For our next outing we decided to do something completely different so we went ahead and booked a sea birdwatching trip. We were told we would be going out close to the continental shelf so basically, this is about eight miles out to sea. We headed straight out and in just ten minutes time we saw a few Corys, some Gannets, Herring Gulls, and Lesser Black Backed Gulls.
 |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull |
 |
Juvenile Gannet
|
After a while we were informed that we would be following a fishing trawler. This was for obvious reasons, as the sea birds would be following the trawler for easy pickings and consequently, we would be able to get a little closer to observe them and be able to take better photographs.
 |
| Trawler |
 |
| Great Shearwater |
 |
| Storm Petrel |
 |
| Immature Gannet |
Following the trawler was a fantastic idea as we got to see loads of different birds; Shearwaters, Gannets, Gulls, Great Skuas and Pomarine Skua, and also several Storm Petrels, which were not easy for us to spot as they are tiny birds. We managed to identify five different Shearwaters overall.
 |
| Another shot of the Trawler |
 |
| Sooty Shearwater |
 |
| Lesser Black-backed Gull |
 |
| Balearic Shearwater |
 |
| Great Shearwater |
We were fortunate enough to observe some Gannets that were diving for fish just a few metres away from our boat, and then we saw a Great Shearwater skimming the water and plunging for fish.
 |
| Great Shearwater |
 |
| Balearic Shearwater |
 |
| Great Shearwater |
 |
| Corys Shearwater |
The Great Skuas were harrasing and chasing away any birds that would pick up morsels
of food, and they wouldn't give up until the food was dropped!
 |
Great Skua
|
 |
| Sooty Shearwater |
 |
| Corys Shearwater |
We spent three hours out in the boat observing all these wonderful birds, and it was a fantastic moment for us. Bye for now!
