WILDLIFE
CRUISE IN COMPANY
A number of ferry routes in the Hebrides have a Wildlife Officer aboard during the summer months to point out, explain and record the creatures that can be viewed en route. Anna Bunney, from ORCA, explains to Donald Reid what can be seen on one of the best routes for sightings between Oban and Castlebay on Barra
28 The Guide to Scotland’s Islands
'T
he MV Isle of Lewis, which departs from Oban at lunchtime and arrives in Barra early evening, is a nice ship to watch from, and there's lots of time to be out with plenty of wildlife to enjoy. 'As soon as you're leaving Oban harbour, the first thing to see are seals, both common and grey seals, either swimming in the sea or hauled out on the rocks. When they're in the sea they do a behaviour called bottling, which is when they're dozing in the water with their heads sticking out. The Hebrides is a really important pupping area for seals because there are plenty of beaches and caves and nooks and crannies for the seals to give birth and bring up their young safe and sheltered from storms. Grey seals pup in October to December, with those really cute pups with fluffy
