Monday 27 May 2013

MSC Magnifica

Another new visitor to Greenock, this time MSC Magnifica stopped off on her Britain & Ireland tour.

She arrived way before her scheduled arrival time of 8am but her departure was spot on at 6pm prompt.


Saturday 25 May 2013

Lochwinnoch bird sanctuary

What better way to spend a few hours on a beautiful spring afternoon than to go to the RSPB sanctuary at Lochwinnoch.

Birds and visitors were both out in numbers to enjoy the sunshine. Needless to say, my focus was on the feathered ones.

Great tit perching on a branch
Coal tit having a refreshing drink
Robins are more often associated with winter
Female chaffinches are less colourful than the males
Goldfinch taking seeds from one of the feeders
Lesser redpoll with its distinctive red forehead
Female mallard walking through the grass
Male mallard looks to be calling out to the female
Great spotted woodpecker on top of a tree stump

Monday 20 May 2013

Celebrity Infinity

On her first visit to Greenock is Celebrity Cruises' ship, Infinity, on a round Britain trip.

Here she is departing in the early evening sun.


Waverley

PS Waverley, the world's only sea going paddle steamer, prepares for another busy season.

Here she is, fresh from a visit to the drydock, looking very smart.

She stopped at Greenock's Customhouse Quay before heading down river for her pre-season trials.


Friday 17 May 2013

Quest for Adventure

Having looked back on last year's posts, I found that I already have some images of this cruise ship.

She has had a change of colour on her funnel from yellow to blue, and it looks rather smart on her.

Today's weather was a great improvement on my previous pictures so I'm pleased with this year's pictures.


Wednesday 15 May 2013

Queen Mary 2

Talk about starting with a bang. The first of this year's cruise liners only happened to be the Queen Mary 2, the biggest and best of them all.

As was befitting such a visitor, the sun was shining for her arrival and departure.

QM2 arriving in Greenock
QM2 with Kilcreggan in the background
Blue skies welcome the QM2 on her arrival
Cunard liner, QM2 sails gracefully towards the terminal
The familiar Cunard colours of the QM2
QM2 canting before backing towards her berth
Crowds gather on the Esplanade to wave goodbye to the QM2
QM2 towering over the estuary control building
Local tug Anglegarth watches as QM2 sails past
Anglegarth gives QM2 a two cannon water salute as she departs
Haste ye back, queen of the seas

Friday 3 May 2013

Glen Mallan & Faslane

Well, an early start for a trip to Glen Mallan and Faslane this morning.

First ship to appear was HMS Diamond who paid a visit to the armaments jetty. The weather did us no favours, varying from rain to mist and drizzle.

After leaving Diamond as she approached the jetty, we made a quick trip down to Kilcreggan where we were just on time to catch RFA Diligence leave the Gareloch after a short visit to Faslane sub base.

By the time HMS Montrose arrived in the loch, the mist had descended enough to obscure most of the background.

HMS Diamond escorted by a pair of Serco tugs
HMS Diamond
Berthing is a shared responsibility
A132 RFA Diligence
Diligence heading for Loch Striven
HMS Montrose comes out of the mist
Montrose passing Rhu spit
Montrose making her way to Faslane

Thursday 2 May 2013

Stavros S Niarchos

April seemed mostly to be filled with images of operation Joint Warrior, so it made a pleasant change to see sail training ship, Stavros S Niarchos pay a visit to Greenock at the beginning of May.

A new team joined up for a week's trip to the Western Isles, coming back to Greenock next Tuesday.

A crew member waiting to release the lines
Time to let go
Hauling the ropes in
Stavros pulls away from the quay
Under way
Rope handlers catch up by rib