Tag Archives: Farne Islands

Strange Looking Puffin?

Posted on by
4

Caught a shot of this imposter trying to impersonate a puffin on the Farne Islands, Northumbria.

Puffin imposter

Puffin imposter

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Gone Fishing

Posted on by
6

At this time of the year it is crucial for the puffin to regularly go fishing in order to collect as many sand eels, herring or sprats to ensure the survival of their demanding and hungry pufflings.  These shots were taken on inner Farne and as you can see the bigger beakful of fish the better.

Puffin
Puffin
Puffin
Puffin

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Arctic Terns in Flight

Posted on by
Reply

Here are a few other shots of the majestic arctic tern in flight taken at the Farne Islands.

Arctic Tern in Flight
Arctic Tern in Flight
Arctic Tern in Flight
Arctic Tern in Flight

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Aliens?

Posted on by
3

When I look at the razorbill with its black face and narrow white stripes around the eyes and beak, I cannot help thinking they may have migrated from outer space as opposed to somewhere in North America.  These shots were taken at the Farne Islands where thousands of razorbills descend to breed each year and make little aliens.

Razorbills
Razorbills
Razorbill
Razorbills

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

It’s a hard life being a Puffin

Posted on by
Reply

A puffin’s lot is certainly not easy – constant visits back and forward to the sea in order to ensure the survival of their pufflings.  The following shots demonstrate the daily struggle for a puffin trying to fend off the black headed gulls in order to protect their bounty (sand eels the official terminology) and ensure their young do not go hungry.  Having observed this at close quarters it was evident that the small build of the puffin gave it the manoeuvrability and speed to more often than not protect their hoard of sand eels.

Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull
Puffin being hrassed by a black-headed gull

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Sandwich Terns

Posted on by
3

Here are a few shots of sandwich terns bringing the goodies back to their young in the Farne Islands.

Sandwich Tern and chicks
Sandwich Tern and chicks
Sandwich Tern and chicks
Sandwich Tern and chicks

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Shags

Posted on by
2

Here are a few shots of a shag with chicks taken in the Farne Islands.  Amusingly, the final shot shows a couple of shags doing exactly what there name suggests 🙂

Shag chick
Shag and chick
Shag brooding
As their name suggests, a pair of shags doing what they do best

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Shags

Posted on by
Reply

Here are a few shots of a shag with chicks taken in the Farne Islands.  Amusingly, the final shot shows a couple of shags doing exactly what there name suggests 🙂

Shag brooding
Shag and chick
Shag chick
As their name suggests, a pair of shags doing what they do best

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Just Chillin

Posted on by
2

A puffin on the precipice contemplating what to do next – go fishing, make pufflings or perhaps just chill?  This shot was taken on the Farne Islands and although quite simplistic and empty it somehow still retains a sense of atmosphere.

Puffin

Puffin

© [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com], [2015]. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to [John Mallaney] and [www.johnmallaney.com] with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.