St. Kilda, Scotland
At around 7 am the Endeavour arrived in the vicinity of Stac Lee and the small island of Boreray. We cruised between these two impressive bastions of weathered rock which are the largest gannetry in the World. The gannets were there in their thousands and whirled through the air. The weather was very kind and we landed on the isle of Hirta, one of a number of small islands that make up the St. Kilda Group. We were escorted around Hirta by Andy, the ranger for the island and his colleague Susan, an archaeologist who is presently engaged in researching its prehistoric past. The island is famous for the exploitation of seabirds by its inhabitants in years gone by. Feathers and oil extracted from them were used as rent for the local laird. With the coming of the Industrial Revolution the price for the seabird oil dropped and from that point onwards the inhabitants took to producing tweed, woolen garments and tapping into a growing tourist trade. The island was evacuated in the 1930s and all that remains now are the curving row of rock built cottages, which were constructed in the 19th-century and hundreds of stone cleits, a type of shed or larder which were used for the drying out and storage of a variety of seabirds. They were killed, plucked and then dried out in these structures and formed an essential element in the winter diet of the people of the island.
While guests were enjoying the sights on shore, the water’s surrounding Hirta were tranquil enough to attempt a dive. This is not always possible as a result of prevailing winds building large swells, which collide with the exposed coasts of the St. Kilda archipelago. Being tossed in the surge was well worth the effort of capturing this Lion’s mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) on film. This pelagic animal had no problems functioning with surge conditions; it reacts as if buoyed by some spiritual force. The density of salt water which surrounds the yellowish red medusa acts as the jellies external skeletal support. Through muscular contractions it forces water out from its bell which helps to move Cyanea capillata forward. While watching this aquatic ballet the realization came to me that I had something in common with this gelatinous cnidarian. We were both planktonic…drifting at the mercy of the prevailing currents.
To cap the day of exploration off we sailed to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides where, following a traditional Pinoy buffet dinner, we went ashore to visit the prehistoric standing stones of Callanish. This site is at least 5000 years old but older still is the rock that these prehistoric people used in its construction. Known as Lewisian gneiss this metamorphic rock is some 3 billion years old. On our way by Zodiac back to the ship we were treated to a most appreciated surprise in the guise of a drop of fine scotch served to us from a ‘floating bar’.
At around 7 am the Endeavour arrived in the vicinity of Stac Lee and the small island of Boreray. We cruised between these two impressive bastions of weathered rock which are the largest gannetry in the World. The gannets were there in their thousands and whirled through the air. The weather was very kind and we landed on the isle of Hirta, one of a number of small islands that make up the St. Kilda Group. We were escorted around Hirta by Andy, the ranger for the island and his colleague Susan, an archaeologist who is presently engaged in researching its prehistoric past. The island is famous for the exploitation of seabirds by its inhabitants in years gone by. Feathers and oil extracted from them were used as rent for the local laird. With the coming of the Industrial Revolution the price for the seabird oil dropped and from that point onwards the inhabitants took to producing tweed, woolen garments and tapping into a growing tourist trade. The island was evacuated in the 1930s and all that remains now are the curving row of rock built cottages, which were constructed in the 19th-century and hundreds of stone cleits, a type of shed or larder which were used for the drying out and storage of a variety of seabirds. They were killed, plucked and then dried out in these structures and formed an essential element in the winter diet of the people of the island.
While guests were enjoying the sights on shore, the water’s surrounding Hirta were tranquil enough to attempt a dive. This is not always possible as a result of prevailing winds building large swells, which collide with the exposed coasts of the St. Kilda archipelago. Being tossed in the surge was well worth the effort of capturing this Lion’s mane Jellyfish (Cyanea capillata) on film. This pelagic animal had no problems functioning with surge conditions; it reacts as if buoyed by some spiritual force. The density of salt water which surrounds the yellowish red medusa acts as the jellies external skeletal support. Through muscular contractions it forces water out from its bell which helps to move Cyanea capillata forward. While watching this aquatic ballet the realization came to me that I had something in common with this gelatinous cnidarian. We were both planktonic…drifting at the mercy of the prevailing currents.
To cap the day of exploration off we sailed to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides where, following a traditional Pinoy buffet dinner, we went ashore to visit the prehistoric standing stones of Callanish. This site is at least 5000 years old but older still is the rock that these prehistoric people used in its construction. Known as Lewisian gneiss this metamorphic rock is some 3 billion years old. On our way by Zodiac back to the ship we were treated to a most appreciated surprise in the guise of a drop of fine scotch served to us from a ‘floating bar’.
