A boat trip. Puffins. Bushmills Irish Whiskey. What a day!
It has always been a dream of mine to visit the puffins on Rathlin Island, 6 miles off the coast of Ballycastle. So, when I heard that they had returned to the island for their annual 2 month visit, I booked a day return on the Kintra – the Island’s modern high speed catamaran – with a plan to soak in the atmosphere and take lots of photos. I’m so glad I finally took the time to make this trip – what an inspirational visit it turned out to be!
While May was a fantastic month for sunshine (actually the warmest May on record in Northern Ireland!), unfortunately we managed to choose the wettest, chilliest day of the month to make our trip. On the day there were bad weather warnings, and it was all looking a bit grim down in Belfast, but we made the decision to brave the wind and the rain and go ahead with our trip as planned, and boy were we pleased that we did. Whether the island has its own micro-climate or we were simply lucky, I’m not sure, but the sun shone high in the sky and the seas were blue and calm.
By the time of our return crossing though, things had changed! The temperature had dropped, and with the wind in our faces, we’d decided to go in search of a nice open fire and a warming Irish whiskey…but more about that later!
Upon arrival at Church Bay, we were greeted with a pretty beach and harbour, featuring the ‘Puffin Bus’ shelter, which was adorned with a happy array of colourful crochet and coastal-inspired kids’ crafts. After a short wait, the Puffin Bus arrived to take us to the RSPB’s Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre. It was a full bus!
The journey to the Centre took us on a tiny, undulating route past cows and sheep, ruins and rural homes, and dozens of bright eyed and bushy tailed bunnies. And that’s not even mentioning some of the most beautiful views across the Atlantic Ocean, looking back toward the mainland in the distance. On a clear day, you can even see as far as Donegal in one direction and Scotland in the other, but on our visit, we were simply captivated by the rugged green landscape and incredible views of dramatic cliff scenes and big open skies.
The RSPB had generously extended guest passes for our visit, and were fantastic at helping us locate a wide range of seabirds, including guillemots, kittiwakes, and of course, the famous puffins. The enthusiastic team provided binoculars and even helped with taking photos through the lenses.
From the elevated viewpoint of the Seabird Centre, we watched the puffins down below on the grass and rocks at sea level. They were mostly resting or slowly pottering around, and it was lovely to see them so clearly relaxed and undisturbed in their habitat. We did spot one or two in flight on their way to a burrow in the cliffs, but as to whether or not there were eggs or even little pufflings in there, who can say…?
We learned that the male and female puffins both sport that fabulous plumage and mate for life, although they only have their bright orange and red bills during the mating season, which is when they visit the island and build their nests.
It felt magical being there, witnessing the birds in their natural, wild habitat from afar. They are dinky and beautiful, with their colourful markings, big eyes, and dramatic black and white coat. The perfect subject for an artist!
On our journey back to Church Bay we stopped at another bay to watch the seals frolicking in the water, and to clamber over the pristine pebbly beach. We then boarded the ferry and sat outside, upfront with the sea spray in our faces. Needless to say that cooled us down and we had the wonderful idea of going to find a cosy pub with an open fire to warm us up.
No surprises that we found ourselves in none other than the famous Bushmills Inn, just a twenty minute drive away. It was the perfect place to end the day with its inviting open fires, cosy, comfortable décor, and that famous warm welcome. We settled in with one of their new Causeway Coast Collection whiskey range, which Steve the barman was delighted to share his knowledge on. A happy ending to an enlightening day!
Naturally upon my return to the studio the following week, I was keen to create some new paintings inspired by the trip. I decided to create a duo, inspired by the birds’ having life partners and because we saw them during their mating season. The paintings were made with speedy, gestural poured marks, and energetic splashes of colour, all inspired by the wild and dramatic scenery of Rathlin. Then, once all of the layers were complete, they were finished off with gold and silver leaf as a reminder of the beautiful light we enjoyed on the island that day and how it made the sea shimmer and sparkle.
Here’s an extra special first look at the new couple…
In the studio we are now working on creating new prints, which will be available on our website soon. We hope you love the new puffin paintings as much as we do, and certainly encourage anyone who hasn’t done so to visit the Island and RSPB Centre!
In the meantime, I look forward to the next inspiring adventure… who know where it will take us. Thanks for reading!