Re-tern

With Mark missing out on the Bridled Tern in 2013, this weekend seemed good enough to right the wrong - so with a 12:15 departure we were off on the tourist trip round the Farnes, eventually landing on Inner Farne for the final hour.

Result in the form of said tern being present and viewable from the boat upon landing, then frustration as it flew off for 45 minutes. Its return timed nicely (?) with the arrival of our boat back to Seahouses mean't brief, not as close as I'd like views. And it was freezing!

Record shots...

Re-tern

Pah.

Just as we thought it was off...

Some incredible close fly-bys this afternoon, but awkward afternoon light and a rather fast flyer were together all too much for the auto-focus... and me.

No re-tern

Thoughts of another bridled encounter were dashed when news broke of the wandering tern down at Saltholme RSPB early this afternoon.

Mark and I had played it cool in the relative heat of the North-easts' splendid weather - heading up to Beacon Hill (marsh tit/tree pipit) and Rayburn Lake (Crane-less this morning).

A brief pitstop in the shameless-esq delights of "RedRaw" for chips then saw us head to the coast - Cresswell had a wad of non-northumbrians hoping to see the tern, so we headed north to East Chevington - more terns here than at Cresswell, but no chance of the bridled once the pager went off.

Moved on...

Bridled Tern, Inner Farne

It was a very early start today, with news last night of the bridled tern returning to Inner Farne...

Alarm set for 04:20, on road at 04:47 and sitting on Glad Tidings IV at 06:00 in Seahouses Harbour.

Taking pictures at 06:10 - a good job too, as the tern soon lifted and went off to feed!

Back home for 09:00

Record shots it is...

My first UK tick since December 2011, so most welcome.

And it's off... blurred but illustrative?!