![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_YDeW6uBEz2o/S9KfIU44GEI/AAAAAAAAMqw/8zYXJ7qNyeI/100301IMG_0181.jpg)
Beneath the great rock fin of Sgeirean Bhuidhe at the Mull of Oa, a dorsal fin broke the surface of the sea.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_YDeW6uBEz2o/S9KfKS-rvFI/AAAAAAAAMq4/W1tG5O38g1w/100301IMG_0184.jpg)
In this wild place we were the sole witnesses...
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_YDeW6uBEz2o/S9KfLTL0VLI/AAAAAAAAMq8/Qs_GPrlMWxk/100301IMG_0186.jpg)
...of an amazing display by a pair of bottlenose dolphins.
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_YDeW6uBEz2o/S9KfNjrtDUI/AAAAAAAAMrE/R-vY1K37DF4/100301IMG_0189.jpg)
Sadly both were scarred...
![](http://lh6.ggpht.com/_YDeW6uBEz2o/S9KfOzZkzzI/AAAAAAAAMrI/_DhiYhUqSRI/100301IMG_0190.jpg)
...by small high rpm propellers. I have reported this siting to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. I hope they will be able to identify these individuals.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_YDeW6uBEz2o/S9KfQu12_cI/AAAAAAAAMrQ/ITfh7fwkJ9w/100301IMG_0193.jpg)
Their past experience did not put them off entertaining us.
![](http://lh3.ggpht.com/_YDeW6uBEz2o/S9KfRZPTguI/AAAAAAAAMrU/OnrfiZtpyGE/100301IMG_0198.jpg)
Their party trick was bring up rocks with kelp roots in their beaks...
![](http://lh5.ggpht.com/_YDeW6uBEz2o/S9KfSOKetDI/AAAAAAAAMrY/Xhjfli-0s-8/100301IMG_0201.jpg)
...tossing them in the air then whacking them with their tails.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_YDeW6uBEz2o/S414wGo6D7I/AAAAAAAALyA/coSb93Owi7k/100301IMG_0202.jpg)
They dived beneath each of us in turn and they surfaced so close that we could have touched them. Clearly they were very curious about sea kayaks. I don't suppose they see much mid week winter sea kayaking in these parts! I am pretty sure that we have seen these particular dolphins before, off the southern end of Shuna and to the east of Cara.
![](http://lh4.ggpht.com/_YDeW6uBEz2o/S9KfTNrhBdI/AAAAAAAAMrc/AACozeC_7fs/100301IMG_0210.jpg)
Just amazing!
PS there are more dolphin photos over on Misha Somerville's blog. In one of Misha's photos there are three dolphins though I thought there were only two!