Ecoventures, Cromarty

As many of you know September is probably our most favourite month on the water and today couldn't have been better. Idyllic spotting conditions, glorious light and the magic trio of Dolphins, Porpoise and Minke. Including two very beautiful little newborns :-)

A very welcome calmer day on the water today with some great sightings of Minkes in amongst masses of feeding birds! Some Porpoise and Dolphins also put in an appearance :-)

These next few weeks are a lovely time of year to be out on the water with lots of new little fins starting to appear. We had not one, not two but three little 'dinky's' alongside today! And already their little characters are shining through. One in particular looks like it's going to be quite a handful ;-)

Some of the Minkes we've been lucky enough to encounter this week :-)

Lovely to wake to a calm morning today, especially after all the rough, unsettled weather last week.and the cancelled trips yesterday. We knew there were Minkes around but it has just been too choppy to spot them the last few days. Today's conditions however could not have been better with Dolphins, Porpoise and Minkes! And the lucky 1pm trip even got to enjoy all three. Doesn't happen very often :-)

Happiness and freedom personfied.....

Just who is watching who.......?

After some food, time to play....! PIcked up this lovely active group yesterday.

A most lovely way to end the day yesterday out on a private charter with long time 'Sundance' adopter Sharon and her sister Barbran. They also very kindly invited along Whale and Dolphin Conservation Field Officer Charlie Phillips and his wife Susan. Great to share some fantastic sightings with them all.

Some of the recent (unbelievably!) calm conditions and good water clarity have yielded some quite spectacular colours and underwater glimpses of the Dolphins......

'Moonlight ' with a bit of a mouthful!

We spotted our first little new born of the season last week but up until now it has only been very distant and brief glimpses. Today however Mum decided to bring her new addition a little bit closer! Always a lovely time of year when we start to see these tiny little fins appearing :-)

'Moonlight' in the sunlight......! Here she is enjoying an early morning snack during one of last weeks amazingly calm trips.

Well a heatwave can't last forever..... and after yesterday's incredible 30 degrees, weather conditions returned a little more to normal out on the water today! Massive thanks to all those booked on who braved the wind and rain regardless and got to share some amazing sightings . Not the best conditions for photography as you can see but lots of lovely active, groups of dolphins around.

Some pics from the last week on the water! Suffice to say it has been a great spell, both for weather and Dolphins. Little bit quieter for fins yesterday but we did catch a glimpse of our first little newborn of the season :-)

Double trouble! These two little calves were having an absolute ball together. No matter how many thousands of encounters we have, it is always a delight to be able to watch and enjoy their playfulness. Wild and free where they should be with a whole Firth to explore :-)

Yet more blue skies and Dolphins, we could get so used to having a proper Summer like this ;-)