A week for firsts

Just a few days after our first Dolphin sighting of the year, the passengers on todays Whale Watch Explorer were treated to our first views of a Basking shark. 

Despite it being quite wet and particularly foggy they have also had a Minke Whale sighting!

We hope this is now the start of regular sightings of sharks, enabling us to take photographs to help with vital photo identification that is being carried out.

Dolphins return

Today, May 25th, we set out with 3 guides and a good number of passengers. Our guides for the day were head guide – Ruth, Duncan who has returned for his 3rd season and Andy. I usually poke fun at Andy about his amazing long range vision in seeing things that we never see – I was to eat my words later!

We steamed past Sea Eagle point where they were unusually absent today probably due to the weather conditions -a heavy drizzle with visibility down to about 1.5 miles – lovely! Yet again a day of radar, plotter and compass work in my wheelhouse.

Soon a feeding group of porpoise were sighted so engines were cut and we drifted amongst them. We could see them swimming around and under us with grace and ease, making their ‘puffing pig’ noises as they blow (breathe).

A couple of hours later, steaming through this grey wall of nothingness but wetness and long rolling swells, a shout of ‘Dolphin!’ came from the whale deck. There was an air of excitement as we could see what looked like a series of torpedoes gunning straight for us. As we kept our speed they hurtled into our bow wave and proceeded to surf it, streak under the boat and generally cavort around us. They leaped and played with beauty and agility. There were about 40 of them in all, including 2 juveniles. There were woops of joy and many a tear-filled eye as our passengers tried to come to terms with this extraordinary spectacle. See footage filmed on board by andy by following the link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXv8zUExpbQ

We left the dolphins and steamed further afield to other whale grounds – still wet, grey and cold. After concentrated searches across an area that was full of promise with right conditions, plenty of food, birds feeding and the inevitable bonxie harassing all, it was time to return home. Then a trumpet like shout from Andy –‘ Whale!’ He gave me a direction and distance off that seemed impossible. We slowly steamed to that spot seemingly so far away, cut engines, drifted and then a whole chorus from passengers of – ‘Whale!’
He was right yet again; there she was an adult Minke (stinkie as we now call them!).

Suddenly, as if to smile upon us, the sun came out and we returned home – with laughter and lifted hearts.

An Unusual Day Whale-watching

It was one of those lovely ‘cloudless sky days’ with a gentle easterly wind. We steamed away from Tobermory with the usual anticipation of what was to come. Every day is different out here. There is no pattern, no logical path to tread.

We passed the sea eagles in their usual haunt and then nosed out into the open seas. There were many exciting feeding frenzies of manx shearwater, gannets, and auks including the odd puffin. These were usually interspersed with porpoises hunting around the edges.

The only obvious intrusion into this wonderment was the United Nations Naval exercise goings on -- a large warship and many smaller vessels with all sorts of nasty looking things on their decks. This war like armada accompanied by warplanes, screaming overhead at odd intervals.

Three hours later, having covered a great deal of ground through many favourite whale spots and finding nothing, I decided that I must reward our passengers with something a bit unusual. We steamed to a lovely sandy bay, hidden away behind reefs and affording an idyllic place to anchor for lunch. I was just about to switch off engines when there was a large shout of “WHALE!”
There…… not more than 50 metres from us, was a juvenile minke whale.
Oh golly gosh! Here we bob in only 20 feet of water and this great and wild creature has come to say hello to us, albeit briefly, before returning seaward.

Amazing…gobsmacking. – Skipper POPZ

May update

Hello! I’m Ruth, one of the new guides joining Sea Life Surveys for 2009. Now in my third week and what a few weeks they have been... from getting sunburnt on my first day out in the stunning Cairns of Coll… to many days of solid rain and very strong winds…now back to beautiful sunshine (this time armed with sun-cream!)... I have loved every moment.

Highlights obviously include the Minke whales. Yesterday was particularly special, after a morning spent cruising the tide-lines around Ardnamurchan with great views of the Small Isles and up to Skye. We were heading into Sanna Bay for lunch and refills of tea and coffee when directly ahead of the boat, right on cue, as people began tucking into their sandwiches, a Minke! It seemed to be travelling so didn’t hang around for long, but what a fantastic sighting!

We’ve also had some great Harbour Porpoise action with one group of about six animals being unusually playful coming right up to the boat, letting us have a good look at them under the water. Sometimes it’s a question of which direction to look with Porpoise behind you and the Sea Eagles sitting on the shore putting on a show in front of you giving everybody onboard spectacular views.

Every day starts with more and more anticipation to see our first dolphins and basking sharks of the season. Any day now and I cannot wait...
Ruth