Shiant Islands and puffins
Bliss
Tue 14 Jun 2016 21:50
Updated forecast for the next week confirms that tonight is our only opportunity to visit the Shiant Isles, there will be virtually no wind on the Minch. Although we won't be able to sail, it should be a nice quiet night at anchor.
The Shiant Islands, about 5 miles off the east coast of Harris, is home to hundreds of thousands of birds. The islands are in a sort of Y shape of 200 feet high cliffs, so a choice of three bays, we cruised round to take a look and discover a mooring buoy, a pleasant surprise especially as there's a lot of kelp on the sea-bed which is particularly difficult to anchor in.
This bay is absolutely teeming with bird life, puffins, terns razorbills, shags everywhere. We drop the dinghy off the transom and can't wait to go exploring.
More puffins than you could shake a stick at...
Such photogenic little birds, I might have to print my own calendar !
Such a privilege to be able to land and wander amongst them.
I'm at a loss for words, I'll just let the pictures do the talking.
