The crossing

It only takes an hour and a half to cross the Pentland Firth from Scrabster to Stromness on the Northlink ferry. Standing on deck I can see all kinds of wildlife dramas unfolding.

There’s a Fulmar, a tubenose related to the Albatross, gliding effortlessly faster than the ferry:

They are known here in Orkney as Mallimacks, meaning ‘bad mouth’, because they defend their nests by spitting vile smelling oil at intruders.

Fulmar - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

They don’t look like they would from here on the ferry’s deck:

Fulmar - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

I see a Great Skua, the Buzzard of the Coast, viciously attack a juvenile Great Black Backed Gull and plunge it into the sea:

Great Skua - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

We sailed on, but I don’t think it ended well for the Gull.

We must be passing the island of Hoy soon, with its famous rock stack.

Fulmar - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)
I turn to look across the ferry and the deck is completely empty:

Northlink Ferry - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

Where has everyone gone? I glance behind me and there they all are, waiting for a photo opportunity as we sail past the Old Man of Hoy.

Northlink Ferry - The Hall of Einar - photograph (c) David Bailey (not the)

The deck of the ferry is a great place to see human dramas unfold, too.

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