27th May 2018
Survey Report for 27/05/2018 - Oban - Tiree - Coll - Oban - Colonsay - Oban
With sightings of basking sharks and dolphins around Coll and Tiree seen in recent days, the ORCA survey team were eager for the day ahead as they boarded the MV Clansman at 7am. The wind wasn't on our side though, averaging around sea state 4 most of the day, with the exception of the Sound of Mull. But in the morning between Coll and Tiree we picked up a minke whale heading past the ship and on the way back to Coll another sighting of minke whale was logged, seemingly lunging, in the distance.
We didn't see any more marine mammals on the return journey, but we did have two white tailed eagles off the Isle of Mull.
The afternoon and evening survey to Colonsay and back was pretty uneventful, but it was a treat to be on board as the Captain took us out of Oban and back on the inside passage through the Sound of Kerrera.
We had a great team who stayed vigilant to the end on a long day. It was also good to welcome a member of the board of CalMac Ferries to the ORCA surveying team.
Marine Mammals Seen:
- Minke whale - 2
Birds Seen:
- Common gull
- Herring gull
- Kittiwake
- Shag, Arctic tern
- Guillemot
- Manx shearwater
- Puffin
- Great skua
- Razorbill
- Oystercatcher
- White-tailed eagle
Survey team members
Andy Gilbert, Jane Dodd, Jim Stirling, Carol Morris