Tag Archives: Northumberland

Arctic Terns in Flight

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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?

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

Arctic Terns

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Following my last post on this fantastic looking sea bird in-flight at the Farne Islands, here are a number of shots of the arctic tern in a much more peaceful pose.

Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern with chick
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern

© [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.

Puffins in Flight

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Here are a few in-flight shots of one of our favourite birds, the Puffin, taken at the Farne Islands during the breeding season. These little birds work their socks off, constantly bringing in sand eels and other small fish to feed their pufflings who hungrily wait in their burrow.  If that is not enough, upon arrival at the burrow these little birds have to use their speed and agility to dodge the waiting gulls who are always ready to pounce and steal their beakfulls of fish.  Look out for future posts showing this daily battle.

Puffin in Flight
Puffins in Flight
Puffin 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.