Penultimate day on Shetland 😢, our postponed trip to Noss with Seabirds & Seals Boat Trips was due this afternoon, but due to sea conditions we had to wait til the last minute for a text that it was good to go!! We got the go ahead mid morning, but wouldn't know til we were on board as to whether we would ab able to do the full trip, or one changed to suit the conditions, we parked up in Lerwick about 11.45 while we waited we were royally entertained by four Black Guillemots and a trio of Common Terns!
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| Common Terns |
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| Gotta keep them feathers clean |
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| Black Guillemot |
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| Diving |
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| Was fun watching them swimming underwater |
We boarded the boat and had the safety talk and the news we were going all the way round on the tour!! Hurrah!!
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| The boat, looks reassuringly big enough!! |
We set off heading south through the calmish waters of the harbour though pretty soon it became obvious it was gonna be bouncy😲😱!! I'm not a bad sailor in that I don't generally feel ill but must admit was holding on a bit to start with and regretting the extra pancakes I'd had for breakfast, luckily were plenty of guardrails etc, The combo of the big seas and the big lens made photography pretty difficult/impossible at this point it, defo wasn't because I couldn't let go😁, Margie however was loving it, proving herself an excellent sailor, I'm sure I heard her talking about splicing the main brace, and running up the gib etc!! She also managed a lot of photos as well!!
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| Tirrick on a Post |
We finally found out which one was Jimmy Perez's house due to the excellent commentary, unfortunately I've forgotten which one it is but it's one of the below!!😏 Pics by Margie.
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| Picking up speed |
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| Crossing to Bressay. |
The geology of the Shetlands is amazing, and on full show in Margie's pictures below!
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| Apparently they sail through this on calm days but couldn't today |
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| Noss ahoy!! getting a bit nautical there |
It was as we rounded Bressay and crossed the open sea towards Noss that we experienced the full force of the sea!! think Poseidon Adventure or Trawlerman Tv Series!! I bravely hung on, had seen plenty of birds up to now, Great Northern Diver just outside Lerwick, loads of Black Guillemot, must be the highest density in Britain don't think I've ever seen so many in an area, lots of Guillemot, Razorbills, Kittiwakes, Fulmars, Shags, the first Gannets appearing and quite a few Puffins flying about but obviously couldn't get any pics, without bashing myself in the face!! However as we rounded the end of Noss the conditions eased and was able to get going, the skipper was extremely skilled in getting us into various bays and gaps near the cliffs to give us great photo opportunities amazing considering the conditions. As we neared the colony Gannets and Bonxies started to appear in good numbers, following the boat, not easy to get pics but I done me best!
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| Kittiwake |
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| Gannet |
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| Bonxie |
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| Guillemots |
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| Gannets |
We reached the colony proper, where we received the sage advise "don't look up and say wow!!😁😂😲" There were a few Gannets in the air to be sure!!
Sadly, there have been a few casualties to bird flu this year. Bonxies take advantage, though think they have suffered as well!
The noise was awesome, although the smell didn't help with the sicky feeling, though with the improved conditions I soon got over it and took a few pics!!😁
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| Glowing Gannet |
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| Guillemots |
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| Guillemot |
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| Have they gone yet!! |
At this point a few fish were thrown in, this would give a photo opportunity to see Gannets plunging into the sea, I would like to say below are my pictures of the action, however I missed all the diving!! In my defence Bonxies and Gulls nicked most of the fish before the Gannets got going and trying to get em in the view finder in the bouncy conditions was difficult, I know excuses, excuses though I did get some pictures of the aftermath carnage!!
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| Herring Gull getting away with one! |
Amazing to watch, despite my incompetence!!
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| Margie captured a more serene moment |
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| Seeing us off the premises |
We left the main colony, but edged into various coves looking for Puffins, during one such manoeuvre Margie shouted that she'd seen a Dolphin, unfortunately no one else could get on it!😢!
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| Puffin |
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| Black Guillemot in flight! |
We headed around to a sheltered bay, where we moored up and had a cuppa, although I declined a drink just in case!! Though I managed a couple of Shortbreads obvs! It was at this point we continued our long holiday tradition of no matter where we go or how remote it is, there is always somebody there from Sussex!! Turned out another couple on the boat were from Seaford!! Small world!!
In the bay were a couple of Red-throated Diver, some Eider, Tirricks, a couple of Red-breasted Mergansers flew past! Some of Margie's pics below!
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| The wardens house on Noss |
And some of the birds by me!
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| Shag on the rocks, think I've finally run out of Shag jokes!! |
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| Red-throated Diver |
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| Eider |
We weighed anchor and headed back to Lerwick, stopping to moor up above a wreck, where a mini submersible was sent down to give us a look at the undersea world! Unfortunately the weather conditions which had postponed our trip had stirred up the silt, but we still had good views of a Crab, Sea Squirts, various Starfish and Urchins all very interesting!! After that we headed back to Lerwick, going past the cruise ships and the trawlers back into dock! Margie took some pics on the way in!
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| Lerwick old town |
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| Margie wants to take this out next time!!😲 |
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| Safely docked!! |
It was a brilliant tour, with the weather conditions making it even more exciting than I had expected, although my pictures might of been better had the sea been a bit flatter, that's my excuse and I'm sticking to it!! The commentary was excellent full of interesting facts about the history, geology and wildlife of the Islands and obviously the birds are awesome, a different perspective of the colony than you get from the clifftops looking down, I highly recommend that if you are in Shetland you do this tour even if you don't have a particular interest in birds it was amazing and excellent value for money!!!
More info about the tour at the link and I'm not even getting paid for sharing!!!
Seabirds & Seals
So after that, while I was still swaying, trying to get used to being on dry land again, we got Fish & Chips from the local chippy and ate them on a bench overlooking the harbour a fitting way to end the day!
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