A BOAT skipper captured these amazing pictures of some playful humpback whales.
A pod of seven animals surged from the water at Tuimpan Head, off the north-east coast of Lewis in the Western Isles.
Humpback whales were once rare but their appearances have been more frequent in recent years.
The stunning pictures were taken during a 90-minute cruise run by Hebridean Whale Cruises.
Boat skipper Nick Davies, who took the pictures, said: “I’ve been doing this for 21 years and in the first 18 of those I only saw two humpback whales, but in the last three years I’ve seen at least 30.
“We’re getting more and more humpback whales in our waters since they’ve realised that whaling has stopped around here.
“It’s always a treat to see them up close.”
Experts do not know exactly why whales breach the surface but some believe it may be a form of communication.
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