The first full day of our annual Hebridean Photography Cruise with photography mentor and Wildlife Guide Chris Gomersall has got off to a great start!
Here is the first day's tally of wildlife spotted:
Four white-tailed eagles
A pod of thirty or more bottlenose dolphins spotted while cruising north of Mull
Two otters (a mother and cub) while anchored in in Loch na Droma Buidhe
One “ringtail" hen harrier on Gometra
Close encounters with puffins while onshore at Lunga in the Treshnish Isles. In particular the puffins were bringing in sandeels for their chick
A corncrake was also clearly heard while ashore on Lunga
This is our 11th year of the Hebridean Photography Cruise with Chris Gomersall, one of the most respected photographers and wildlife guides in the UK, with a deep knowledge of the Hebrides. Apart from the opportunities for snapping close encounters with wildlife, there are many other aspects of the Hebrides to photograph, from the superb scenery to plant and insect life.
Here are some wildlife photos from yesterdays onshore trip to Lunga in the Treshnish Isles. Although our guests are surrounded by puffins, they are very careful to sit quietly away from the burrows and let the puffins come to them. It's very important not to go too near the burrows in case they collapse with a chick inside. The puffins on Lunga are not at all nervous of humans. One theory is that puffins actively welcome humans as they have worked out that Skuas, which predate on puffins are not there when humans are!
We had never been on a holiday like this before but we had an amazing time We were blessed with the weather and calm seas ! The crew were very professional and great fun to be with Chris the captain was obviously very knowledgable and instilled a deal of confidence . Craig the bosun was very attentive and very professional ,quietly going about his duties and had a lovely sense of humour Alexa was our guide and her knowledge of the wild life was amazing .she was attentive and caring always making sure everyone was ok . Finally Maggs the chef was amazing .what she was able to cook up in that small compact galley was wonderful Every meal was beautifully prepared and presented So much so my wife and I have had 3 meals from her website since we have returned home! I would definitely recommend Hedrides Cruises It is such a wonderful way to see the islands and if your lucky like we were you might just be entertained for 2 hours of dolphin dancing around the boat ! That was a memory that will be with me for ever .
Martin and Ruth Taylor: 4 May 2019The Small Isles and sea lochs: Wildlife havens