14th August 2019
Survey Report for 14/08/2019 - Uig-Tarbert/Lochmaddy
The survey team were greeted onto the bridge by the officers of MV Hebrides soon after we left Uig and we quickly settled into the survey. A sea state of 4 made finding animals a little difficult and it wasn't until the return leg from Lochmaddy that we picked up a small group of 4 common dolphins and another group of 8 later into the crossing. As we sailed into Tarbert harbour a group of 4 red throated divers flew over the bay.
The afternoon crossing to Tarbert gave us better weather conditions with a sea state of 1-2 and we recorded 3 harbour porpoise during the transect. During the return the fog descended for the first half of the crossing and visibility was reduced substantially but we did pick up a grey seal crossing the bow. As we approached Skye the visibility improved and 5 harbour porpoise were recorded fast swimming away from the vessel.
As always, we hugely appreciate the support that CalMac and their crews give us in allowing us to undertake our biodiversity monitoring.
Marine Mammals Seen:
- Grey seal - 1
- Common dolphin - 12
- Harbour porpoise - 8
Birds Seen:
- Gannet
- Guillemot
- Puffin
- Shag
- Kittiwake
- Great black-backed gull
- Great skua
- Manx shearwater
- Arctic tern
- Razorbill
- Black guillemot
- Common tern
- Red throated diver
Survey Team Members:
Andy Gilbert, Stewart Dewar, Jane McVicar, Andrew Beggs