Luxury Cruise Ship

This is the Seabourne Legend passing us last night at twenty past nine, heading up the Sound en route to Stornoway.  The owners, Seabourne, refer to her as an 'intimate' ship with 104 luxurious suites and 'superb cuisine that rivals the finest restaurants anywhere'.  Can't beat the kippers we had for supper last night.

Another Sea Eagle

Having commented earlier today on the number of sea eagles which are visible over the peninsula, we saw another, this one flying low along the whole length of Ormsaigbeg, early this afternoon.  Sadly, the day was overcast so a view of him from directly underneath, with the light behind him, really doesn't do justice to this magnificent bird.

Sea Eagle Sightings

The number of sea eagle sightings seems to vary with the season, with far more in winter than summer.  As if to prove this, in the last few days, with the nights drawing in, we've had three good sightings, all of them by chance as we've gone about our daily business.

We saw a pair fly across the bay below the house yesterday evening about eight o'clock, heading west along the coast.  Then this one came by, heading in the same direction, at half past eight this morning.  We see quite a few passing along the coast, and have always assumed that they're flying back home to Mull.  Today's looked like a juvenile.

On Saturday, when we were out with other members of Ardnamurchan Community Archaeology at Camas nan Geall, we watched a pair, both adults, soaring high above the ridge at the back of the bay.  This is the third time we've seen sea eagles in the Camas area when out with the group.

The group was out walking along the line of the trench which was dug to take the peninsula's new superfast broadband cable, looking for artefacts.  This is the one place the cable leaves the road, and it crosses an area which has seen human habitation for at least 6,000 years.  It was a damp afternoon's work, and we found little of great interest.

Ardnamurchan Community Archaeology now has a Facebook group, run by member Wendy Macfadyen.  It's here.

Two Views

Looking out of the front bedroom window this morning we were treated to the sight of the Wind Surf passing in a stately fashion south down the Sound where....

....another cruise ship, the Discovery, was approaching Tobermory.  We expected the Wind Surf to continue past Tobermory but she turned in to the bay while the Discovery anchored off.  The small town must have had a pretty busy day with the passengers from two cruise ships coming ashore.

By contrast, looking out of the window which faces onto the adjoining croft we had the entertainment of watching one of the three piglets - which are supposed to be within an electric-fenced enclosure - amusing himself by chasing the crofter's sheep around the field.

Mackerel Fishing

Mr Watson (left) and Mr MacLachlan were out on the water yesterday showing how mackerel should be caught - though, in the Diary's personal opinion, the latter should have been doing something about keeping his piglets in their pen.

Even the younger members of the party were catching fish.

There's been a good run of mackerel this year, though reports are that the ones that are still be caught are smaller than earlier in the season.

The party caught a total of 53 fish, mostly mackerel with a few cuddies.


Many thanks to Jac Rae for pictures and story.