As my regular reader will remember we do like a Ferry trip, with some memorable excursions had in recent years, The Ullapool to Stornoway ferry has been particularly productive on our previous crossings to the Hebrides, with Skuas, Petrels, Shearwaters and 3 species of Dolphin over the years, so we decided to book a foot passenger trip there and back with the hope of more of the same!
The weather was ridiculously hot, not helped by us being in thermals expecting it to be a bit windy on the trip, luckily there was a bit of a breeze which saved us from melting completely! With a bit of time to kill we wandered along the beach, not much about on the calm water, a close Black Guillemot, a couple of Shags and a very entertaining mouse trying unsuccessfully to climb a bird feeding station, most amusing watching him sliding down the pole in slow motion!!! Think he did get a few crumbs off the floor!!
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| Shag |
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| Black Guillemot, nearly in full breeding plumage |
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| Mouse |
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| Sliding slowly down the pole |
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| Getting ready to start again |
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| Rook |
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| Guillemot |
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| The calm waters of Ullapool by Margie |
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| Margie's take on the Mouse |
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| The ship arriving, surprising how close it comes to the shore |
We were soon on our way, it was probably too calm and it soon became obvious that there was very little flying about, there were a few Divers on the sea, Guillemots and Razorbills and the best several pairs of Puffins dotted about, but not the Seabirdfest I'd hoped!
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| Seal in the harbour |
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| Red-throated Diver |
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| Guillemot |
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| Great Northern Diver, another bird in transitional plumage |
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| Black Guillemot |
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| Kittiwake |
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| Puffin |
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| Small flock of Razorbill |
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| Fulmar |
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| Guillemot |
Truth be told the highlight of the crossing was the impressive scenery, big skies and fantastic seascapes wherever you looked, few of Margie's pics below!
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| Farewell to Ullapool |
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| Just in case |
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| Big Sky, Big Sea |
Stornoway Harbour looks like it is having a major overhaul with lots of work going on, as the boat came into port we were visited by a Hooded Crow
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| Drying off |
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| Guillemot having a stretch |
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| Hooded Crow, we saw several on the East Coast, but much dark than this, presumably hybrids are more common there, no mistaking this one as the real deal |
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| Rock Dove zipping round the harbour |
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| Oystercatcher |
The boat soon turned around and we were off again, a flying visit, both Margie and I both wished we were staying!! Fabulous memories from the Outer Hebrides, definitely be heading back soon!! The trip back was pretty much more of the same, the unrelenting sun beating down on us!! Not something I'd thought I'd be writing on a trip to Scotland in May!!
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| Goodbye to Stornoway |
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| Great Northern Diver |
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| Red-throated Diver |
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| Black Guillemot |
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| Fulmar |
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| Razorbill |
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| Puffin |
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| Kittiwake |
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| Gannet |
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| Shiny Shag |
But the Seascapes were again the star!
Safely back in port, we had fish and chips on the quayside, Gluten Free Sausage and chips for me before heading back to base!! Not the wall to wall Skuafest I'd hoped but some nice birds seen in glorious weather and for 11 quid each way, we can't really complain!!!
