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: Friday 15th August, 2008
Anchorage: Isle of Scalpay, Sound of Raasay
Position: 57° 16’.600N 005° 59’.500W
Distance Travelled: 63 NM
It was raining this morning – our punishment for having got up early. Must never make such a foolish mistake again. Anchors all tangled up too. More pay-out for early rising. The weather cleared up soon enough, though, and we left the Outer Hebrides heading for Skye, via the Shiants. As well as the islands’ rather nice puffin collection, we also had a brilliant sea eagle encounter, another item for Richard’s list of Very Exciting Things.
As we reached the Skye coastline, Laura went up the mast, and unleashed the sightings, followed by Russell – minkes, basking sharks, porpoises and squadrons of diving gannets.
As we made our way down the Sound of Raasay, the sea flattened to a glassy calm, and the porpoises started popping out across the waters. So did the guillemots. Top auk count of the day – 393. Thanks, Richard. After eleven hours on effort (save 10 minutes when the Science Officer showed what a softie she was and let folk come inside for the rain), we anchored by Scalpay, to enjoy a totally amazing supper of Outer Hebridean mackerel, Moroccan veggies and cous cous, prepared with customary calm professionalism by Hilary, and eaten to the backdrop of a sunset of pink clouds.
A conversation on the ethics of bagging - islands, whales, mountains and the like – followed. When is a bag a bag? When is a bag not a bag? Well, it certainly beat last night’s topic – name a cake for every letter of the alphabet…
# posted by HWDT @ 3:07 PM
