BIRD WATCHING

The coastlines of the UK are abundant with wildlife, many parts of the coast are now special conservation areas under the auspices of the National Trust amongst others. Aboard our ships you can spot an astonishing variety of seabirds look out for Gannets, Puffins, Cormorants and various types of Gull.


GLASGOW & CLYDE COAST:

Sail Round the RSPB nature reserve of Ailsa Craig.

Boasting cliffs hundreds of feet high, Ailsa Craig provides nesting for an impressive variety of seabird colonies including over 40,000 pairs of gannets, the second largest gannet breeding colony in the world. Watch in awe at squadrons of Gannets dive boming into the water.

Holy Isle beside Isle of Arran
There are 20-25 species of birds breeding on the island, ranging from the eider ducks, hiding their nests in the bracken and heather beside the shore, and the oyster-catchers and ringed plovers, breeding on the stony shore. There are snipe, meadow and rock pipits on the island slopes. Groups of cormorants, and their smaller relatives, the shags, are often found on the shore in the south and east of the island, standing with their wings unfolded to let them dry after their underwater adventures. Fulmars can also be seen nesting in the sandstone cliffs.

from :Glasgow; Greenock; Largs; Ayr & Girvan

BRISTOL CHANNEL:

Sailings round the HOLM ISLANDS
Cruise around the mystical islands of Steep Holm and Flat Holm, the first with its sheer cliffs and teeming bird population is a nature reserve, while Flat Holm plays host to youth venture groups. Some of the birds that can be seen are; Shelduck, Oystercatchers, Rock Pipits, Finches, Turnstone and Dunlin.

from : Clevedon; Minehead; Penarth/Cardiff

Sail round PEMBROKSHIRE ISLANDS
Between the islands of Skomer & Skokholm there are around 140,000 pairs of Manx shearwater as well as Storm Petrels Meadow Pipits and Skylarks, while the 150 ft cliffs hold Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Peregrines, Ravens and Fulmars.

from : Milford Haven

Sailings to LUNDY ISLAND:
The waters surrounding the island are England's only statutory Marine Nature Reserve and most of the Island itself is a site of special interest with a large variety of birds inc. Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars and more, including puffins.

from: Clevedon; Minehead; Ilfracombe; Exeter; Penarth; Porthcawl & Swansea

THAMES:

Sailings on the River Blackwater
Takes you up one of the little known and very quiet rivers of Essex and is a perfect way of enjoying a relaxing afternoon.Many wildfowl breed along the river inc. Mallard, Coot, Moorhen and Swans. If you are lucky you may spot Kingfishers, about six pairs regularly breed along the more secluded sections of riverbank.

from Tilbury; Southend; Clacton