Abandoned by their mother, they spend another 20 days or so on the colony before heading out to sea for an independent life. Between April and October, you can land on the islands themselves (May-July only for Staple Island, just in time for peak puffin season). They may look friendly, but seals are still wild animals that should not be disturbed, particularly during breeding and pupping season. The Farne Islands are home to thousands of grey seals (also known as Atlantic seals), and each autumn hundreds of pups are born here. 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. They spend 80% of time below water, 20% on the surface breathing. Despite this, the pups still have a difficult childhood. Our boats have toilets on board and our catamaran has disabled access when the tides are right. Where are the Farne Islands The Farnes Islands are a group of islands just off the coast of Northumberland. The Farne Islands are located just below the Scottish border on the east side of England for this Seal Diving Trip and are known as one of the best locations in the UK to dive with seals. Of these, three are accessible: Staple Island, Inner Farne and Longstone (home to the ‘Grace Darling’ Lighthouse). While the pups are young, the males and females stay on land to protect and feed their offspring with extremely high-fat milk. T hey are one of the world’s rarest seal species, officially endangered by a combination of water pollution, fishing nets and seaside tourism. The Holy Island colony haul-out among the Grey seals on the exposed sandbars at Fenham Flats. The pup travelled 400 miles in a maximum of 14 days. 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. The Farnes has the longest history of counting the seals of any colony. July 9, 2019 July 11, 2019 by Andrew Douglas. If you’re lucky and have a keen eye, you might even spot a Harbour seal in the mix. Once we have fitted you with equipment and you have changed into a wetsuit, a picturesque boat journey takes us to the Farne Islands. The longer a male can stay in the colony and defend his territory, the more successful they will be. Their numbers swell during this time as over 1,500 pups are born across the islands – the highest ever count was 2,295 in 2016. They are 28 islands, some very small and some only visible during low tide. 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. The visibility here is usually around 10 metres and you can experience some fantastic interaction with these inquisitive creatures. Colonies congregate on the sand banks between the island and the mainland at mid to low tide. The rangers have also noticed a change in the behaviour, with more seals breeding on Brownsman and Staple islands. 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. This means we know exactly how many are born and how many die every season. Given the right weather conditions, the seals are visited every … Because of this, they are protected in Britain under the Conservation of Seals Act of 1970. Due to the COVID pandemic landing on the island is not allowed so you can only view the islands from a boat, trips go from Seahouses Harbour. We currently have 11 boats, 8 Glad Tidings, 2 St Cuthberts and our high speed Rhib Ocean Explorer. However, seals on some of the higher islands such as Staple and Brownsman are less prone to wave-wash. Grey seals are ‘capital breeders’, which means that during their stay at the colony in the autumn both females and males fast, obtaining all their energetic requirements from their blubber. Pups are weaned in 18 days, in which time they will have quadrupled in weight. Every year, we see an abundance of fantastic British wildlife, including puffins and over 100,000 seabirds. Our skippers and crewman are there to help you with any question you like so pleased do not hesitate to ask. Male seals have a lifespan of 20-25 years and female seals have a lifespan of 30-35 years. If they feel threatened by your presence, they can become defensive, so please do not approach them, especially with dogs. The nearest of the islands sits approximately a mile and a half from the beach. The first experiment in tracking seals was on 16 December 1951 when ten pups were fitted with metal cattle tags. They seem to move around from year to year, so if you’re staying with us, we may be able to tell you the most recent and best viewing places at the time. After the gunshot-like crack, the rival males dispersed quickly, leading Dr Burville to believe that male seals (also known as bulls) use this as a sign of strength to scare off competitors and attract mates. As well as being the most famous Sea Bird Sanctuary in the British Isles they also have a large colony of Atlantic / Grey Seals. That said, there are a few good bets. 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. The Farne Islands are home to the grey seal (also known as the Atlantic Grey Seal), with between 3000 and 4000 of this rare species on and around the islands. The best tips I can give you if … Spoiler: these are ‘seal song’, from the grey seal colonies on the sandbanks and nature reserve beaches. However the grey seals are present in plenty, and gannets fly. The seals are used to divers and love to interact with them, and are often referred to as the ‘puppies of … The Outer Farnes is considered the less populated of the islands and home to between 3,000 and 4,000 grey seals. Copyright 2020 All Right Reserved for original content. Duration: 150 Minutes (approx.) Credit: PA Images An annual seal census in Northumberland has had to be carried out from the air because of the coronavirus pandemic. Pictured on the right is the late Billy Shiel MBE whose grandfather founded Farne Island Boat Trips in 1918 shortly after the 1st World War. They spend 80% of their time underwater, diving for around eight minutes … The Farne Islands are located just below the Scottish border on the east side of England and are known as one of the best locations in the UK to dive with seals. Keeping the waters clean from debris and pollution is beneficial for all the animals that share this environment. Birds: Puffins can be seen on the islands. Not so Common. If you’d like to help, why not participate in a beach clean and safely dispose of anything that might harm the wildlife. 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’. In comparison, Harbour seals are much smaller, weighting up to 170kg and reaching 1.5 metres in length. Counting the pups. Using a rotation of three or four colours we can work out how many pups are born, how many die, and how many ‘disappear’ before they would be able to survive. In the Autumn months, female Grey seals come ashore the islands to pup. This was the first sign that they travel huge distances across the North Sea. Sand eels make up about 70% of their diet, along with fish, squid and octopus. Their fur is often mottled, with darker grey blotches, which is where they get their name from. The Farne Islands are popular with bird watchers, and as scuba diving locations, with a variety of sites suitable for all levels of divers, for the seals and wrecks. We use cookies to provide you with a better service. The primary species seen on Holy Island are Grey seals, also known as Atlantic seals. 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. They are very rare, with an average of one recorded per year, however nine were seen in 2010. Visitors to Holy Island often ask us about the best places to see seals on the island. It's tough being a seal pup. I couldn’t wait. These islands offer better protection from storms and high seas, preventing wave-wash which can be devastating to pups on low-lying islands which haven’t yet grown waterproof fur. What can I say 2 fab dives with amazing seals. Visit from the sea. The Farne Islands. A cautionary tale is that of the man rushed to hospital in Devon, after he attempted to pat a seal on the head and was bitten. The Farne Islands are located between Bamburgh and Seahouses on the Northumberland coast and are home to one of the largest seal colonies in the UK with around 1,000 seal pups born each year. Seal Diving at the Farne Islands The Grey Seal colony is one of the largest in the UK but is the best in the UK for diving with them in the wild. This was the first clue that seals moved across the North Sea and such large distances. Why not have a look at the rest of the site and please do not hesitate in … The water around the islands is among the clearest in the country and offers superb diving from wrecks to scenic and not forgetting those inquisitive grey seals who will appear from nowhere to play with you. Fewer National Trust rangers were able to stay on the Farne Islands, off the Northumberland coast, to monitor them. They spend 80% of their time underwater, diving for around eight minutes (although the longest recorded dive was 30 minutes) and hunting at depths of up to 30 metres. If you’re lucky you might even spot a whale or some dolphins. The visibility here is usually around 10 metres and you can experience some … 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. In September most of the sea birds have left as nesting season is over. They are curious and often look in on divers in the water and are impressive to watch underwater. 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 … They sing a haunting tune, thought to be the siren songs that used to lure sailors to their death! With over a thousand Seal pups born each Autumn our colony is growing strong. 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