Basking Shark - 30th August 2013

A basking shark's nose! We saw 2 sharks today both of which were feeding at the surface and sticking their noses right out of the water :-)

Wildlife Adventure - 30th August 2013

A wet and wild trip but some great sightings of 2 basking sharks. We had views of their massive bodies beneath the water and saw them lifting their noses above the surface too! Also harbour porpoise, common seals, white-tailed eagle perched in her favourite tree and fabulous views of shearwaters & gannets tackling the wind with ease 

Common Dolphins - 29th August 2013

Some of the common dolphins we had playing with the boat today on our Whalewatch Explorer :-)

Whalewatch Explorer - 29th August 2013

A group of around 30 common dolphins stole the show today! They were bow-riding and leaping around us for around half an hour. We deployed the hydrophone whilst sat with them milling around us and heard their clicks - an incredible sound! We also had close views of several basking sharks, a lovely sighting of a group of around 6 harbour porpoise, white-tailed eagles, a group of around 15 storm petrels, common & grey seals, puffin, fulmars, bonxies and shearwaters

White-tailed Eagle - 28th August 2013

Two white-tailed eagles seen on this morning's Wildlife Adventure :-)

Wildlife Adventures - 28th August 2013

Fantastic views of basking sharks this morning with one lifting its nose right out of the water as it gorged itself on plankton around us. We sat drifting on a tide line just watching it swim around us for around half an hour. We also had close views of 2 white-tailed eagles sat perched on a rocky shore, several harbour porpoise sightings and grey & common seals 

Some wonderful porpoise action this afternoon with several close encounters with some particularly playful individuals swimming right alongside Sula Beag. One even turned on its side as if it were looking up at us! We had close views of basking sharks including the open mouth of one as it swam towards us. Also buzzard, distant views of a golden eagle, common & grey seals, shearwaters, bonxie and guillemots with their chicks

 

Whalewatch Explorer - 27th August 2013

A wild start to the trip but we were soon rewarded with sunshine and great sightings. We had some superb basking shark encounters with one large shark often lifting its huge nose out of the water as it carried on feeding around us. After a lunch spent at the Cairns with the seals and watching an Arctic skua harass a group of kittiwakes we headed for home only to be joined by a minke whale which surfaced just metres off our port side! It only surfaced once but the dorsal fin sure did look like Knobble's!! Also 2 golden eagles getting mobbed by ravens and lots of surfing porpoise 

Tagged Basking Shark - 26th August 2013

It's confirmed… the basking shark seen with the satellite tag on our Whalewatch Explorer today is one of ours! Tagged in Gunna Sound on the 6th of August at 10.15am with Exeter University and SNH. 15 of the 27 tagged sharks can be followed online here: http://www.wildlifetracking.org/index.shtml?project_id=839

Whalewatch Explorer - 26th August 2013

Basking sharks were the highlight on today's trip! We saw 3 cruising around close to the coast and most excitingly found one with a satellite tag. We're currently trying to work out where this shark was tagged… stay tuned!! Other sightings include harbour porpoise, common & grey seals, storm petrels, puffin, diving gannets, fulmars, shearwaters, bonxies and enjoyed a lunch time landing at the Cairns

Minke Whale - 25th August 2013

One of the Minke whales seen on our 4 hour trip this morning :-)

Wildlife Adventure - 25th August 2013

Two minke whales, lots of porpoise and around 6 basking sharks all in the space of 4 hours! We sat drifting on a strong tide line and had sharks coming close to the boat and minkes surfacing around us. Some lucky passengers even got to see a shark breach! Also white-tailed eagle perched in a tree, Arctic & great skua, common seals and our youngest Mars bar winner ever?! 1 and a half year old Iona! 

Basking Shark Project

Short film about the basking shark project we where part of with SNH & Exeter Uni for the last few seasons (is that Capt Lewy sailing behind mid interview??!)

Whalewatch Explorer - 24th August 2013

Flat calm seas today and lots of fantastic sightings. We saw around 10 basking sharks feeding at the surface and also saw one breach. A few passengers saw a huge splash and alerted the rest of us so we had time to look in the right direction to observe the shark leap clear of the water for a second time - wow! Also a minke whale feeding along a strong tide line, harbour porpoise, common & grey seals, white-tailed & distant views of golden eagle, puffin, storm petrel, great & Arctic skua… what a 7 hours!

 

 

Wildlife Adventures - 23rd August 2013

Fantastic 4 hours spent searching the north shore of Mull. We found around 5 basking sharks and had a very close encounter with one as it swam alongside us lifting its nose right out of the water! We also saw several harbour porpoise, white-tailed eagles, common & grey seals, great skuas, shearwaters and diving gannets

More great sightings on this afternoon's trip with a basking shark seen feeding at the surface, close views of harbour porpoise surfacing around us, two white-tailed eagle perched in one of their favourite trees, common seal and pup, storm petrel, great skuas and a lucky few got to see an otter before it slipped out of view  

Whalewatch Explorer - 22nd August 2013

Wow - what a day! We had an incredible association with a minke whale as it swam right alongside Sula Beag, saw several close basking sharks, numerous harbour porpoise sightings and had a dolphin encounter! The dolphins were acting very unusually and unfortunately disappeared on us before we got a chance to identify them. We also saw a white-tailed & golden eagle flying together, a bonxie take down a juvenile gull, Arctic skua, diving gannets, shearwaters, fulmars and had time to stop with the seals for lunch 

Wildlife Adventure - 21st August 2013 (2:00pm)

Wildlife Adventure passengers 21/08/13, 2pm - Five Basking sharks feeding off the shore of Mull this afternoon including some close passes. A Eurasian Otter also seen feeding on crustaceans before doing their classic disappearance act. Two White-tailed Eagles perched in the conifers always busy scanning for prey. Some great views of Harbour Porpoise through out the trip along with Common Seals. Sea birds included Gannets, Storm Petrels, Skuas, Shearwater, Kittiwakes and Auks. What does everyone think of Andy's Shark impression?!

Wildlife Adventure - 21st August 2013 (9:30am)

Wildlife Adventure passengers - 21st of August 2013, 9.30am. Several harbour porpoise encounters with some lovely close views as we heard them puffing around us. Some lucky folk even got to view one beneath the water as it swam alongside us! We also had great views of an adult and juvenile sea eagle sat overlooking the Sound of Mull and saw common & grey seals hauled out at our local colony. Also storm petrels, bonxies, shearwaters, diving gannets and lots of fascinating beasties in our plankton sample

Whalewatch Explorer - 20th August 2013

We saw several basking sharks today and had great views of the full body of one including its open mouth beneath the waves! We also saw harbour porpoise, brilliant views of an adult and fledgling sea eagle, storm petrels, puffin, shearwaters, bonxies in attack mode and stopped off at our favourite shell sand beach for lunch in the company of terns and seals

Whalewatch Explorer - 19th August 2013

Tricky conditions today but we had some great sightings nonetheless! Close views of Knobble the minke whale who surfaced alongside us (his/her 7th sighting this year!), several harbour porpoise sightings, about 8 basking sharks, storm petrels, Arctic & great skuas, fulmars circling the boat, diving gannets, distant sea eagles and lots of common & grey seals at the Cairns of Coll where we stopped for lunch

Tobermory Lifeboat Day - 18th August 2013

 Tobermory Lifeboat Day was a huge success! Very proud to announce that we raised £555.00 running short trips around the bay, added to that all the SLS crew gave their time for free to help the cause, well done Popz, Ruth M, Ewan, Jayne, Ruth A, Andy Tait, Richard & Lippy. Thanks to all for your support

Wildlife Adventure - 18th August 2013

Bottlenose Dolphins stole the show today with at least 8 animals interacting with us for over 20 minutes! We deployed the hydrophone and listened to their clicks and whistles to add to the experience. Two adult White-tailed Eagles perched on the basalt shore line was another highlight. Sea birds included Gannets, Shearwater, Auks and Kittiwakes. We also saw a number of bull Grey Seals huled out on the shoreline.

Wildlife Adventure - 17th August 2013

A wild day out there today but the sun came out for us! The seabirds put on a fantastic display throughout the trip with hundreds of shearwater seen skating above the waves, tackling the wind with ease. Also grey seals, diving gannets, fulmars, kittiwakes, bonxie following the boat, guillemots with chicks, red-throated diver in flight and a swift! Great to have guests from Speyside Wildlife onboard

Basking Sharks - 16th August 2013

Some of the many basking sharks seen on our 4 hour trips today :-)

Wildlife Adventures - 16th August 2013

Great sightings on this morning's trip with 2 sea eagles, grey seals, several porpoise sightings, 3 storm petrels close to the boat, diving gannets AND around 20 basking sharks!!! We stopped amongst a group of about 8 and had an incredible encounter with them feeding just metres from us - wow!

More fantastic Basking Shark encounters in the afternoon trip with over 20 animals counted including a spectacular breach clean out of the water with a lucky few on board looking in the right place at the right time! Harbour porpoise and Common Seals also viewed. Gannets, Shearwaters, Auks, Kittiwakes and Great Skuas were the main bird sightings.

Common Dolphin - 14th August 2013

Common dolphins from Wednesday's phenomenal feeding frenzy!! Taken by Captain Lewy using Andy Tait's GoPro from Sula Beag's bow

Whalewatch Explorer - 15th August 2013

Another incredible 7 hour trip! We saw around 25 basking sharks throughout the day with some close passes, we had 2 separate minke whale sightings (one must've swam right underneath the boat as it surfaced either side of us!) AND had a 2 common dolphin encounters including a group of around 50!! Also porpoise, great northern diver, storm petrel, great skuas and common and grey seals at the Cairns of Coll where we stopped for lunch

Wildlife Adventures - 14th August 2013

In a short space of time we saw some incredible wildlife spectacles! We were sitting with several basking sharks watching them feeding with their huge mouths open when we spotted a cloud of 100+ gannets all plunging in to the water! We headed in their direction and were joined by around 100 common dolphins in a feeding frenzy – wow! Also porpoise, golden and sea eagles, a kestrel and common seals… an incredible 4 hours!!

Another great trip this afternoon with around 7 basking sharks. One shark around 7 metres in length passed by extremely closely several times allowing us all to see the 2nd biggest fish in the world beneath the surface of the water in great detail. The plankton sample taken amongst the sharks was like copepod soup! We also saw porpoise and common seals

 

Whalewatch Explorer - 13th August 2013

Some amazing sightings on today’s 7 hour trip including several common dolphin encounters! One was a pod of around 150 individuals - wow! They came over and played around us and we listened to their clicks and whistles on the hydrophone. We also saw about 20 basking sharks and saw one huge breach! Also porpoise, 3 sea eagles, Arctic and great skua and a lunch time landing at a very sunny Cairns of Coll :-)

This photo was taken on a trip last month but we saw (and listened to!) around 150 common dolphins yesterday! 

Here is one of Andy's videos from yesterday's encounter… 

Minke Whale - 10th August 2013

A massive thank you to Josh Jones who took this incredible picture of a minke whale just north of the Cairns of Coll while on board Sula Crion on Saturday.

courtesy of Josh Jones

Whalewatch Explorer - 12th August 2013

Glorious sunshine for most of the trip as we encountered a minke whale which at one point surfaced meters off our stern! Three separate basking sharks were also seen giving close passes. Harbour porpoise, common seals, grey seals and white-tailed eagles also enjoyed by all on board. Arctic and great skuas in bully mode and a huge number of feeding gannets firing into the water at great speeds. Auks, kittiwakes, storm petrels, shearwater and fulmars were the other bird sightings. A beach landing for lunch and a rich plankton sample capped off another great marine excursion.

Basking Shark - 10th August 2013

Incredible photo taken by passenger Sandy Watt whilst out on Sula Crion with us yesterday. Thanks for sharing it with us Sandy! :-) 

Courtesy of Sandy Watt

Minke at Calve Island!

This Minke whale gave us a fantastic surprise by appearing on our 2 hour Ecocruz this afternoon, wow! 

Wildlife Adventure - 11th August 2013

Several sightings of harbour porpoise on today's 4 hour trip including one which surfaced right off Sula Beag's bow! Also good numbers of common seals hauled out at one of our local colonies, white-tailed eagle in flight, diving gannets, shearwaters, a brilliant plankton trawl and a black-backed gull stealing a fish from the mouth of a kittiwake!

Whalewatch Explorer - 10th August 2013

What an exciting trip, we didn't know which direction to look in at several points as there was so much going on! We had close views of 2 minke whales (one of which was Knobble!), around 10 basking sharks including phenomenal views of one as it swam alongside Sula Beag with its huge mouth wide open, very playful porpoise, sea eagle, diving gannets and a bonxie harassing a kittiwake for around 10 minutes! We also had time to stop off at the Cairns for lunch with the seals and terns

Wildlife Adventures - 9th August 2013

Great eagle sightings on our 4 hour this morning with a juvenile white-tailed eagle flying around the boat getting mobbed by gulls, an adult perched along the shoreline and a golden eagle sat in a tree showing its stunning golden plumage! We also saw harbour porpoise, large numbers of common & grey seals and a peregrine falcon

This afternoon we had porpoise circling the boat, 3 white-tailed eagles in flight together, golden eagle soaring above of Mull, peregrine falcon, common seals including a suckling pup, diving gannets and a great plankton sample shown by Andy Tait under the onboard microscope

Whalewatch Explorer - 8th August 2013

Three Minke Whales feeding together around Sula Beag today which included the local celebrity Knobble! Up to 10 Basking Sharks showing well including a couple of really close passes giving everyone on board a view of their gaping mouth and full body just under the surface. Dolphins were seen splashing and breaching on the horizon along with small groups of Harbour Porpoise. The bird sightings included White-tailed Eagles, Gannets, Shearwater, Storm Petrels, Skuas, Auks and Kittiwakes. Common and Grey Seals in healthy numbers during our island landing for lunch. Another amazing experience of Hebridean wildlife!

Wildlife Adventures - 7th August 2013

A lovely sunny morning with harbour porpoise, common & grey seals and great views of a white-tailed eagle sitting proudly on the shoreline! We also had great sightings of diving gannets, shearwaters, guillemot & razorbill chicks, kittiwakes and many more seabirds throughout the trip 

Amazing views of a group of around 7 porpoise behaving more like dolphins close by us this afternoon! They were doing lots of splashing and surfing in the waves and we heard them “puffing” around Sula Beag. We also saw seals and 3 white-tailed eagles. The juvenile took flight in front us us revealing that huge wingspan!  

 

Whalewatch Explorer - 6th August 2013

We were surrounded by basking sharks for most of the afternoon! It was hard to count how many individuals we saw but we think around the 20 mark. We had some very close views of them swimming alongside us and also saw a huge breach! Other sightings included white-tailed eagle, porpoise, seals, storm petrel, arctic & great skua, puffins, fulmars and diving gannets :-)

Whalewatch Explorer - 5th August 2013

What a 7 hours! Very close views of 'Knobble' one of our most sighted minke whales who surfaced right across our bow, a group of around 20 common dolphins, a brief view of a basking shark and a 15 week old white-tailed eagle! We also stopped at the Cairns of Coll and had stunning views of common seals swimming alongside the boat in crystal clear water :)

Aurora Borealis - 5th August 2013

Sensational northern lights (aurora borealis) display photographed at 2am this morning on the north shore of Mull. Ewan

Wildlife Adventure - 4th August 2013

Harbour Porpoise were seen among the waves along with two Otters showing well. The female White tailed Eagle was sat in one of her usual vantage points with 20 plus Common Seals hauled out on the shore below. Gannets, Shearwater, Red throated Divers, Kittiwakes and Auks also seen on todays sunny excursion.

Wildlife Adventure - 2nd August 2013

Wildlife Adventure passengers 02/08/13 - Lovely sunshine with a warm southerly wind as we left Tobermory bay this morning. The first highlight was an adult White-tailed Eagle soaring on the stiff sea breeze. Up to 20 Common Seals were hauled out on the shoreline before the flooding of the tide. On the way back to the east we had a group of 2-3 Harbour Porpoise breaking the waves and also Gannets feeding/diving from around 20 meters of height. Ewan

Knobble returns!

Knobble the minke whale, first seen in 2002! We had a very close encounter with this individual on the 1st of August but here's a picture from Tuesday the 30th showing his/her distinctive dorsal fin :-)