Farne Island Gear

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I'm planning a birding trip to visit the Farne Islands for a 2 week break, mostly to visit the islands on at least 4 occasions, doing the 2 island trip .

my question is, Seeing the reviews posted on various forums, I'm reading just how close you can get to nesting birds, usually it seems within a few feet.

Do I really need to lug along my new Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens or would a Sony 70-200 f2.8 suffice?

Hoping to gain advice from people who have actually been

Thanks in advance guys

Les :)
 
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I went with my 70-200 and was fine, but if you get a skiff trip around the islands you might also want to take the biggun, and a wide if you have one. Also take a hat, because the terns will peck your head :eek:
 
Have been a couple of times (take an old wide brimmed hat), last time I took a wide prime, 300 and 500. You can get very close to some of the larger species (Razor bill, Guillemots) on Stable Island. Most of the Puffins are on the wing, so normal bird inflight equipment is useful (hence I bothered with the 500). Inner Farne has the same species as Stable plus the Artic Terns (hence the hat). The Terns are very close, I would suggest something wide, 20mm worked well for me. Inner Farne also has a good number of Shags by the light house, don't get too close they will defend themselves... Very enjoyable, but busy, last time I went was half term (I forgot to check...) and if you get a few days of bad weather it gets much busier on the next good day. Also if its hot take plenty of water there is very little shelter.
 
I won a club comp once with a Tern photo taken here, even though I didn't get it all in - with my then 12-24mm lens at the 12mm setting !!!

Generally though the 70-200 is a good call, but if you want flying birds then the big'un may well be needed

So take it all :)

And defo the hat

Dave
 
:plus1: For the hat. I witnessed blood!

I will check my images, but I don’t think I used anything longer than a 200.

Longer might be useful from the boat if you do a tour round the islands - which I’d recommend. I went with one of the smaller companies and it was great value for money. Especially if you are a National Trust member.

We also saw a dolphin - came right up to the boat but sadly it was injured. The skipper stopped the boat and we tried to see if we could do anything, but it swam off.
 
A hat is a definite. You will get hit, or worse.
We found that 70 -200 was quite adequate on land. We were - unwittingly - stood right next to a puffin next and they just kept coming and going.
Even the cliff nesting birds were close enough not to need the big lenses.
Longer could be useful when shooting from the boats but we managed without.
Billy Shiel is the acknowledgd master of cruises out there, but the islands have little or no cover and once you're off the boat that's it until he comes back. If it rains you get wet!
 
mickledore said:
Billy Shiel is the acknowledgd master of cruises out there,
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Didnt he die in 2011, his sons were running the dive business when I went there a few years ago and I'm afraid I didnt get on with one of them, wont go into reasons but the other one was fine.
 
MatBin said:
Didnt he die in 2011, his sons were running the dive business when I went there a few years ago and I'm afraid I didnt get on with one of them, wont go into reasons but the other one was fine.
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He may well have done.
I never met him. He was an old fisherman wasn't he, who decommisioned his boats and turned them into tripper boats. Now there must be close to a dozen buzzing about. Probably making more money than on the fishing game.
I've only ever dealt with the women at the kiosk - daughter/daughter in law. They were OK.
 
Without checking my files I cant recall.... .but fairly sure it would have been my 100-400 mkI on the 7D

In regard to a hat, if you use a head hugging hat (as compared to one with a good stiff crown) make sure it is a thick one. I was wearing a thinner baseball type cap and the terns pecked hard enough to draw blood even with that hat.......but I am also follicely challenged ;)

Lastly, it is a great place and as noted you can get and are so close to the Puffins and Terns. Oh, and the gulls really do mug the Puffins for their Sandeels.

Some Puffin behaviour was interesting, in that when they return with a beak full they fly a circuit and land on the cliff edge (makes for nice background) before taking off again to make the dash for their burrows.
 
The hat is important!

last time I went I took my 150-600 mm lens and had it set to 150 or 200 mm most of the time. I would have been better off with my much lighter 70-300 lens.

The birds are trying to raise young and we photographers get in their way. Puffins standing around with their beaks full of sand eels are waiting for you to go away so they can safely feed the young in their burrows. Take a quick shot and go away or the young do not feed.
 
Lez325 said:
I'm planning a birding trip to visit the Farne Islands for a 2 week break, mostly to visit the islands on at least 4 occasions, doing the 2 island trip .

my question is, Seeing the reviews posted on various forums, I'm reading just how close you can get to nesting birds, usually it seems within a few feet.

Do I really need to lug along my new Tamron 150-600mm G2 lens or would a Sony 70-200 f2.8 suffice?

Hoping to gain advice from people who have actually been

Thanks in advance guys

Les :)
Click to expand...

I've been a few times Les and I would definitely say take the 150-600, the 70-200 will get you some good photos but you will need a longer lens to get a better selection e.g. flying Puffins, Guillemots returning with a fish and making their way through the crowd, Guillemot chicks etc etc.
 
Thanks all- some knowledgeable replies :) I (we) have rented a cottage in Seahouses, so nice and close to the boats

I am planning to do 4 of the 4 hour on 2 island trips( Billy Sheil's boat) - Thanks all for the hat info- I'll take both the 70-200mm and 150-600mm as for wide the best I can do is a Sony 16-50mm f2.8

Les
 
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With regards the comments on a hat - one trick I was recommended years ago was to put a bit of cereal box under the hat. Gives you a bit more protection. The terns will attack the highest point so I tend to have my monopod strapped to my rucksack and extend it above my head a bit.

If you're not keen on carrying all your kit at once why don’t you take the long lens one day and the shorter lenses the next? Then decide what you used the most and take them for the other 2 trips.

If you're doing 4 trips that's 4 lots of landing fees to the national trust. Might be worth joining before you go as it may be cheaper. I believe members don’t pay the landing fees.
 
Lez325 said:
Thanks all- some knowledgeable replies :) I (we) have rented a cottage in Seahouses, so nice and close to the boats

I am planning to do 4 of the 4 hour on 2 island trips( Billy Sheil's boat) - Thanks all for the hat info- I'll take both the 70-200mm and 150-600mm as for wide the best I can do is a Sony 16-50mm f2.8

Les
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I stayed in Seahouses too :thumbs: The Indian, and Italian restaurants in the town are pretty good ;)
 
da_nige said:
With regards the comments on a hat - one trick I was recommended years ago was to put a bit of cereal box under the hat. Gives you a bit more protection. The terns will attack the highest point so I tend to have my monopod strapped to my rucksack and extend it above my head a bit.

If you're not keen on carrying all your kit at once why don’t you take the long lens one day and the shorter lenses the next? Then decide what you used the most and take them for the other 2 trips.

If you're doing 4 trips that's 4 lots of landing fees to the national trust. Might be worth joining before you go as it may be cheaper. I believe members don’t pay the landing fees.
Click to expand...

I am a member of the National Trust so just - Boat fee's- I have a Camo baseball cap I usually wear when wildlife togging - I cut up and old hot water bottle to line it - like a skull cap :) :)

I will take both lenses 150-600mm and the 70-200 in my lowepro rucksack

Thanks for the post

Les :)
 
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Paulie-W said:
I stayed in Seahouses too (y) The Indian, and Italian restaurants in the town are pretty good ;)
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I'm staying on main street only 300m from the village, so an Indian will be on my list- thanks for the post

Les
 
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