Sea kayaker in close encounters

Tom Pendrey is a third of the way through his expedition

A sea kayaker who is paddling the length of the Western Isles has had close encounters with rare birds of prey and marine mammals.

Tom Pendrey, from Barra, is attempting the journey while creating a restricted carbon footprint - a measure of damage caused by travel on the environment.

A third of the way into the trip, he has seen a baby porpoise and watched a sea eagle being mobbed by seagulls.

Mr Pendrey is using a solar panel to charge electrical equipment.

It was bought with funding from the John Muir Trust.

The sea kayak guide said: "The sea eagle was the first I've seen so I was pleased to see it.

"I also saw a baby porpoise. It was very small and seemed to be following a shoal of fish."

He also spotted a larger porpoise from his kayak.

"I've pretty much been on my own and have just come across the odd fishing boat," he said. "Being alone was pretty intimating at first, but I've got used to it.

"When I'm guiding I usually follow the coast and inlets quiet closely, but to make up time I've had to make bigger crossings of open waters which has been a challenge."

Mr Pendrey expects to complete his expedition by the end of the month.