To St Kilda with Noble Caledonia

The St Kilda archipelago is one of those places that are close enough to visit for a birding trip but far enough away to put you off the idea. It is also lashed by some of the fiercest Atlantic storms please don’t be put off and do make an effort sometime to go there. Now Noble Caledonia include a visit here as part of their amazing birdwatching cruise along the length of the west coast of Britain.

It’s not the easiest place to get to but it is such an incredible experience and as always depending when you go will get you some great birds. 210 species have been recorded here and you get the most amazing experience even before you get there with the three giant stacks, one of them the island of Boreray, that house the world’s largest gannet colony and you’ll hear and smell the birds from some distance away.

It was a Great Skua that gave us our first drama after having passed through the two stacks when one pounced on a surfacing gannet forcing it to regurgitate the fish it had just swallowed beneath the waves. The gannet just lay on water as if it had been frozen in fright which now on reflection I guess it had.

St Kilda has the largest colony of Fulmars in the British Isles and also the tallest sea stacks and has an estimated population of a million seabirds on its incredible cliffs.  If that isn’t enough at 1400ft, Conachair boasts the highest sea cliffs in Britain but be prepared to be dive bombed by great Skuas if you trying to get to the top of here!

Because of its position St Kilda is used as stop over for species migrating to Iceland and Greenland such as northern wheatears. Each year, in spring and in autumn, the islands are visited by an ever-growing list of migrants and vagrants. Some are on their regular route to and from those northerly breeding grounds, whilst others are blown off course with some 21 American species now being recorded with five or more records for Baird’s sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper and American Golden Plover.

You can now visit the world's largest Gannet Colony on the sea stacks of St Kilda (Above)  with Noble Caledonia or other birding islands on their Hebrides, Orkney's and Shetlands birding cruises. For more info' and booking details, be sure to check out this link with the UK's adventure cruise specialists, The Cruise Line Ltd.

From wild Scotland to the Norwegian Fiords

This voyage with Noble Caeldonia begins on the west coast of Scotland in the port of Oban. From here, the journey north includes magnificent St Kilda and calls in the Orkney and Shetland Islands where you can immerse in some of the mysterious ancient history. Reaching Sunnfjord, one of Norway's most stunning areas, you will make your way along the coast, visiting the vast swathe of fjord indented coast and through the chain of islands all the way up to the Lofoten group.
It is difficult to imagine a more relaxing setting than coastal Norway. Words cannot describe the awe-inspiring scenery as we take in views of mountains, glaciers, waterfalls, valleys and truly dramatic fjords. The immense size of the fjords and the timeless quality of scenes that have changed little in the past centuries create a unique atmosphere.

The voyage avoids the route of big cruise ships wherever possible and many of the ports of call will be tranquil hamlets of small communities and it will be fascinating to learn of their unique lifestyles. Such a journey can of course only be undertaken by a special vessel with the self-sufficient qualities of the MS Quest. With just 50 fellow passengers, you can enjoy the beauty of this region in small groups and from aboard a small, friendly ship and with  Zodiacs you will be able to land on remote beaches and explore shorelines with their prolific birdlife. The daily schedule will take advantage of weather conditions and possible sightings to achieve as much as possible from your voyage.

For more information visit http://www.noble-caledonia.co.uk/.