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| Patreksfjordur |
What a strange trip this is, overnight the ship sailed a mere 85 nautical miles from Stykkisholmur across to the other side of Breidafjordur Bay to dock at Patreksfjordur in the Westfjords. But today, in spite of us having visited only 2 weeks earlier, was very special. My only question and great disappointment is why on earth didn’t they sail around the towering cliffs of Latrabjarg in the daylight. After all these cliffs are home to the largest seabird colony in the Northern Atlantic and are included in the World List of Natural Sites of Tourist Attractions. Logistics? Sure but …..
However a shore coach excursion took us to spectacular Latrabjarg cliffs, Europe’s largest bird cliffs. At least 19 difference seabird species nest here, and over 1 million birds make their homes here - such birds as puffin, razorbill, fulmar and guillemot. Latrabjarg also happens to be the westernmost point in Europe. The east coast of the North American continent is just on the other side of the Atlantic.
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We wandered the cliffs looking at plants and birds - and the remains of plundered eggs, this a Kittywake
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| Far below on the rocks Harbour seals turned blind eyes skywards. |
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| Nothing quite beats a shared lunch! |
This was certainly a good day for me as there were lots of plants to discover not to mention filming those adorable Atlantic puffins. Such unspoiled natural beauty.
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| Top: dainty Sea thrift. Bottom L: Northern grass of Parnassus (edible) R: Sea Mayweed |
Lady's bedstraw |
| Top L: Lady's bedstraw, R: wild thyme. Bottom L: Sea Scurvy. R: narrow-leaf plantain |
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| Arctic and polar willows hug the ground with woody tenacity. The fluff is the seed. |
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| Joselyn Fenstermacher, the Expedition biologist |
Joselyn
Fenstermacher was my daily go-to person on all matters biological and geological. She was an invaluable on-board resource and a total delight; encouraging exploration and attempts at identification. She headed up a number of Citizen Science projects in which we were invited to participate but somehow and sadly little got off the ground - apart from an occasional whale spotting, and my usually daily Q&A with her comparing plant observations which was marvellous.
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| Hours and loads of photos were devoted to these darling creatures |
[You can read an account of our earlier visit to these breathtaking cliffs in my 22 July post https://hwheat2022.blogspot.com/2022/08/july-22-latrabjarg.html]
Cocktail hour and debriefing rounded out each day - and we had a small stash of quite yummy salami with us from Norway to scoff down (no way we could take it home!)
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| Glorious views over Westfjords |
That evening we set sail along the northwest coast of the Westfjords heading for the deep fjord of Isafjardardjup. I love being at sea. There's a calm and quiet that descends on my ever noisy mind
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