The Bass Rock

 Many years ago I studied ornithology and was lucky to be taught by the late Dr Bryan Nelson. He was the world expert on Sulids (Gannets and Boobies) and had done his first research on the famous Gannet colony on the Bass Rock in the firth of fourth.


Two weeks ago Joan and I finally got the chance to go up to Scotland to visit her family as covid restrictions eased. We booked a hotel near to Dalkeith which happened to be close to this island. Having a few hours free on one day we decided to finally see what sort of an experience the rock offered and so booked a short trip out to sail around it from the Scottish Seabird Centre at North Berwick.


Amazingly the rain and cold, present for most of May, cleared away on the day of our trip and we enjoyed calm winds, a flattish sea and warm sunshine.


,From the South the Island gives you the classic postcard view



And as you get closer and closer the sights and sounds, along with the smells get stronger and more dramatic.

 





This colony is the largest in the world and now contains over 200,000 adult gannets which pack almost every available space.




All the time their are birds soaring past, like this one



Or others bringing back seaweed from the mainland shore to strengthen their own nests


And some just sit and stare as you pass



The small catamaran we were on also circled the nearby island of Craigleith with its Puffins





and other Auks such as this Guillemot were usually within view to one side or the other



The trip was not particularly set up for photographs, for which other trips sail from the same harbour but we wanted a flavour of Gannet city and that was exactly what we were treated to. 


Back on land in North Berwick, and also on a short walk at Musselborough I was delighted to come a


cross a few Eiders. These are definitely a favourite duck of mine and I tried to emulate a picture I own taken by a professional wildlife photographer, Rebeccca Nason.


While it will not be going on my wall to replace hers, it was fun trying with my bridge camera !


I will end with another shot of the shear multitude of Gannets that welcomed us to Scotland








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