Isle of Calf

July 7, 2026

On July 6, we sailed away from Dublin on the Seabourne Venture and headed back to Scotland.

The adventures started early in the morning the next day when we explored the Isle of Calf by Zodiac. Our photography group went out first and got to stay out a bit longer - a great perk of joining the Image Masters.

The Drinking Dragon

Chicken Rock Lighthouse

The Puffin Project - these plastic puffins combined with speakers broadcasting puffin calls are meant to attract puffins back to the Isle of Calf. The original nesting colonies were destroy by invasive brown rats who ate their eggs. There has been some success with the project although it will take a while before a new nesting colony forms.

Grey Seal

European Herring Gull with Chicks

Common Guillemot (also called Common Murre)

A large group of European Shag (Cormorants) were gathering on the rocky slopes.

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The bright orange-yellow sunburst lichen thrives on the daily fertilizer of bird droppings.

Juvenile Eurasian Oyster Catchers

More Guillemots (Common Murres)

The Lion's Mane Jellyfish is the largest jellyfish in the world.

More Herring Gulls

A Rock Pipit beside a crevice of Sea Daisies.

This Atlantic grey seal was curious and spent a while near our boat. A few others would pop up their heads as well, while others just enjoyed basking on the rocks.

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