Farne isle

[Retep44]

Going to the Farne island in a couple of weeks. hope to see the Puffins does anyone know how close we will be able to get to them, i was wondering if i need a big lens .cheers Pete

[pressld2]

Hi Pete,

You will get close to the puffins but will get even closer to other birds if the experience of my two visits are anything to go by. For puffins I was using my 80-400mm zoom but not always at the full 400mm. For guillemots, razorbills, kittiwakes, shags and arctic terns I was as often as not using my 16-85mm wide-angle zoom, sometimes right down at the 16mm end, such as this one...



Good luck and I hope the weather is good for you. Show us your best images when you get back!

Dave P.

[Retep44]

Cheers Dave if i can get some as good as yours i will be well pleased. What month did you go ? i wll post some of mine when i get back .cheers

[Elizabeth B]

We were there in mid-June 2005 and had a wonderful day - flat calm sea and brilliant sunshine. I was glad I was wearing a fairly thick baseball cap - but this still hurt (some people were wearing builders' hats)!!!:





More photos: The Farne Islands - June 2005

[Retep44]

Thanks for the reply. you have taken some great photo`s. looking at some of yours we will be taking hats. cheers

[Jonners]

I went up at the start of June last year. I used a 400mm lens for most of my Puffin shots, which gave a variety of flight, standing and head shots.

As Dave has pointed out, you will get very close to many of the cliff nesting birds and the Arctic Terns will in turn get very close to you . Make sure your hats offer protection against sharp pointy things, as their beaks can be quite painful (but I reckon it's part of the magical experience of the Farnes).

[pressld2]

Originally Posted by Retep44

Cheers Dave if i can get some as good as yours i will be well pleased. What month did you go ? i wll post some of mine when i get back .cheers

I was there in May 2009 and June last year. Both months are good for the adults but June is better for chicks.

Dave P.

[DOXHOPE]

Big lenses are wasted on the Farnes, I live close by, and have visited every year for many, many years..Middle of June for the most activity of puffins coming in with sand eels in their beaks to feed chicks..Im going on either the 20th 21st June if your up this way then..For many years I used my Nikkor 80-400mm, last season it was a 300mm f4, this year it will be the 300mm again. On the ground shots you can get to withing 10 feet, flying shots they will skim past your head.
You should try the Bass Rock too when your so far up, just another three quarters of an hour..gannets galore

[Retep44]

Great photo`s thanks for the info