26th May 2019

Survey Report for 26/05/2019 - Oban - Tiree - Coll - Oban - Colonsay - Oban

With sightings of a fin whale breaching off Tiree seen in recent days, the ORCA survey team were eager for the day ahead as they boarded the MV Clansman at 7am. The weather wasn't on our side though, averaging around sea state 4 most of the day, rain, low cloud and occasional fog banks. The team braved the conditions on the back veranda for 2 hours as we travelled up the sound of Mull. Once clearing the island of Mull the fog lifted and we were allowed onto the bridge, briefly, as a technical issue occurred. We limped back to Oban on one engine which took 4 hours. As we bobbed around offshore initially we did manage to see 2 probable common dolphins feeding amongst a large flock of Manx shearwaters. We had 8 common seals on a small rocky island on our return journey.

The ORCA team were magnificent and cheerful. The CalMac kind ferry team had amazing patience, these things happen.

Marine Mammals Seen:

• Common Dolphin (probable) - 2

• Common seal - 8

Birds Seen:

• Black throated diver

• Manx shearwater c700

• Razorbill

• Guillemot

• Puffin

• Black guillemot

• Shag

• Red breasted merganser

• Eider

• Kittiwake

• Common gull

• Great black backed gull

• Herring gull

• Oystercatcher

Survey team members 

Brian Clasper,Charlotte Andrew,Beth Harvey & Sarah Harvey