‘Watch the Orcas’ from the ferry

Wildlife watchers are being offered a superb opportunity to look for pods of whales, playful dolphins, sea birds and other creatures aboard the Caledonian MacBrayne vessel MV Isle of Lewis.

The wildlife adventures on Wednesday, July 29th are being organised by Scottish Natural Heritage and CalMac with the help of the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Marine Conservation Society, Highland Council Countryside Rangers, RSPB and Scottish Wildlife Trust.

Regular sailings between Ullapool and Stornoway that day will see a team of specialists on board to help identify wildlife in the sea and air and explain other species that could be expected.

There is a real chance of some exciting encounters as reports last month highlighted a pod of Orca whales off the Shetland coast.

On board the Isle of Lewis a range of experts and equipment is available to help people see wildlife.  Depending on the conditions it is proposed to have specialists on whales, dolphins and other marine mammals at one end of the ferry.  At the other end experts on marine birds will be present.  At each ‘station’ there will be equipment available such as telescopes and binoculars.  In case of poor weather indoor displays, talks or slideshows from each expert will be used.

Tamara Lawton, one of the SNH team helping to organise the marine adventures, said: “This is a very special chance to see some of our most spectacular marine wildlife and it’s sure to be popular.

“We have also produced a new wildlife watching guide in English and Gaelic about marine mammals and sea birds specially for this event and we hope that CalMac will keep a supply on board for future ferry passengers.  The leaflet launch takes place – quite literally – in the Minch on the 29th of July.”

And Philip Preston, managing director of CalMac said :”Our ferry services provide an excellent opportunity and often unique viewpoint to spot all kinds of wildlife, and we are delighted that SNH have recognised this and organised these wildlife watching trips.”

Children will receive wildlife watching packs which include colouring pages, pencils, a key ring and a quiz in a cloth bag. There will be competition with prizes for the best colouring and the quiz.  Children under five travel free and children aged 5-15 travel at half the adult fare.

The wildlife watching day is a special one-off additional service to the regular CalMac Ullapool-Stornoway ferry route and four wildlife watching adventures are available on the day.  The capacity for each sailing is 680 wildlife watching passengers.

A return sailing (returning to point of embarkation and remaining on board at the other terminal) is £14.50 and tickets can be purchased at the Stornoway and Ullapool port offices on the day of travel.

As an added attraction, families and younger passengers can also listen to story teller and musician Bob Pegg who will be on board for all four sailings with tall tales and music with a marine theme.

For further information about the wildlife watching day log on to: www.snh.org.uk