In the morning we had been out to the Isle of May to see mainly puffins. The plan in this afternoon was to take a private excursion out close to Bass Rock to see gannets.
Day 2: Depart hotel at 7am for North Berwick (packed breakfast). 8.45am to 1pm: Isle of May landing trip. Lunch break (café, own expense). 3pm to 5pm: Photographing diving gannets (chumming) from boat. Return to hotel for evening meal at 7.30pm.
Lunch in North Berwick: 28th June 2021
Updating this blog in 2026 it seems strange to think that in June 2021 COVID, vaccines and lockdowns were all upper most in our minds. When we tried to enter a cafe for lunch we were asked to prove that we had had our vaccinations. It was a surprise then (and even more so now) that we were told bluntly that an NHS England app that certified vaccination was not accepted in Scotland!
After much discussion about if we were “a family” or lived together as a group we were finally “allowed” into the Seabird Cafe but only if we split up, sat on separate tables and were away from everyone else…
Everyone that we had met before this had been pleased to see us and share experiences and generally chat.
North Berwick
After I had had my desultory lunch I left as soon as possible to get outside. I came across this statue and plaque. I walked around the promenade until it was time to head back to the small harbour to catch our boat.
To Bass Rock
We were the only group on the small boat and were were soon put at ease by the skipper. He was pleased to see us all and have customers after all the lockdowns.
After leaving the harbour we could see HMS Archer (P264), the lead ship of the small patrol and traning boat class.
The first birds we saw were seagulls.
Looking back to the shore.
Then we came to Bass Rock.
This is when the skipper started to throw fish into the sea to attract the birds. At first there were more gulls than gannets.
The gull stole the fish from the gannet.
Gannets from Bass Rock
Then the gannets arrived in force and argued with each other for the fish.
The sky above us was now full of gannets.
The skipper said this bird didn’t dive for fish but swam backwards and forwards by the boat until a fish thrown!
Around Bass Rock
Once the boxes of fish were empty we moved closer to Bass Rock so that we could observe the birds on the rock.
We paused to see where we would be landing in a couple of days.
Then we were back in the harbour at North Berwick.
Bamburgh
I have to admit that I was dozing as the group headed back down to the Castle Hotel in Bamburgh. I chose to have a burger for my dinner, not the best choice I’m afraid.
Next day we had a very early start and then a visit to the Farne Islands.