Guest blog by Linda ThompsonLast May myself and some friends headed off to Ballycastle up on the County Antrim coast for the start of a fabulous boat trip around Rathlin Island visiting the seabird colonies. The trip was organised by RSPB NI on board a privately-chartered boat (Miss B Haven) with skipper Damien McFaul and led by Liam McFaul, the Rathlin Island RSPB warden.
The weather couldn’t have been better for the trip, with bright blue skies and a gentle breeze.It was such an amazing sight to see thousands of birds all vying for space on the narrow ledges on the cliffs. It was quite a challenge trying to get any photos of the wildlife with the movement of the boat but thankfully after taking more than 600 photos I managed a few that are reasonably focused and with all of the subjects in the frame! There was so much going on that you didn’t know where to look and it was all happening so fast. We saw kittiwakes, fulmars, razorbills, eider ducks, guillemots, puffins, shags, gannets and at one point we even had a great skua fly over us.Something I wasn’t expecting to see was a group of wild goats high up on the cliff; they all took a very good look at us before going back to what they were doing before we arrived! Lots of grey seals also kept an eye on us both from the water and where they were out sunbathing on the rocks.
The time just flew in and all too soon it was over. I can’t wait until next time!RSPB NI is running two two-hour Rathlin Boat Trips led by our warden Liam McFaul on Saturday 16 June (11am-1pm and 2pm-4pm). Both trips are currently booked out, but call 028 9064 5630 (our secure booking line) or email rspbnievents@rspb.org.uk if you'd like to be added to the waiting list. For other upcoming Rathlin events, visit www.rspb.org.uk/rathlinislandALL IMAGES (C) LINDA THOMPSON