Date: Thursday 31st July, 2008

Anchorage: Isle of Taransay

Position: 57° 53’.500N 007° 02’.700W

Distance Travelled: 40 NM

We started the day with bird training – half of our team were already keen birdies but for the rest of us it was all gibberish [let’s not mention the puffins, Elaine…Ed]. We set to work and almost immediately saw 5 common dolphins (Delphinus delphis)– they decided to play with the boat and came along for a bow ride. We had hardly got over this excitement and got back to work when we reached Waternish Point, and were treated to 3 minke whales, 2 porpoises, 3 seals and 2 basking sharks. One of the minkes came up right behind the boat. Before we had travelled much further Fiona sighted another minke. Skipper Dave doubted her skills and asked for a second identification. However, it was a great sighting, although the whale was shy and every time Gen got out the camera it dived and did not surface until she put the camera down. We know you won’t believe us but it came right up next to the boat.

We took the boat through the Sound of Harris, Gen was at the helm with John helping with navigation. Harris looked great but no-one spotted a tweed.

We arrived at Taransay Island for the night. John had made a great pasta bake for dinner which we worked off by having a walk on the island. Judith did some botanising and identified the bog pimpernel – a very pretty pink flower.

We are all back on the boat, Fiona is checking my spelling and the rest of the team are helping Susie with her sailing homework.

Elaine