With Britain’s eighth Black Scoter lazing off the beach north of Bamburgh we’re expecting a few extra visitors over the weekend. With calm seas and many birds back at The Farnes there is plenty to keep them occupied if they decide on a trip across.

Today’s calm seas offered exceptional views and steady photo opportunities from the catamaran as we crossed. Puffins are back in numbers and many sat on the sea as we arrived; elsewhere Kittiwakes, Shags, Guillemots and Razorbills.

The rockier islands are littered with large gulls with many Lesser Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls in smart summer plumage.

 
Grey Seals continue to offer good close views with many adults lounging around at high tide or loafing a few yards off the islands.
 
On Inner Farne many of the Shags are now on nests and Puffins are starting to show interest in the nesting burrows, flying back and forth from the sea.

 
Any visit to the islands produces special birds and today was no exception, an immature Merlin was picked out atop the small crane on Longstone and we were able to approach slowly and get some great views of this diminutive raptor.