TOURISTS who joined the NorthCoast Explorer for a trip round the uninhabited island of Stroma got an unexpected and spectacular bonus in the shape of a pod of orcas.
No-one was more excited about the sighting than Inverness amateur photographer Jerry Boyle who joined the excursion at the last minute on Sunday.
He had been scanning the island with his binoculars from John O'Groats, and could not believe his eyes when he spotted a group of the killer whales heading west in the inner sound, the latest in a series of wildlife sightings which have become attractions in themselves for Pentland Firth travellers.
Jerry rushed onto the pier, donned the required waterproof gear and life jacket and boarded the RIB which took off to rendezvous with the pod near the beacon at the south-west end of Stroma where the passengers on the John O'Groats to Burwick ferry, Pentland Venture, were already enjoying the amazing spectacle. The Explorer shadowed the pod as it travelled slowly up the west side of Stroma towards the lighthouse, Jerry recording these remarkable pictures on the way.
Spokesman for NorthCoast Marine Adventures David Steele described it as "the best trip" he had experienced in the eight years the RIB has been in operation, and added: "To get so close to these magnificent predators was humbling and I think skipper Alistair Jack and I were as excited as the passengers. This has been a good year so far for cetacean sightings."
Describing the scene, he said: "The RIB followed the whales as they went very close to the rocks in only a few metres of water and we watched as the calves with typical youthful exuberance performed rolls and back flips.
"Near the north of the island, we came across hundreds of seals on the rocks and, at one point, it looked as if the whales might have been contemplating lunch as three split off from the main group and headed for the rocks.
"Many of the seals were obviously agitated, being put in the role of lunch, but a few, either through ignorance or stupidity, stayed in the water.
"The seals got a reprieve, though, as the whales seemed to lose interest and turned away at the last moment."
The pod eventually headed out into the Pentland Firth, one of the group performing a final encore to the remarkable marine display – it leapt almost right out of the water immediately behind the Explorer at the edge of the Swilkie tidal race before disappearing beneath the surface.
Meanwhile, National Whale and Dolphin Week which began on Saturday (June 21) had a reasonable start in Caithness.
Karen Munro made the first "spot", from the Thurso caravan park viewpoint, when she saw a minke whale, and was followed by a Thurso harbour porpoise sighting by Colin Bird, the Sea Watch Foundation group co-ordinator for north-east Scotland.
The porpoise turned out to be one of several sightings during the two-hour watch and included a group of four, accompanied by a small calf.
The next event was at Swiney Hill, Lybster, in much improved weather, when a Risso's dolphin was spotted, and as the watch concluded there came a report of a basking shark feeding at the Wick harbour entrance. Mr Bird raced to the scene in time to see the shark close to the North Bath.
Weather conditions took a turn for the worse on Sunday and two watches had to be cancelled. However, two further events will be held on Saturday (June 28), at Duncansby Head, at 1pm, and at Whaligoe Steps the following day starting at 5pm.
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