Well, that was a joy. Longer term readers will know I've been leading our
YCN Seabird and Whale Adventures out of Staithes, North Yorkshire for many years now; until relatively recently, that meant many trips per season between July and the end of September. In recent years, however, our extended summer holidays in the US have lengthened, and this year was a full six weeks - meaning I have to sacrifice many of the available sailings and hope for clement conditions for when I return.
This year is particularly awkward for leading the boat trips, not only for the US excursion, but also a big chunk of September in Scotland for our
School of Birding Deep Dives (more on that to follow); throw in the vagaries of the weather (and inevitable cancellations) into the mix, and it's one or two at best this season.
With that in mind - and with Rich having a really productive season on the boat so far this year (
see here) - I couldn't wait to climb down the ladder for today's adventure.
With a lovely team on board (in more ways than one - full of enthusiasm and fully engaged!), we set out of the harbour and into a fairly bumpy North Sea - and it took us
less than four minutes to clock our first Minke, right by the side of the boat.....
... and for the next five hours, we wandered around within a six mile radius, enjoying lots of whales; better still, many were close-up, by the boat, and for extended periods, which is such a privilege and a joy to share with our clients.
As well as the whales, there were plenty of birds to enjoy - nothing too extraordinary, but three juvenile Caspian Gulls, hundreds of terns, some lovely Little Gulls, a Peregrine hunting a passing Teal flock way offshore, Manxies, plenty of Arctic Skuas, Puffins among many auks, two Snipe low over the waves and inland from far out, Scoters on the move and much more.
Arctic Skua (above), Puffin (below)
Peregrine (above), Little Gulls (below)
Guillemot (above), Caspian Gull (below)
