Most weeks April through October she is either monitoring
the waters of the west coast of Scotland for whales, dolphins, and
porpoises, or serving as a floating classroom for one of the many Argyll
island primary and secondary schools.
Read the
log below to find out what Silurian and her crew have been up to each
week and all about the whales, dolphins and porpoises they spot!
To find out about the latest marine life sightings spotted elsewhere,
click here.
Date: Tuesday 10th April 2007
Anchorage: IsleOrnsay
Position: 57° 08’.900N 005° 47’.800W
Distance Travelled: 37 NM
We left a bay somewhere near to Plockton this morning with spritis high and seas flat. Our situation changed quickly as the winds helpfully moved round to the southwest to ensure that all the volunteers were suitably soaked by 10.30. A round of fantastic bacon sarnies and the promise of cookies cooked by an actual American buoyed our hopes once more, only for them to be dashed by the relunctant Scottish weather. Cookies and coffee successfully ingested, porpoise were detected on our way south of Kyle Rhea. The weather went further downhill leaving us with little option but to anchor in the bay off Isleornsay to allow the weather to pass, despite the threat of attack by giant starfish…
Unfortunately we’re still here in Isleornsay as I write this blog, though we once again have high expectations for what tomorrow might bring. The prospect of reheated dynamite chilli cooked by “Cormac ‘The Wunderkind’ PhD student” has everyone in the right mindset for a full day of porpoise monitoring tomorrow.
I can only hope we have such positive spirit when tomorrow’s blog reaches your eyes. I hope this is worth your internet subscription…
Cormac Booth, The Wundekind PhD Student.
Date: Sunday 8th and Monday 9th April 2007
Anchorage: Tarbert, Loch Nevis (Sunday) and Bagh an T-Strathaidh, Loch Carron (Monday)
Position: 56° 58’.300N 005° 38’.200W (Sunday) and 57°19’.500 006°.41’.100 (Monday)
Distance Travelled: 80 (Sunday) and 93 NM (Monday)
Who knew the Easter Bunny could reach sail boats!! Weather not so great but the free-flowing Crème Eggs kept us from mutiny. Crew happy as the sails went up (the headsail for the first time since being replaced over the winter), and the engines went off. Tried to survey visually initially but the weather got the best of us so we resorted to acoustics alone and huddled at the cockpit. “Eagle-eyes” Jade spotted a porpoise amongst the waves between Canna and Rum, but after that puffins, guillemots and shearwaters were the only wildlife seen. Dropped Morven off in Mallaig, rejoiced at the new-found silence (!), and sailed into Loch Nevis. Celebrated our stunning anchorage spot with a shower (separately) and then gorged on pasta and salad as the sun went down. Early night for all – pleasantly shattered after struggling to keep our balance (and our breakfast!) for hours.
Slept in until 8am. Clouds very low for an atmospheric cruise up the narrows of Loch Nevis. No wind until we turned to go back down the loch for Sound of Sleat and a steady light rain fell. Sails up and very changeable weather all day. Good recordings on the hydrophone for harbour porpoise, but none sighted. Grey seals bottling…they seemed to study our movements. Under the bridge to Skye with plenty of clearance. Cleaned the boat with newly found sea legs as we rocked and rolled to our evening mooring. Duncan’s cooking: tender beef pie, plenty of veg and crofter’s potatoes after a talk from Susie on acoustics. Very tired, but happy!
Take care
Everyone on board
# posted by HWDT @ 6:40 AM
