Lead Grey Sea

No sun yesterday, just leaden skies over a lead grey sea. The anchorage in Kilchoan Bay, busy only two months ago in August, now lies empty, the water so heavy it can hardly find the energy to slop against the jetty.

Three minesweepers - sorry, Mine CounterMeasure Vessels, MCMVs - sailed slowly down the Sound during the early afternoon, moving as if they had nowhere to go. Thanks to Sue Cameron for the warning of their arrival - the residents in Pier Road have the advantage of looking into the northern entrance of the Sound.

They were M30, HMS Ledbury and M33, HMS Brocklebury, both Hunt Class, and HMS Shoreham, a Sandown Class vessel. There has been some Naval activity while we've been away. Ritchie Dinnes sent in a photo of several ships in convoy off the north coast in early October, for which, again, thanks.

This morning a big helicopter flew low up the Sound, pictured here as it passed the Glengorm communications masts on Mull, perhaps part of the same ongoing exercise....

...while, below, a convocation of cormorants - or is it a symposium of shags? - was meeting in deserted Kilchoan Bay. Look carefully and two of the birds are caught doing their characteristic skip into the air as they dive.