Weekends are unscheduled so today was a day that each person could do whatever he or she felt called to do. One student traveled to Scotland, several others traveled to York, some stayed in town and soaked up the Alnwick atmosphere, and others joined us on a bus ride to Seahouses, where after shopping, we took a boat trip to the Farne Islands, several miles out in the North Sea.The weather this week has been so unsettled that today at noon time was the first trip out to the Islands in three days. Our boat was appropriately called the Glad Tidings IV.
The Farne Islands are home to many types of water birds and to seals. One of the features of the boat trip is a landing on one of the Islands to allow close observation of the birds. The nesting season is nearly over, but a few downy baby terns remain, fiercely protected by vigilant parents.
The greatest fun is seeing the puffins in action, either standing by their burrows or bringing back food for the single chick they raise each season. They also congregate in small groups, where it looks to us humans like they are gossiping about the latest North Sea events. Very cool to see.
The weather was overcast and breezy. We did get a light spritzing when a squall passed over the Island just after we landed, but on the boat ride back to shore the sun came out and it was quite pleasant. The clouds have been indescribable with all of the fronts passing through. Photographs just do not do it justice, but we keep trying!
Tonight we will go outside around 10:30 pm to watch fireworks!
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