  • Drizzle; Farne Islands Press Trip 04/06/2014

    Seeing a familiar location, in unfamiliar conditions, can be like visiting somewhere for the first time.  Over the years nearly all of our trips to the Farne Islands have been in glorious weather.  I could never be blase about the islands, but sometimes I hope for a new experience… I arrived at Seahouses Harbour just…

  • Choosing your battles; Farne Islands bespoke photography trip 31/05/2014

    Last Thursday should have been a bespoke photography trip to the Farne Islands, but a discussion with William on Wednesday evening confirmed what the forecast had been suggesting for a few days – heavy easterly swell would make it impractical to sail.  I was out and about in the drizzle so Sarah got in touch…

  • Variety is the spice of life; Coastal safari 26/05/2014

    A brilliantly sunny Bank Holiday Monday is the only time you’re likely to encounter anything even remotely approaching crowds of people in Northumberland, but it does happen occasionally. I collected Marcus, Alison, Norman (Grandad) and Isobel from their holiday cottage in the shadow of the Wandylaw wind farm, and we set off for a day…