Scottish seas are being dubbed "cetacean soup" after a surge in whale and dolphin sightings.
The National Trust for Scotland's Arran Ranger Service has provided some insight into why they've been seeing an influx of various species of whales, dolphins and gulls in the area.
Kilbrannan Sound and the Firth of Clyde have been prime spots for those on the water to catch a glimpse of fins and tails, as humpback and minke whales have been seen, as well as common dolphins.
Gannets and gulls have been flocking to the area in their numbers also, and the warmer seas might have something to do with it, the rangers have revealed.
The NTS Rangers on Arran look after the environment around Brodick Country Park and Goatfell.
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A statement detailing the surge in sightings posted on social media read: "The past week around Arran there has been amazing sightings of humpback whales, common dolphins and minke whales.
"Visitors on ferry crossings have been treated to sightings more often seen on whale tours!
"So why has the Kilbrannan Sound and Firth of Clyde become like Cetacean Soup? A clue might be in the huge rafts of gulls seen off Pirnmill, jumping fish seen from the shore, and small copepods seen from Lochranza pontoon….food!
"It might be that the warmer seas this summer has resulted in more plankton, with copepods feeding on the plankton, small fish on the copepods and shoals of mackerel arriving too.
"It takes a lot of fish and copepods to feed a humpback, but we have at least 2 feeding off Arran. The still seas have allowed spectacular sightings with breaching whales and leaping dolphins but the most memorable thing will be the sound of the whale blows from across the water!"
The team also posted various photos of the sightings, including one of a CalMac vessel they joked had turned from a ferry trip to a whale-watching tour.
