It’s my path now, a sleeping pup (Ciaran Hatsell)

Seal team in action

A party of Snow Buntings drops in (Graeme Duncan)

Our first ‘second coater’ of the year (David Steel)

Seal team in action (David Steel)

The storm from Brownsman (Ciaran Hatsell)

Great Grey Shrike dinner – a Brambling speared ready to eat (Ciaran Hatsell)

Brambling’s beware (Ciaran Hatsell)

Its a stunner; Black Redstart caught in visitor centre (Graeme Duncan)

It may not look much, but it’s stormy! (Ciaran Hatsell)

Sunday 23rd October comments: It’s been another blustery day on the islands as the winds have increased and gradually switched to the south-east. The birders on the islands are starting to get excited (these winds could bring in some very interesting migrant birds) although its not so good from the visitor point of view (probably no boats sailing until Wednesday).

Following yesterdays seawatching highlights, today followed suite with another Grey Phalarope, the lingering Sabine’s Gull and two Little Auks all in Inner Sound. Although a scattering of migrants tried to steal the show including Black Redstart and Ring Ouzel, the real winner was a Corncrake, which exploded under the feet of an observer on Brownsman – our second of the year, but the first living specimen following the discovery of a raptor kill back in September. What tomorrow will bring is any one’s guess, but its probably going to be good. Here goes, wish us luck.

Todays Highlights: Corncrake 1 flushed on Brownsman, Grey Phalarope 1 on sea, Sabine’s Gull juvenile north Inner Sound, Pomarine Skua one juv north, Great Skua 2N, Arctic Skua 3N, Little Auk 2N, Skylark 11W, Black Redstart, Ring Ouzel, Blackbird 106W, Redwing 81W, Fiedlafre 43W, Blackcap 3, Chiffchaff 1 eastern race individual and Starling 196W (and four roosting in Brownsman cottage)

Saturday 29th October comments: The latest Seal pup count is complete and numbers are looking very healthy on the islands. A total of seven islands now boast pups with over 400 born. The job took two days (due to weather and visitor opening hours), but we’re happy and can rest in the knowledge that all is well with the Seals on the Farnes. Just to let you know, the Farne Islands seal pups will feature on tomorrow’s evening Countryfile on BBC, so don’t forget to watch!

Latest colony counts:

South Wamses 157

North Wamses 133

Staple Island 92

Northern Hares 16

Brownsman 26

West Wideopens 1

Little Harcar 1

Saying hello (Jamie Coleman)

Doing well; pup and mother (Ciaran Hatsell)

The westerly gales have cranked up a notch today and as darkness fell over the islands, the wind was battering Brownsman and the tiles on the 18th century cottage are rattling tonight. On the bird front it was quiet (as expected) as the Bluethroat has moved on although a Merlin kept us entertained mid-afternoon.

On the Grey Seal front, Staple Island welcomed its first pup of the autumn (we’ve now got them on three islands) and next week we should welcome our first on Brownsman. However that’s where you all step in – we would like to name it, so any suggestions would be great! We’ll keep you informed of the first pups progress as well as the entire colony throughout November, so don’t go anywhere. Keep reading.

A cheeky migrant Chaffinch (Ciaran Hatsell)

Sunday 16th October comments: Its been a stunning day on the Farnes as unseasonal weather brought mild, warm conditions. The mild weather encouraged birds to depart the islands as the number of common migrants declined. Even the lingering Richard’s Pipit was noted flying west towards the mainland early in the day although the Bluethroat remained resident on Brownsman.

The most noticeable highlight of day was in the form of a Speckled Wood butterfly, a rarity for the Farnes. The weather encouraged other butterflies to the wing as we also recorded small numbers of ‘White’s', Red Admiral’s and Small Tortoiseshell’s. It almost felt like summer but without Arctic Terns attacking our heads…oh how I don’t miss that!

Source: Forbes

‘Neil the Seal’ sticking his tongue out (Ciaran Hatsell)

That’s better, Neil doing well (Ciaran Hatsell)

Special flight – Richard’s Pipit in flight (Jamie Coleman)

Classic Farnes; Yellow-browed Warbler on Longstone Lighthouse (Graeme Duncan)

Monday 10th October comments: A quick update from the northern isles. We’ve (Steely and Jamie) have now been on Fair Isle for a week and its been tough going. The winds have generally been gale force from the west, with occasional switches to the south-west; In other words, not very good for migrant birds! Despite this, highlights have included the islands first ever Lesser Scaup, along with Short-toed Lark, Rose-coloured Starling and a smattering of migrants. However not all is lost, with six ex-Farne Island wardens present, were finding plenty of time to catch-up.

Otherwise it’s just like the Farnes except bigger in all ways – a fantastic observatory (with some great staff!), a brilliant island and a real sense of wilderness (with the odd good bird thrown in) – I recommend everyone to visit at some stage. The only thing it lacks is a successful seabird colony. It’s been another desperate year for Fair Isle seabirds, as numbers of certain species have dropped and the number of young fledged almost non-existent. It’s heartbreaking to hear just how depressing seabird seasons are becoming in the northern isles and will we ever see a reverse in fortunes? I suspect sadly not and it just shows the importance of places like the Farne Islands in a national context to seabirds. Long may our breeding seasons continue to be successful and Fair Isle to have a change of fortune, sooner rather than later.

Tuesday 11th October comments: And we’re off. The seal pups are starting to appear in greater numbers now, with ten having been born as of yesterday’s count. This means a total of seven have arrived since our last count only 3 days earlier, a sure sign that we’ll soon be right in the middle of pupping season and knee deep in the cute fur-balls! South Wamses is the bigger colony at the moment with six pups, four of which can be easily viewed resting on the shingle beach.

Our first pup is still doing very well, and now at 14 days old it will most likely be under a week before he moults into his adult coat and will be able to take to the water for the first time! Pups two and three are growing well and all three now have very attentive and protective mothers keeping an eye out for them.

In non-seal news, the islands have continued to have good wildfowl passage, with an adult Whooper Swan flying low over Inner Farne today, along with 213 Pink-footed Geese. Sunday’s moderate winds brought good movement of ducks, with large numbers of Wigeon, Teal and Scoter recorded flying across the sea, along with 23 Red-throated Divers. Three Long-tailed Ducks, a male a juvenile and female, showed well in the kettle on the 10th.

Sunday 9^th October highlights: Wigeon 651, Teal 304, Red-throated Diver 23, Great Northern Diver 3, Brent Goose 58, Barnacle Goose 82, Common Scoter 104, Velvet Scoter 2, Red-breasted Merganser 1.

Tuesday 11th October totals: Pink-footed Goose 213, Whooper Swan 2, Redwing 5, Song Thrush 3, Blackbird 1, Skylark 1, Dunnock 1, Robin 1, Wren 1, Goldcrest 1, Siskin 1, Peregrine 1.

Saturday 15th October comments: The Farnes never fails to disappoint! After the jubilation of yesterday’s Richard’s Pipit, the team were yet again jumping for joy after the discovery of another Farnes speciality: a Bluethroat! A stunning bird was found in the morning on Brownsman, briefly showing well but becoming very elusive at times! The Farnes has become one of the best places in Britain to see this Scandinavian stunner, especially during the autumn as of later years; today’s sighting marking the sixth consecutive year in which it has been recorded.

Inner Farne’s Richard’s Pipit was spotted briefly again today, sticking close to the species’ famously annoying behaviour of refusing to perch or pose on the ground for cameras.

With just a few other common migrants, these two birds really were the star of the show. The warden team are hoping that one or two more surprises will appear shortly to add to the birding bonanza that is the Farne Islands.

Not exactly Heathrow – Fair Isle airport

Tuesday 4th October: A quick update from the northern Isles as myself (David Steel) and assistant warden Jamie Coleman are visiting Fair Isle for the week. Its been an interesting start as Jamie touched down on Fair Isle on Saturday but I was delayed on Shetland until Monday. However between that period, the wind had notched up a level and I eventually departed Shetland for Fair Isle in southerly gales on Monday morning. As I’m not the best of fliers, this certainly went down as an ‘experience’ I’ll never forget…

Now on Fair Isle the birding has been generally quiet (due to westerly winds) although it’s been great to catch up with lots of friends. Ex-Farne Islands warden David Parnaby is now the main warden of Fair Isle whilst Jason Moss works alongside him as assistant. Other Farne Island connections included visiting ex-wardens Chris Dodd, Micky Mahar and Matthew Smith, so we’re not short of topics to discuss. I’ll keep you updated from the northern isles but keep tuned into the Farne Islands and more news about our Grey Seals.