18th September: Surveying Mini Mammals on Holy Island

This year's surveys of Holy Island's smallest mammalian residents has successfully completed, with the help of a local mammal expert, Veronica Carnell, of Northumbria Mammal Group.

The traps were distributed across two transects through the dunes of Holy Island, making sure to place them on higher ground in case of heavy rain. 'Prebaiting' was carried out on day one - this is the installation of the traps in the field with bait and bedding, but with the traps locked open so no animals would be captured. This lets animals investigate the traps and get used to them.

A Longworth trap set on prebait at dusk. A nice cosy bed and meal for some little mice or shrews!

After being set on prebait for 24 hours, the traps were then checked, re-baited and set to lock closed when an animal enters. It is very important at this point to add extra food and take extra care when replacing the trap - once an animal goes in now, there is no escape until the trap is checked! The traps were checked just a few hours later. The trap is carefully opened into a large plastic bag, and once identified the animal is set free in exactly the same place.

One of the woodmice caught by the traps

The traps caught some woodmice but no shrews - common and water shrews do live on the Island. Voles are also present on Holy Island, but these animals can be very trap-shy!

Collecting and emptying the traps at the end of the survey period

A huge thanks to Veronica for helping greatly with the survey and passing on her extensive knowledge. More information about Northumbria Mammal Group, and other Wildlife Groups in Northumberland, can be found here.

6th September: "Fire of the North" an amazing success!

Well, what a truly fantastic event the first Fire of the North turned out to be!

The leader of the walk and talk, John Woodhurst, was delighted with the huge turnout for the walk on Wednesday, the biggest group the NNR team has led this year! In addition to Natural England's official walk on Holy Island, groups turned out at Seahouses, Bamburgh and other places along the North Northumberland Coast to view St Cuthbert's beacon being lit - local people would not be disappointed, as great views of the fire on the Inner Farne could be seen up and down the coast.

The local papers had full page spreads printed about the event and on Wednesday afternoon, John also recorded an interview with Anne Leuchars from BBC Radio Newcastle's Drivetime show - you can catch him on BBC iPlayer!

Beautiful evening with the silhouette of the Lookout on Wild Lindisfarne and Priory against the dusk sky 

John was mid-miracle when the shout was raised that the beacon was ablaze, to everyone's delight. The beacon - a large bonfire lit by David Steel, National Trust's Head Ranger of the Farne Islands NNR, and his wardens - was huge and was reflected off the side of the white lighthouse on Inner Farne, adding to the spectacle. 

Part of the group, listening intently to John's tales of Cuthbert, before the beacon was lit

The Beacon on Inner Farne, as seen from Seahouses. What an amazing view!

Everyone who attended the event was so pleased they did and absolutely loved the talk, with the amazing atmosphere on Lindisfarne NNR at dusk adding to the experience.

Thank you so much to John, whose endless enthusiasm for Cuthbert and the history of Lindisfarne keeps visitors enraptured. John is running a final St Cuthbert walk on Wednesday 11th September - details on our Events page. Please do come along to hear even more about this amazing Saint!

Special thanks also to David Steel and his National Trust team on the Farnes for the crucial lighting of the beacon and supplying the firewood.

5th September: Autumn influx begins

At the weekend, Sunday 1st September, groups of light-bellied Brent geese were seen on the Flats near Holy Island - the first sightings of this species on Lindisfarne NNR this year!

This signals the beginning of the Autumn migrant birds arriving to the Reserve, a very exciting time. More and more young families of Brent, and many other species of wildfowl such as wigeon, will begin arriving over the next few weeks.

A group of light-bellied Brent in flight

The numbers of Brent geese on the flats are regularly counted, and are also picked up during the monthly Wetland Bird Survey (WeBS). You can look out for early groups of wintering birds from our two tier Fenham-Le-Moor hide, looking over the Flats.

4th September: Special event - now fully booked

Don’t forget, Reserve staff and volunteers are holding a spectacular new event tonight! The 'Fire of the North' is a unique joint venture between Natural England and the National Trust to celebrate the North East’s patron Saint, St Cuthbert.

St Cuthbert's Island, off Holy Island

Two National Nature Reserves (NNRs) are coming together on Wednesday September 4 to celebrate St Cuthbert, known as the “Fire of the North”, with a memorial beacon on the Inner Farne. With the Lindisfarne Gospels - dedicated to Cuthbert - currently on display in Durham, Natural England and the National Trust are celebrating their links with Northumberland’s very own Saint. Cuthbert spent much of his life on what is now Lindisfarne NNR and, as a hermit, retreated to the Farne Islands NNR.

Said Andrew Craggs, Senior Reserve Manager on Lindisfarne:

“Our volunteer warden John Woodhurst leads walks and talks for us on Cuthbert and his local links, and we like to stress Cuthbert the man and his strong attachment to the animal world and the natural environment. Chatting with John one day we came up with the idea of re-enacting the moment when monks on the Inner Farne announced the death of Cuthbert by signalling to monks on Lindisfarne.”

Sunset looking towards Holy Island - hopefully dusk tonight will be equally as stunning!

John, who is also a local historian, takes up the story:

“It seems strange “celebrating” a death but Cuthbert was probably bigger and more famous in death than life – we have only to think of the Lindisfarne Gospels and Durham Cathedral, both dedicated to Cuthbert. We missed the March date so we’re now going ahead with our event on September 4 which is another date in the calendar when Cuthbert is celebrated. It also ties in nicely with the Lindisfarne Gospels being in Durham”.

The event will see David Steel - Head Ranger on the Farne Islands - and his wardens lighting a fire on the Inner Farne on the evening of September 4. It is hoped the fire will be seen all along the North Northumbrian coast.

The Lindisfarne NNR team can announce that this event is now fully booked, however you can still look out for the beacon on the Inner Farne from all along the coast! Watch out for it between 8.30 - 9pm tonight.