The second island to be visited on the Farnes Islands trip is Inner Farne Island. This is my favourite of the two due to the large numbers of arctic and sandwich terns. Still the misty conditions preveiled. For those of you that have not visited Inner Farne an essential piece of equipment is a good hat, to repel the sustained attacks of the arctic terns as soon as you step from the boat. This recommendation should not be taken lighty as I have seen blood drawn from those without headwear. The attack of the terns offers some good opportunity for getting some close up flight shots. With the misty conditions all flight shots were going to be against a white sky but I think arctic terns are one of the few species for which this high key effect works, given their translucent wings and colouring.
To give you an impression of the tern attacks this is a photo of my friend Steve in the process of being dive bombed.
Starting the dive of the next attack
and they look so innocent when perched.
As you move up the path it is almost a relief to move away from the attacks and up to the area of the Sandwich Tern colony. I was really hoping to get some good photos of the sandwich terns but the misty conditions was making life difficult, especially with the birds being more distant. I didn't really get the photos I was after so looks like a returm trip next year maybe be required. A bird came in and two of them immediately started strutting in unison.
Another bird coming in to land at the colony.
I got so preoccupied by the terns that before I knew it it was time to head back to the jetty for the boat, so half the island didn't really get much attention. However, the day was not over yet.... :)
A moment of 'affection' between a pair.
The guillemots were being kept busy my the constantly circling gulls that were trying to pick off unguarded chicks. Nature in the raw.
Our next stop on the tour was a 2 hour stop off at Inner Farne Island which is my favourite out of the two landing sites due to the Arctic and Sandwich Terns but that will have to wait for the next post.
We were duly depoisted on Staple Island for 2 hours. A more comfortable landing than Inner Farne Island with the absence of Arctic Tern attacks. Plenty of puffins, guillimots, fulmar, razorbill, shag and kittiwake to choose from. I mainly concentrated on the puffins as potraits seemed a better option than flight shots under the conditions. 
Always good fun to photograph. 
Large numbers of puffins were flying in either with nesting material or sandeels to feed young. Despite conditions being far from ideal for flight photography I couldn't resist.
Another clump of nest material heading for a burrow.
Continuing our journey, we arrived in Seahouses in the early evening, booked into the accomodation and headed straight to the harbour for a short session with the Eider that reside there.
The drake Eider
and some junior Eider
and Rock Pipit that was gathering seaweed maggots to feed young.
It looks like they are feeding young and busy flying around the area collecting various insects. In this case a spider heading for some hungry beaks.
The female is a bit of a poser.
The male in one of my favourite poses for this species, that fluffed up over the shoulder look.
As inquisitive as ever
While waiting for the redstarts, a Dunnock and male Great spotted woodpecker have kept me entertained.
House sparrows are nesting in the roof and the first brood has recently fledged. This is one of the new youngsters.
The goldfinches have been visiting in numbers and the first young are also putting in appearance.
The only other regular visitor of note at the moment is a stunning male greenfinch which are rarely seen in the garden. To date I have not got a decent photograph of this bird has it is playing hard to get.
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