Our departure from Barra was delayed by three days due first to a bow thruster
failure on the MV Isle of Lewis followed by a failure of some steelwork on the
rescue vessel, MV Lord of the Isles. Finally after days of anxiety and
uncertainty, not least about where we were to stay for the extra nights, MV
Clansman came to our aid and amid emotional scenes at the harbour got us off
the island.
Not that the three extra days weren't time well spent, the bulk of the
barnacle goose and all of the whooper swan passage happened after our official
leave date, possibly the single greatest experience of the holiday whilst
arguably the bird of the holiday turned up in the shape of the Hornemann's
Arctic redpoll.
However, finally we departed Barra at 13:30 today and headed off into the murk
which shrouded the island with the forecast of 40mph wind and heavy rain
during he journey. It turned out ok though, yes we got wet and buffeted but we still spent most of the five hour journey on deck and saw some decent sea birds and
at least 20 common dolphins. Just before we arrived at the entrance to the
Sound of Mull we came across a feeding frenzy of mainly gannets and kittiwakes
which were harassed by juvenile pomarine and long-tailed skuas and right in the middle of
it all emerged a breaching minke whale. A great end to the holiday, I then
packed up and went inside to dry off and enjoy a hot meal before we arrived in
Oban.
Earlier on the trip we had seen at least nine petrels, one of which was
certainly Leach's, but most of the rest appeared to be storm petrels.
Common dolphins.
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