Brainstorming and Exploring on Rathlin Island

On June 11, the last Tuesday of our visit, we headed to Rathlin Island, the northernmost edge of Northern Ireland. We’d been looking over the water at this island from our Corrymeela backyard for our whole visit, so it was exciting to finally be able to take the ferry over to explore it. Many of us were especially looking forward to seeing puffins for the first time!

 

 

After the ferry ride, we were met in Church Bay by Charlie Bosanquet from LIFE Raft, a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring the island’s seabird population by eradicating the birds’ most destructive non-native predators: first ferrets, and now rats. In a conference room at the island’s historic Manor House, over tea and biscuits, we learned about the history of invasive predators on Rathlin, then brainstormed slogans and other ways to increase public support for their work.

 

 

 

After we finished our work with Charlie, we caught the Puffin Bus, which took us to the Rathlin West Light Seabird Centre. The drive was lovely, winding west across the island’s dramatic green and rocky landscape.

 

The Puffin Bus took us to look not just at puffins, but at a variety of seabirds—including razorbills, guillemots, kittiwakes, and fulmars—nestled into a cliffside next to the Centre. After entering the small welcome center and gift shop, we walked down a set of steep stairs, through a small museum, and emerged onto a platform where we were greeted by tens of thousands of birds flying, squawking, nesting, circling, and yes, pooping. We were given binoculars to peer over the railing, and learned how to spot the puffins’ bright orange feet.

On our way back east on the Puffin Bus, some of us got off early to get a closer (but not too close!) look at some seals before walking the rest of the way back to Church Bay.

We then had some free time to check out shops and a restaurant before catching the ferry back to Ballycastle.

 

All in all, it was a long day, but some of the best weather we had the whole trip. It was rewarding to work with LIFE Raft, and to experience the island not just as tourists, but as contributors, however briefly.