Watching Trips

At the eastern end of the Pentland Firth lie the Pentland Skerries, which we visit occasionally.

The Skerries are almost a blank on the birdwatching map because of the logistics of getting there - the weather and tide have to be just right 'on the day'.

Subject to sea conditions, we will gladly take groups of up to 12 persons to the Skerries. This can either be in the form of a slightly longer 'there and back' trip in the manner of our usual wildlife and scenic trips or a longer trip by arrangement.

If groups wish to go ashore, there is a landing place used to service the lighthouse on the largest of the islands, Muckle Skerry, where large numbers of terns (very territorial!!) nest, also many puffins.

Because the weather can change very quickly in the Pentland Firth and could rapidly make the Skerries inaccessable by boat, we would prefer to wait at the landing place while groups are ashore rather than returning later in the day, so longer trips are normally on an hourly charter basis.

Birds

The local rock in Northeast Caithness is a layered mudstone, which is eroded by the sea into vertical cliffs and sea stacks with abundant ledges which provide ideal breeding sites for a host of seabirds. The cliffs are too vertical to see much from the top, which is dangerous to approach anyway. The geo alongside is the Geo of Sclaites which is the recommended birdwatching site for the cliff-nesting birds at Duncansby Head. In the breeding season, hundreds of Guillemots crowd along the wide white ledge at the top of the picture and shag nest in caves. Fulmars and Kittiwakes nest higher up on the cliffs.

This is about as close as you can get to the birds from the land and of course most of them remain out of sight on the cliffs outside the geo. However, when you approach by sea, you then see what you have been missing!! The sheer numbers of seabirds, coupled with the noise and the smell of guano is staggering. 'NorthCoast Explorer' visits the Geo of Sclaites on every trip to Duncansby Head (subject to sea conditions, of course).

Picture:- Geo of Sclaites, looking north

Geo of Sclaites at Duncansby Head

The water in the geo is usually very clear, so when the guillemots dive they are clearly visible flying under water in 'shoals' around the boat. The shag swim using their feet, but are harder to see in the water because of their dark colour. Sometimes a seal will be swimming around in the geo as well - they frequent caves which are off to the left and below the scene above. The birds see the boat every day and pretty well ignore it if we don't get too close.

	The pictures on the left and below were taken using an 80mm lens, which gives an idea of how close we can go without frightening the birds. The razorbill couldn't have shown less concern!!

The last permanent human population of Stroma departed in 1961, leaving the island to the birds and the seals. The lack of human disturbance, and of predators such as foxes, has favoured ground-nesting birds like eider duck and terns and there are also resident skua, often seen patrolling the seabird colonies. The skua below had killed a kittiwake, but the fulmar saw it off and tucked in itself. This happened right next to the boat, which the birds ignored completely!!

Guillemots in Barneys Geo

Bridled Guillemot and Chick off Stroma.

The picture gives you some idea of the size of a gannet - Michael is a big guy! Even though the bird was pretty weak, no chances were taken with that beak. Gannets do not nest in any numbers on the Caithness or Stroma cliffs - they prefer remote locations like Stack Skerry and St Kilda - but they turn up in quite large numbers in September and October. Watching gannets fishing or even just flying overhead is a wonderful experience.

Geo of Sclaites at Duncansby Head