The primary species seen on Holy Island are Grey seals, also known as Atlantic seals. The islands have the largest breeding colony in England with some 1,000 pups born here each autumn. This year we are repeating this experiment as it's much less intrusive for the seals and much less dangerous for the rangers. The rangers have also noticed a change in the behaviour, with more seals breeding on Brownsman and Staple islands. They spend 80% of time below water, 20% on the surface breathing. Staple Island trip. Our skippers and crewman are there to help you with any question you like so pleased do not hesitate to ask. Because of this, they are protected in Britain under the Conservation of Seals Act of 1970. This is due to the lack of predators and a plentiful supply of sand eels. We’ve used Billy Shiel and Serenity, and both were excellent. Seals spend the other 20% their time on the surface; breathing, lolling around and digesting their food. Seals and pups on the Farne Islands in the North Sea off the coast of Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA) National Trust ranger Harriet Reid said: “Due to … The primary species seen on Holy Island are Grey seals, also known as Atlantic seals. The Farne Islands lie two to three miles off the Northumberland coast midway between the fishing village of Seahouses and the magnificent Castle of Bamburgh. The first experiment in tracking seals was on 16 December 1951 when ten pups were fitted with metal cattle tags. There will likely also be some seals in the water between the sandbanks and the island. Carry on browsing if you're happy with this, or find out how to manage cookies. What can I say 2 fab dives with amazing seals. The Farne Islands. There are an estimated 3 to 4 thousand Grey Seals at the Farne Islands and large numbers can be counted basking on the rocks, especially at low water when more of the Islands are exposed. During this time, the seals gather in their thousands on the shores of the Farne islands, with the end of October being the peak time for the pups, and the best time of year to be out looking for them. The grey seal colony at the Farnes numbers about 5,000. Seals on the Farne Islands. Land on Inner Farne, Staple Island, and Longstone when the islands … What type of seals do we see? The Farne Islands, which lie off the coast of nor Seabirds sit on a cliff edge on the Inner Farne, which is part of the Farne Islands, off the Northumberland coast, northern England, July 19, 2013. This is also reflected in the Grey seal’s Latin name Halichoerus grypus, which means ‘hooked-nose sea pig’. Seal and pup on the Farne Islands in the North Sea off the coast of Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA) An annual seal census at one of … The Farne Islands are open for visitors between the 28th March to the end of October. If you’re lucky you might even spot a whale or some dolphins. They are curious and often look in on divers in the water and are impressive to watch underwater. They are very rare on the Farnes with an average of 1 recorded per year. A common method used to tell them apart is that Harbour seals are more ‘dog-faced’ due to the dip between their forehead and nose creating a snout, while Grey seals are more cat-like with a rounded profile. As with all marine mammals, they are covered in thick layer of blubber that they use to keep their body temperature stable in cold water, and a layer of dense, water-resistant fur. The easiest place to access the Farne Islands in Northumberland is to take a boat trip from the nearby harbour village of Seahouses. 30% die within a month, and 50% within the first year. Between April and October, you can land on the islands themselves (May-July only for Staple Island, just in time for peak puffin season). During the season, there will … Seal and pup on the Farne Islands An annual seal census at one of Britain’s most important colonies has had to be carried out from the air due to … A study on German colonies found they move between the Danish, Dutch and UK coastlines, so it is likely the UK colonies also wander around that south-eastern corner of the sea. As the tide rises and forces the seals off the sand, they’ll swim around. Sandwich tern July* Islands: Both Staple and Inner Farne are open. Seals and pups on the Farne Islands in the North Sea off the coast of Northumberland (Owen Humphreys/PA) National Trust ranger Harriet Reid said: “Due to … Here are ten facts about seals on the Farnes from one of the head rangers. Storms can be devastating for seals, particularly those from the north which can strip pups from some of the low-lying islands causing mass deaths. This is when you’re most likely to see them, either bobbing on the water or hauled out on the shore. The seals of the Farnes are the stars of their very own scientific discovery. In September most of the sea birds have left as nesting season is over. The Farnes has the longest history of counting the seals of any colony. Keeping the waters clean from debris and pollution is beneficial for all the animals that share this environment. In 2017 Farne Islands rangers experimented with drones to capture seal pup numbers from the air. attempted to pat a seal on the head and was bitten, Crossing Holy Island’s Causeway: Tips, tides and safety, Getting to Holy Island (Lindisfarne) by public transport, How to: Walk the Pilgrim’s Way to Holy Island (minding tide times), Spending high tide on Holy Island (Lindisfarne) in Northumberland, What to do on Holy Island (Lindisfarne) – A short guide, Where to eat: food options on Holy Island (Lindisfarne). Visitors to Holy Island often ask us about the best places to see seals on the island. Duration: 150 Minutes (approx.) If you’d like a closer encounter with seals (as well as amazing birdlife and puffins in season), plan to take one of the cruises to or around these islands. The seals are around all year; however, on Holy Island they are easier to spot during the spring and summer months. Although they may look small from afar, Grey seals can weigh up to 300kg and reach 2.6 metres in length. They sing a haunting tune, thought to be the siren songs that used to lure sailors to their death! Keep your eyes peeled for that grey shape bobbing in the sea. Scuba Diving with Seals If you take our recommended walk along the foreshore, you’ll often see large groups of seals on the sandbanks in the distance and hear them singing as well. Despite this, the pups still have a difficult childhood. The best tips I can give you if … Pups are born with fuzzy, white fur, which is not water-resistant. Seals and Seal Pups. Up to 4,000 Grey seals haul out onto the sand flats at Lindisfarne national nature reserve. Dr Burville, a researcher from Newcastle University, was diving off the coast of the Farne Islands when he witnessed a male Grey seal ‘clap’ underwater during breeding season – which he then spent 17 years trying to capture on camera! The seals are used to divers and love to interact with them, and are often referred to as the ‘puppies of … A much-loved addition to the fauna of the islands, the seals are not subjected to high human threat. Since 2017, the rangers have also been experimenting with drones to follow and track the pups, as this is much less intrusive for the seals and much safer for our rangers. The Farne Islands are famous among scuba divers which is largely down to the population of around 4,500 Atlantic Grey Seals that call these rocky outcrops ‘home’. Longstone Lighthouse is an active 19th century lighthouse located on Longstone Rock in the outer group of the Farne Islands off the Northumberland Coast, England. One was found alive at Jaeren, 20 miles away from Stavanger, Norway on 30 December. These trips will typically take you to see the seal colony up close first, and also either take you around the islands, or land you on one of them. Others look at us nervously and ask: what are those strange moaning sounds we heard last night? Given the right weather conditions, the seals are visited every … Click here to listen (credit: BBC). If you’re lucky and have a keen eye, you might even spot a Harbour seal in the mix. For three months every autumn they are visited every four days to monitor breeding success, and new pups are marked with harmless dye to keep an eye on them. The longer a male can stay and defend his territory, the more successful his pups will be – they can fast for over 50 days! They spend 80% of their time underwater, diving for around eight minutes … From the 12th century onwards, the seals were harvested by the Islands' monks. 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