This trip on the May Princess was booked weeks in advance, so as to get a very early departure. We left home really early and managed to get parked right next to the jetty – parking there was affected by the new lifeboat station that was being built.
The water was mirror-like for most of the way out, which felt very strange! The tide must have been running with the slight breeze. This can be seen in some of the photos. We saw plenty of gannets on their way to and from Bass Rock, and other sea birds as we neared the Isle. The Arctic Terns were back – in 2025 they didn’t nest – there were Eider ducks on the wee loch, and there were plenty of various types of gull, and also kittiwakes, guillemots and razorbills.
However there were very few puffins, and it took quite a degree of walking around the isle to find them. I think this might have been because it was a very tough winter for them in the Atlantic.
As we left we got the usual tour close to the cliffs on the west of the isle, which were teaming with birds. They are also odiferous!
Once back in Anstruther we had fish & chips for lunch. They were freshly cooked, and there are at least three places on the front where you can get them!
- Shutter speed: 1/5000s
- Aperture: ƒ/6.3
- ISO: 800
- Focal length: 450mm
- Camera: PENTAX K-3 Mark III