Monday, October 13, 2025
On a day of low cloud, light winds, and a fairly calm sea, we set off on our latest pelagic to Stornoway and back. Visibility wasn't great on the way out and the mist gave a damp feel to the air - but it brightened up later. Nothing stupendous was spotted, but it was an enjoyable trip with plenty of common dolphins on both legs.
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Porpoises were also much in evidence.
There seemed to be no Manx shearwaters now but we saw possibly 100 sooties. I clicked off loads of photos but they're all rubbish. I complained that this ferry now vibrates almost as much as the old one - although I did notice the difference (a bit too late) if I didn't lean my elbows on the rail! Greger naturally had the solution - electric ferries. Wouldn't that be nice! Not only a smooth, quiet ride for us - but also less noise and pollution for the ocean.
Just before we reached Stornoway I had a glimpse of a Minke whale as it surfaced (never to be seen again) while a small passerine flying over my head and landing high on the funnel structure turned out to be a house sparrow.
I had four sightings of skuas. One, lifting from the water and then disappearing into the murk, was clearly a bonxie - while this dark form bird is probably an Arctic skua.
Most things considered (eg small head, narrowish wings), I think this is also an Arctic.
About ten minutes later I spotted this skua - probably a different individual from the one above as it shows marked moulting in its flight feathers. (Another shot shows it was also a pale form bird.)
It was first spotted gliding low over the water, and I mistook it for a sooty shearwater until it landed. I s'pose there's just a chance this was a pomarine skua - but it's more likely to be a third Arctic.
Back in Ullapool, Greger diverted to Tesco for some shopping while I went home and then drove back to pick him up. He has a bad foot - his heel is sore enough to make him limp. He has a vast pack of frozen peas with which he cools his heel several times a day - as advised by the NHS website. Anyway, he probably won't be going up any hills any time soon; but I think I must try, if only to get this blog back to its original subject - walking, with birds thrown in. There's been too much "lay-by birding" lately and it won't do!
