Silurian Blog

Saturday 13th May

Published: 16/05/2017

Anchorage: Vatersay Bay
Latitude: 56°55'.4N
Longitude: 007°31'.7W
Distance travelled: 44 nm
Running effort total: 96,746 km

Brian, Simon and Lauren and the volunteer crew of Sandy, Deb, Alicia, Ross, Lucy and John have all gelled really well. we had a great day sailing yesterday from Tobermory to Coll where we saw some minke whales, common dolphins and lots of grey seals. Today we surpassed yesterdays sightings by a nautical mile! Sightings included a great interaction with a two basking sharks, three minke whales which were so close we could see their white minke mittens and their pale, almost luminescent underbelly.

Lauren had instructed us on bird idenfitication the previous evening and it was really useful when we had to record the sightings, which included fulmars, kittiwakes, hundreds of guillemots and razorbills, and we also saw lonesome puffin! Sea conditions were better than forecast.

In the evening some of the group went ashore the beautiful sandy beaches of Vatersay whilst John and Ross cooked up a storm and we had a 3 course meal, a Silurian first for Lauren and Simon! Deb was even brave enough to take a dip in the turqouise waters in the bay whilst the rest of the team did a beach clean. We are looking forward to tommorows adventure!

John

P.S. we now know why they are called stinky minkes!

Friday 12th May 2017

Published: 13/05/2017

Anchorage: Loch Breachacha, Coll
Latitude: 56°35'.0N
Longitude: 006°37'.6W
Distance travelled: 33 nm
Running effort total: 96,234 km

After setting of from Tobermory into some light drizzle things improved as the day went on. Grey seals and harbour porpoise were sighted leaving the Sound of Mull which along with lots of creels helped the new team of volunteers get into the swing of things.

The weather soon dried up and we headed past the Cairns of Coll and then down the West coast of Coll where we saw some common dolphins followed by a rather elusive group of probably three minke whales. In the last 2 hours surveying we had 27 grey seal sightings to finish a great first day at sea.

Views from the crows nest and a trip ashore as dinner is cooking to finish the day.

Brian

Saturday 6th May, 2017

Published: 07/05/2017

Anchorage: Pean Meanach, Mainland Scotland
Latitude: 56°51'.374N
Longitude: 005°45'.739W
Distance travelled: 53 nm
Running on effort total: 96,527 km

What a great day for a sail, light winds and calm seas saw us across the Minch as we headed for the small Isles.  The sea was flat enough so that several of  crew and staff made it up the crows nest to witness the spectacular view across Rum with the Cullins of Skye in the back ground.  We even got another pod of common dolphins who came to bow ride along side us and several hurries of birds as we passed Hyskeir.

Frazer

Friday 5th May, 2017

Published: 07/05/2017

Anchorage: Acarsaid Mhor, Erisay
Latitude: 56°27'.255N
Longitude: 006°57'.626W
Distance travelled: 45.6 nm
Running on effort total: 96,429 km

Grey seals love wagon wheels

Ben

Thursday 4th May, 2017

Published: 05/05/2017

Anchorage: Balephuil Bay, Tiree
Latitude: 56°27'.235N
Longitude: 007°57'.626W
Distance travelled: 85 nm
Running on effort total: 96,347 km

What an epic day! Given the conditions and the positive attitude of all the crew on board we planned to head outto Stanton banks. The banks are a large shallow rocky area about 35 nm south of Mingulay and 35 nm south west of Tiree. The last time we visited these banks was in 2009 and lets say it was well worth the harwork and the long day.

We started very early, hoisting the anchor at 5am in the morning under a beautiful sky. Shortly after we had our first sightings of minke whales, harbour porpoises, basking sharks and common dolphins all before breakfast. 

Around 7 o'clock the rest of the crew were woken up and enjoyed first breakfast with bowriding common dolphins before heading on effort. As the day progressed more and more common dolphins were spotted on our way to the banks. On arriving at the 50 m contour I had a worrying moment when i thought i had got everyone up early and dragged them out to the middle of the sea for nothing but my worries were soon dismissed as a whale was soon spotted. This whale was then joined by another 3, hundreds of dolphins, gannets, shearwaters, kittiwakes and fulmars as a massive feeding frenzy unfolded in front of us. A true wildlife spectacle.

It didn't stop there and the sightings continued through out the day. By the time we dropped anchor at 8 pm we had travelled 85 nm, seen 12 minke whales, 400 plus common dolphins, 2 basking sharks, 14 seals and 2 harbour porpoise.

What a great day

Frazer

Wednesday 3rd May

Published: 05/05/2017

Anchorage: Balephuil Bay, Tiree
Latitude: 56°27'.152N
Longitude: 006°57'.742W
Distance travelled: 42 nm
Running effort total: 96,201 km

What a great start to the survey, after a good days travel we have had three minke while sightings with two identifiable by the photos taken. On top of this we also sighted several seals and harbour porpoises in glorious sunshine and light winds. Now we are settling down for dinner and an early night in anticipation for and early start and a potentially long day tomorrow.

Frazer

Friday, April 14, 2017

Published: 15/04/2017

Loch Scresort, Rum
Lat. 57°00'.7N
Long. 006°16'.1W

Woke up at 5.30am again, but that meant I got a look into the engine room on the check before first breakfast, to which our beautiful "Farley Bridge" calls us. People seem to talk less and less at breakfast the longer the trip goes on.
Waking up to seastate 0, all our hopes were up for a beautiful day, and we were not disappointed; turning off the engine and letting the wind do all work under sunny skies, that is the life we all came here for. Through second breakfast and another lovely soup at the mast, we kept vigilance, made easy by the beauty and serenity around us. We did see some grey seals, bottling along, enjoying the day as much as we were. We then went for an extra loop in the Sound of Rum before tucking ourselves in this quaint loch, still not having gotten the sightings we were hoping for. Despite that, we all agree that the day was more than outstanding as it was (and Frazer kept adding that it is still valuable date we've collected). Another fun fact for the data people is the 96071km total on effort survey the Silurian has done so far, what a number!
Sun, sea, sailing and searching had made us all tired - Ed actually almost slept through dinner, and most everone else turned in soon after washing up, happily dreaming of all the animals we had passed unseeingly and will hopefully see tomorrow.

Friday, April 14, 2017

Published: 15/04/2017

Loch Scresort, Rum
Lat. 57°00'.7N
Long. 006°16'.1W

Woke up at 5.30am again, but that meant I got a look into the engine room on the check before first breakfast, to which our beautiful "Farley Bridge" calls us. People seem to talk less and less at breakfast the longer the trip goes on.
Waking up to seastate 0, all our hopes were up for a beautiful day, and we were not disappointed; turning off the engine and letting the wind do all work under sunny skies, that is the life we all came here for. Through second breakfast and another lovely soup at the mast, we kept vigilance, made easy by the beauty and serenity around us. We did see some grey seals, bottling along, enjoying the day as much as we were. We then went for an extra loop in the Sound of Rum before tucking ourselves in this quaint loch, still not having gotten the sightings we were hoping for. Despite that, we all agree that the day was more than outstanding as it was (and Frazer kept adding that it is still valuable date we've collected). Another fun fact for the data people is the 96071km total on effort survey the Silurian has done so far, what a number!
Sun, sea, sailing and searching had made us all tired - Ed actually almost slept through dinner, and most everone else turned in soon after washing up, happily dreaming of all the animals we had passed unseeingly and will hopefully see tomorrow.

Thirsday 13th April 2017

Published: 13/04/2017

Bunessen, Mull
Position:  56°19'.2 N
                006°16'.0 W
Miles travelled: 50 nm

The forecast for today was promising with a NW 4-5 dropping to 3 later.
After we came out of our stunning anchorage, we headed towards Colonsay. The swell had died down since yesterday so we decided to go around the west side of Colonsay. Coming around the south side of the island, we had to beat into wind with the sea getting a little rough. Once we turned North the wind gained strenght allowing us to put all sails up. That moment when you turn off the engine is bliss. You hear nothing but the water splashing past the bow. (and the occasional "Creel on left 200 meters.")
Once we got into the Sound of Iona the sea settled and the sun came out. The views got even better as we came around the Ross of Mull with the rocky shore on one side and steep cliffs on the other.
Now we are anchored, we can look forward to a traditional Scottish meal: Haggis!

Wednesday 12th April

Published: 13/04/2017

West Loch Tarbet, Jura
55°58'.395N
005°54'.003W
95,888km (Silurian's on survey effort running total)
63.2nm (todays total distance travelled)

Today we left Loch Spelve at 0830 with a full bag of local mussels for tonight's dinner which is being cooked as i write. After leaving the calm waters of Loch Spelve we were soon greeted with the forcasted strong winds and the rough seas that they stirred up! Despite this spirits wern't dampened as everyone onboard enjoyed a thrilling sail down the east coast of Jura and through the Sound of Islay.

Frazer

Tuesday 11th April 2017

Published: 11/04/2017

Anchorage: Loch Spelve, Mull
Position: Lat. 56° 20' .5 N
                 Long. 005° 44' .3 W
Distance travelled: 29.5nm

After a relaxing first night on the vessel, volunteers and crew were excited to start this survey. We headed to the pontoon to top up food, water, diesel and whatever else we think we might need, while also practicing our 'sighting' shouts and calibrating distance judgement.
As we headed out, the first rotation started and people anxiously watched for marine animals, creel, rubbish, bird & boats and anything else. Soon we all relaxed a little bit, more confident we'd spot whatever was around, which turned out to be not much.
We hit a bit of choppy water off of Lady Rock, in the Firth of Lorn; some of us liked it more than others, of course. As a result, the tally for today is an eagle, quite a few creels and some fake sightings Frazer called out for us to master logger, the software we use. Now, sheltered in Loch Spelve, we are having fun microscoping plankton, while the stew is beginning to tantalize our nostrils.
Me personally, I would say it's been a successfull first day, leaving us hungry for more of the scenery, sightings, science, sailing and super teamspirit!

Wednesday 5th April

Published: 07/04/2017

Isle of Eigg.

Mercifully the wind had calmed and the rain had passed overnight so we were treated to a much kinder sea state as we sailed down the Sound of Sleat. It wasn't long before we were rewarded with sightings, first common seals and then an excited shout of dolphins was called from the mast! We all scrambled to get a look and work out the species. Needless to say we were all surprised to see 8 common dolphins! Are they the earliest common dolphins to be seen from Silurian?!

As we came out of the sound of sleat we then spotted two large navy ships which were emitting some crazy noises! We circumnavigated the Isle of Soay (spotted a couple of puffins!) before heading south to the Isle of Eigg where two minesweepers, an auxillary vesssel and an unknown navy vessel was spotted.

We all then went ashore and enjoyed a walk on the stunning Isle of Eigg-a new island for many!

4th April 2017

Published: 05/04/2017

Isle Onisay Harbour

After a fun-filled evening of games, and a stormy night, we set off early from Plockton. The weather forecast was slightly underestimated and gusts reached an unexepected violent storm force 11 as we swung up between Raasay and Rona, and back down the Sound of Raasay! Despite this there were sightings of common seals, porpoises and a white tailed eagle. The Sound of Sleat denied us the shelter we had hoped for, and the crew braved more rough seas and icy winds before finding solace in Isle Orsay Harbour where we disovered that the hydrophone had picked up a total of 39 harbour porpoises during the day! Hot drinks and biscuits revived everyone's spirits and, as the sun now sets, we relish the peace and tranquility of yet another stunning anchorage.

Monday 3rd April

Published: 03/04/2017

Plockton

The wind had picked up in the night (and causing some banging and clattering of the anchor chain) so we left Tarbet Bay and the shelter of Loch Nevis with some trepidation. Thankfully the passage up the Sound of Sleat was more comfortable than we had originally thought! One harbour porpoise and a handful of common seals were spotted. We passed through Kyle Rhea and encountered 48.8kt (thats storm force 10!) of wind- which was rather uncomfortable for those on the mast at the time!  North of the Skye Bridge we saw a large auxillary vessel and watched as a helicopter expertly landed on the deck. Edd the skipper was lucky enough to hear 4 porpoises surfacing before he (and the rest of the crew) spotted them which was a welcome and impressive sight after trying (and failing in some cases!) to eat rissotto on the mast in pretty wet an windy conditions! We decided to head for the shelter of Loch Carron and enjoyed a couple of hours of sea state 1 before tuning back and finishing the day in Plockton.

Sunday 2nd April Tarbet Bay, Loch Nevis

Published: 03/04/2017

We set out early from Tobermory on the first trip of the season. The sun was out and the sea was calm, so it was smooth sailing past the Small Isles. Four minesweepers, part of the military Joint Warrior exercise, were spotted en route to the bay. The only cetacean, a harbour porpoise, was seen just as the Silurian's new anchor was christened in a suitably stunning location. Before tea the crew went ashore for a short walk to Loch Morar to take in the incredible scenery and build up an apetite.

123

Published: 01/04/2017

Test

16th of October

Published: 24/10/2016

14th October 2016

Published: 24/10/2016

13th October 2016

Published: 24/10/2016

12th of October

Published: 24/10/2016

11th of October

Published: 24/10/2016

Cetacean Reseacrh Survey: 18th - 29th September

Published: 10/10/2016

• 6 Common dolphin sightings with 62 individuals
• 23 Harbour porpoise sightings of 51 individuals
• 2 Common seals
• 4 grey seals
• 29 unidentified to species seals

Interested in joining us aboard in 2017? Click here to find out more.

Saturday 24th September

Published: 10/10/2016

Friday 23rd September

Published: 10/10/2016

After a good and long night we started the day again with six volunteers. It is a relief to have Jan on board as it makes things much easier having a sixth person on board! At the beginning the sea was quite smooth and we were able to enjoy the nice scenery although… there were quite a lot of creels to call. Alex took a chance to climb into the crow’s nest. She was really enjoying herself up there and we almost forgot to take her down again. As Silurian was gliding over the water and the sea got rougher, we thought that it might be difficult to see any animals. To our surprise, all of a sudden we seemed to be surrounded by Harbour Porpoises. We obviously were sailing through a Harbour Porpoise hotspot. We recorded them six times (and a seventh time later on), they were swimming in a group of about 10 animals at least twice, which is apparently quite uncommon. We think we saw around 20 Harbour Porpoises today – that’s definitively a highlight! As we sailed on the weather got tougher and rough – Frazer was doing his kitchen dance and fiddling with the knifes, luckily no one got killed so far! We safely arrived at Shieldaig, Loch Gairloch and are enjoying Jan’s cooking.

Read More and View Comments >>

Thursday 22nd September

Published: 10/10/2016

http://www.hwdtblog.co.uk/