Our Idyllic Islands Hebridean Photography Cruise departing on July 2nd and led by Chris Gomersall provided many wildlife highlights. There were several close sightings of at least 6 different individual white-tailed eagles, two golden eagles and four hen harriers. There were lots of flocks of Manx shearwaters at sea and several corncrakes were heard on land. As always, landing on Lunga in the Treshnish Isles in close proximity to the nesting puffins was brilliant for the photographers. Mammals were in shorter supply, although lots of red deer were seen on land while at sea there were plenty of common and grey seals. Other marine mammals included several sightings of harbour porpoise, and a wonderful encounter with a pod of around 30 bottlenose dolphins in the Sound of Mull. Some of our group were lucky enough to have a brief glimpse of an ocean sunfish passing astern. There were 77 bird species spotted as follows
Red-throated diver, Fulmar, Manx shearwater, Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Grey heron, Greylag Goose, Canada goose, Mallard, Eider, Red-breasted merganser,r Goosander
White-tailed eagle, Hen harrier, Buzzard, Golden eagle, Kestrel
Corncrake, Oystercatcher, Ringed plover, Golden plover, Dunlin, Curlew,
Common sandpiper
Arctic skua, Great skua, Black-headed gull, Common gull, Lesser black-backed gull, Herring gull, Great black-backed gull, Kittiwake, Sandwich tern, Common tern, Arctic tern, Guillemot, Razorbill, Black guillemot, Puffin
Rock dove, Woodpigeon, Collared dove, Cuckoo, Skylark, Swallow, House martin, Meadow pipit, Rock pipit, Grey wagtail, Pied wagtail,l Dipper, Wren, Robin, Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackbird, Song thrush, Sedge warbler, Blackcap, Wood warbler, Chiffchaff, Willow warbler Goldcrest, Spotted flycatcher, Coal tit, Blue tit, Treecreeper, Hooded crow, Raven, Starling, House sparrow, Chaffinch, Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Siskin, Linnet, Redpoll.
We were so pleased with the charter booking from the initial emails inquiring about dates available to the last minute questions and timely responses as we prepared to head to Scotland. Emma is professional, kind, and prompt in responding by email. We appreciate good customer service and yours is excellent. Since this was our second cruise with Skipper James and the Emma Jane, we knew what to expect about anchorages and visiting the islands. However, this cruise exceeded any expectations we had. We enjoyed returning to some islands we had previously visited and seeing new places. We continue to be overwhelmed by our visit to St. Kilda (thank you, Skipper James!) and seeing the many, many species and numbers of birds throughout the cruise that were not around in these numbers in September 2017. James knows much about all aspects of the Hebrides; if he doesn’t know an answer, he says that he doesn’t know. I like that. Will was knowledgeable about cetaceans, birds, plants, and extremely helpful to those of us who decided to take some of the walks that included narrow and muddy trails with steep inclines. He was available to offer a hand or arm to steady us as we hiked up and down the hills. Anchoring in protected areas overnight is an extraordinary experience—the quiet, the skies, the gentle rocking of the vessel. All ten of us on this charter live on bodies of water—bays, lakes, ocean. Anchoring in coves next to small villages or near an unpopulated island is special. The cruise was extra special. We were made to feel welcomed back and our friends from New Hampshire were thrilled with their experiences seeing the Hebrides and the wildlife, scenery, remoteness, and the comfort of the Emma Jane.
Angela & David Hiley: 8 June 2019Private Charter 10 Nights