A look back

I haven't done a post for a while so decided to take a look back over the last few weeks (although it seems longer since I was blown around the Uists!!) - be prepared for Puffins and Gannets!!

The summer cruises were great with plenty of Puffins to delight passengers on the Yorkshire Belle.  The Cobles (and Flamborough lifeboat) provided other entertainment.  I didn't get much further than Bridlington and the Belle!!  Who needed to go anywhere else once the early season fog had disappeared  - sun, sea and guess what - Puffins a plenty!!  It was also good to catch up with 'old' friends from holidays and cruises.

A few evening visits to the Head and Bempton to enjoy the views (and check on the Puffins) - or as one visitor said 'Puffins and Porpoises - it doesn't get much better'.  There was a 'domestic' as a Puffin tried to enter the wrong burrow, soon despatched by the occupants and much complaining (it's not often you actually hear Puffins - they sort off moo!) once in the right one😊

As July passed it was time for Diving Gannets  - my annual treat of a trip with Yorkshire Coast Nature - and those run by the RSPB - and amazingly a Porpoise porpoising - only the second time I have seen this......  cheers echoed around the boat!!   Almost a 1000 'likes' and over 200 shares on Facebook can't be bad!! 

Working from home does have advantages - an unexpected close encounter with the Cunard liner Queen Elizabeth led to having a photo printed in the Guardian!!  No payment but plenty of kudos!
so sit back and (hopefully) enjoy ........

Storm Hector blows in

Had a great week on and around the Hebrides, the Uists, Benbecula, Eriskay, Barra and Coll (probably missed some!!) - Storm Hector enforced an unplanned visit to Oban which meant we didn't get to Tiree (and more importantly didn't get to the Chocolate shop) but a good weeks birding for all that - and good food and good company - and good driving when trying to lean out of the minibus with a Hen Harrier flying parallel!!

There were lots of birds on sticks and rocks; in the air and a plane landing on the beach - I have got to book a flight on that one!!  Especially when a White-tailed Sea Eagle did a fly past straight after....  Glorious Phalaropes and a Ruff sporting the Louis XIV look....  The Machair was amazingly colourful, other plants were enjoyed  - just don't ask me to name them!!

The unplanned ferry from Barra to Oban provided me with a quick view of a Minke whale almost breaching - sorry was too quick for a photo - but I DID see it!

A visit to Vatersay  - by road from Barra this time rather than by boat - gave a chance to see the wreck of a Catalina, which crashed in 1944; and my dream house!!  I also introduced everyone to the memorial to the Annie Jane wrecked in 1843 after three attempts to start the Atlantic crossing - 348 men. women and children perished.

The change in schedule led to a tour around the Morvan peninsula and a chance to catch up on the nesting Black Guillemots at the Corran ferry.   An evening walk around Oban - after enjoying fish and chips - led to the moving sculpture that is the war memorial.  

Our last ferry 'home' was enlivened with a number of sailing ships and CalMac ferries alongside some wonderful skies as the rain fell around but (almost) not on us.

I started the week across the new Queensferry Crossing and ended the same way.  Great to drive across this stunning bridge - as had some sadness with the closure of the Forth Road Bridge having been driven across when that opened - and going on the last ferry crossing.....

Hope you enjoy the pics....