Storm Alieen was barreling into the UK and the Bay of Biscay between Spain and France was feeling it’s effects. Waking after a delayed start from Portsmouth and a rather bumpy night through the English Channel the group of intrepid whale watchers from the marine charity ORCA were out on deck at first light, albeit rather murky and damp, … More Stormy Bay
15th January 2007 Sitting on some large, smooth boulders listing to the waves roll onto the small pebbly beach below, watching the sun play on a turquoise bay and the shadows moving on the impressive mountains beyond, I reflect on what was, to date, one of the most amazing, stunning, awesome mornings of my life. … More Wild Barley Rewind: Dolphin Swim
Standing on crunchy white snow, looking up at the brilliant blue expanse of a vast sky stretching overhead uninterrupted in all directions. I close my eyes and just listen. There is no sound, the silence is deafening and perfect. Nothing can be seen for miles all around, just blinding white snow and ice. Beyond the … More An Antarctic Dream
The country sweltered as bright hot sunshine blazed in the azure blue sky, steaming away the rain that had dominated the summer so far. Across the country people headed to the seaside, rivers, pools and lakes. And where there were none they dug out their paddling pools, filling them with cool, clear water, the sighs … More Misty Dolphins
After taking people ‘virtual whale watching’ in the Azores for the last three WhaleFest events, I felt it was finally time to set foot on the archipelago myself. But when to go? The virtual whale watching experience at WhaleFest had focused on the sperm whale. For the people of the Azores this is The whale; … More Whale Watching in the Azores
I was back on the island where I had spent two summers working as a wildlife guide. Two extraordinary summers filled with fabulous people and wonderful wildlife, from whales and dolphins to eagles, seabirds and basking sharks. I had made firm friends that to be honest feel more like family. Now I was back, not … More Whale Watching Off Mull
Where have the last 10 years gone? 10 years ago today I was sat on a rather lovely boat called Alpha Beta, bobbing around off the coast of the Isle of Mull. Fresh out of university I was spending the summer working as a volunteer for Sea Life Surveys, one of the longest running whale … More 10 years to the day
Since crossing the Bay of Biscay my attention, energy and focus has been for WhaleFest 2015. This annual festival held in Brighton is the world’s biggest celebration of wild whales and dolphins. Since its beginnings in 2011 I have been involved with the virtual whale watch. There are not too many opportunities to go whale … More WhaleFest 2015
The sun rose blood red over an ocean that was silvery blue. Despite the saying red sky in the morning sailor take warning the waves were calm and the swell low. The conditions were good for sighting those often elusive whales and dolphins. With the breaking dawn spreading light over the rolling water a couple … More A Winter’s Bay
We leave the wild mountains and Walrus of Svalbard behind and enter a heavy, ‘following sea’. White crests roll over the top of deep blue waves that the Saga Pearl II almost surfs down. We follow the coast south, over on the distant horizon the mountains still rise hazy blue. The conditions are not conducive … More The Journey South
Wild Barley 