Ireland has some of the most significant gannet nesting colonies in Europe. I have visited a few of them now, including Little Skellig (Sceilig Bheag), the Bull Rock (An Tarbh) and now Great Saltee (An Sailte Mór). We came here for the puffins, but as Great Saltee has Ireland’s third largest gannet colony we simply […]
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I imagine myself at the poker table. I’m holding a pair of queens. On the table there is a third queen along with a jack, a nine, an eight and a two. Given this strong position I make a substantial bet. The puffin looks right at me and raises all-in. Do I call or do […]
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For most of our time in the water the blue sharks moved around us near the surface, sometimes close enough to make eye contact before gliding effortlessly away again. The experience changed completely when I held my breath and dived down deep. Away from the surface the sharks became lost in a blue-green world with […]
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Ireland has been very good to me. I’ve made wonderful friends, gone on amazing trips, experienced the culture and settled into our little part of the country we call home away from home. The western Irish coastline in particular, with its rugged inaccessibility, spectacular waterfalls tumbling into the ocean, and of course the diving, makes […]
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I know I’m guilty of anthropomorphism with the behaviour of this little group of puffins, but you tell me if the one on the left isn’t having a bad day while the other two are trying to cheer her up? If you ever get the chance to visit a puffin rookery you will be in […]
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