Sea of the Hebrides - Oban to Barra

Aboard the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry the Isle of Lewis for nearly five hours and with most of that time spent crossing the Sea of the Hebrides on our way to Barra, it provided the usual ideal opportunity for an impromptu sea watch.

The most numerous species where Manx shearwaters with an estimated 500 seen, spread over most of the journey once we had left the Sound of Mull. 

From about halfway out we started seeing storm petrels pattering across the water. In the end we saw about 40.

Amazing that these tiny birds which are barely the size of a starling can be completely at home out here.Other birds included gannets, arctic terns and plenty of auks with a handful of puffins.