Introduction

This post reports on a trip Scotland’s Isle of May and its puffins and other varied bird life. The tour then progressed around the Fife Coast and into central Scotland.

Puffins, Isle of May, Scotland

Information on the tour: Part 1

This morning we departed our lodgings in Anstruther on Scotland’s Fife Coast, drove down to the harbour. Here we boarded a tour boat which took us across the Firth of Forth to the Isle of May. We arrived after a 45 minute journey, at about 10.30 am and then disembarked. On arrival we spent 3 hours exploring the island which is a Scottish National Nature Reserve managed by Scottish Natural Heritage.

Video clip

Puffins, Isle of May, Scotland

The island is home to a ruined medieval priory, redundant lighthouses and other buildings.However, the place is, essentially, a bird reserve populated, at various times during the year, with a variety of birds. Species include Fulmar, Shag, Guillemot, Razorbill, Kittiwake, Puffin, Manx Shearwater, Eider Duck, Gulls and Terns. We also saw about 50 seals basking on the rocks.

Puffins, Isle of May, Scotland

Isle of May, Scotland

Cliffs, Isle of May, Scotland

Fulmars, Isle of May, Scotland

Shag, Isle of May, Scotland

Nesting Eider Duck, Isle of May, Scotland

Nesting Gulls, Isle of May, Scotland

Basking Seals, Isle of May, Scotland

Guillemots, Isle of May, Scotland

Eider Ducks with Ducklings

Guillemots, Isle of May, Scotland

Information on the tour: Part 2

The weather was incredibly favourable comprising sunshine, blue skies and moderate winds. Ironically, the high atmospheric pressure delayed the incoming tide on which our vessel was reliant to moor on the return trip by about 30 minutes.

Anstruther, Scotland

Upon return to Anstruther, about 3.00 pm we availed of some refreshments and then drove to nearby St Andrews where we visited the famous Old Course.

Old Course, St Andrews, Scotland

Next we drove west into central Scotland calling at the village of Meigle. Here we visited the famous collection of Pictish Sculptured Stones which date from around the 8th century AD.

Meigle Sculptured Stones, Scotland

Pictish Sculptured Stone at Meigle, Scotland

Finally, we drove on to our overnight destination of Dunkeld on the banks of the RiverTay where we checked into our lodgings for the night.

More information

The publication Visitors’ Guide to Scotland includes sections on wildlife, the Fife Coast and much more. ISBN is 978-1-9161`332-0-4. Also available via Kindle..