Another glorious day in sunny Scotland, just what’s needed to get the team up to good spirits, ready to record all the Minkes, porpoises, dolphins and seals from Lock Spelve to Lock Tarbert, Jura. It wasn’t long before we hoisted up our sails and started riding the waves in style. A couple of seals came out to check us up, and a few jellyfish waved us good bye as we were heading for the open sea, and then…it was all shags, terns, shearwater, razorbills, seagulls, a few gannets and even a puffin and an early morning peregrine falcon on skipper’s count. Riding the waves made a couple of us sea happy but one by one the rest of our international team of volunteers became sea sick and soon the Silurian looked like an Antarctic cruise ship on a bad day on the Drake. I dozed off in the saloon for half an hour and lost my right to belong to the selected group of the day’s survivors. Our research day came to a close as we anchored in Lock Tarbert’s sheltered waters, with other yachts as neighbours for the night. Most of us went on shore for a walk to one of Jura’s raised beaches, a strip of differently sized pebbles, which changes tune as one walks from one size to the other. We admired the lovely and rare Hebridean orchid and other wild flowers. A native toad leaped splashed on my boot and speedily went to hide in the brambles. A common seal spotted us walking on the ridge and followed us all the way along its territory. A short dinghy ride and we were back to the best restaurant in the islands. Chef extraordinaire Marcus and researcher Marjoline have so far kept the cuisine standards so high they will be a very hard act to follow. We all go to bed hoping for a higher cetacean count tomorrow, but whatever the day will bring, I know I will love it, and if the sun keeps up the good work, skipper’s wife will get back the man with the most fantastically suntanned legs in the realm!
Carla - Eartwatch volunteer


Ale, Prash & skipper Graham - 6 June 05


Lions mane jellyfish & moon jellyfish