Some of our rarer sightings...
Occasionally we see species that are not frequently sighted on our cruises.
In 2003 we encountered white-beaked dolphins - lagenorhynchus albirostris - and in 2004 an Atlantic white-sided dolphin - lagenorhynchus acutus - was found stranded at Gruinaird Bay.
A first for Gairloch Marine Life Centre sighted in 2004 was the Ocean Sunfish - mola mola - which are strange looking fish, circular in shape reaching diameters of 3m. They are quite shy and you only usually catch a glimpse of them before they dive down to deeper waters.
A very rare visitor to the Inner Minch in 2004 we were extremely fortunate to view a Humpback Whale - megaptera novaeangliae - on one of our cruises.
In July 2004 we were privilege to witness a small pod of Killer Whales - orcinus orca - passing through the area. This very distinctive whale with its dramatic black and white markings are only occasionally seen. The killer whale reaches lengths of 9m (30ft) and have a single blowhole and tall dorsal fins. The males have taller fins at about 1.9m (6ft) compared to females and juveniles.
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