Farne Islands

Whether you enjoy photographing birds or just enjoy birds, you must make at least one trip to the Farne Islands - one of Britain's most important seabird sanctuaries with tens of thousands of nesting Puffins, Guillemots, Kittiwakes, and Terns.

You have to book a boat trip to the Islands, and there are many small companies running daily trips throughout the breeding season from the town of Seahouses. Some trips just circle the islands and return, but some land and leave you on shore for a while.

The Islands are owned by the National Trust who describes the wildlife as "extremely friendly allowing visitors to enjoy close views". This is debatable. Although it's true that you'll enjoy extremely close views, I think the wildlife would actually prefer that you weren't there; the dive-bombing Terns are evidence of this (take a hat!). I can't help thinking that, if ownership of the Islands moved to the RSPB, management of the Islands would certainly change and perhaps landing rights would no longer be granted.

Take a lens in the 200 to 400mm range (a zoom might be ideal, or two bodies). You can get very close to some birds for frame-filling or portrait shots, and the classic image of a Puffin with Sandeels should be relatively easy, as long as you visit at the right time of year. There'll be many chances of flight shots, particularly of Terns and Puffins returning to their chicks.

The drawbacks? Visits are at midday only and if it's a sunny day the light can be harsh. Getting pleasing pictures of black-and-white birds in bright sunlight is not easy. Visits are also short. You'll only get 60-90 minutes on each of the two Islands, and you could occupy yourself all day if it were allowed. I went twice during my week in Northumberland. It's also very busy with people.

That said, it's a great place to go and I'd highly recommend it.

The Farne Islands lie two-five miles off the Northumberland coast, opposite Bamburgh. You'll need to book a boat trip from Seahouses and book early, as they're always popular. Many boat companies have websites - use Google, Yahoo, etc, to locate them.

See the National Trust website for information and opening arrangements

My images from the Farne Islands

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