Location: Gott Bay, Tiree
Position:
Distance traveled: 42nm

Our ninth day at sea started off on a high following the sun shine of the day before. The first hour did not disappoint and Mario and Alan spotted six basking sharks before 10am – full grown ones at last!! However, as soon as this shark-fest was over the weather turned and for eight hours there was nothing but freezing fog and drizzle. Morale took a bit of a nose dive as no sightings came in – even a nosey seal or some snapping shrimp on the hydrophone would have been welcomed. By 6pm I speak for myself by saying that I was not amused. About to go back on watch in the cold and fog, not able to see more than 100 meters around, I was not optimistic – but more fool me. A sighting at the end of June and Stephanie’s watch turned out to be common dolphins, our first sighting and a great one with two adults and a calf leaping and bow-riding. There followed a flurry of camcorder action and hurrying from one side of the boat to the other. In an appreciated gesture, following the dolphins led us out of the fog and with the final watch approaching and the smells of dinner wafting up form below deck my mood began to improve. With most people still on deck in case of more dolphin sightings Louise and I took up our watch. After 15 minutes we were heading into port at Tiree and I was staring at the sea just off the deck. Suddenly and without warning a huge dark grey animal leapt vertically out of the calm waters about 50 meters away from the boat. The usual shout of “sighting” was replaced with astonished pointing and a gargled scream. Turning I saw that June, sitting on the deck behind me, was doing much the same. We were soon reassured that what we had seen was a basking shark breaching, a rare sight that may be linked to mating behaviour. With everyone’s attention on the spot the shark did not disappoint and breach fully once more before disappearing from view. You’ll have to trust me when I say that it was one of the most awesome sights I have ever seen. I had started the trip by saying I hoped to see a basking shark, but one breaching full out of the water right in front of me was almost showing off…. Having learnt a valuable lesson in the importance of tenacity in wildlife watching and having given myself a mental slap on the wrist for being so mardy and undeserving during the day, I strained my eyes searching the sea for the next hour until watch came to an end. Nothing else came of our efforts, but a lot of very happy earthwatchers sat down for dinner that evening. Having docked in Tiree a group of us decided to go ashore (for a drink of course!), but nearly had to start a whole new kind of survey when we lost Stephanie and Mario on the dark, island roads. Safety reunited we headed back to Silurian and another of Cormac’s masterful carrot cakes (the recipe has been handed out to grateful recipients). In discussing tomorrow’s final day at sea we decided that our perfect itinerary would include sightings of killer whales, another minke or two, a sea eagle and an otter. Anything’s possible!

Michelle (Earthwatch Volunteer 2007)