A number of Edinburgh rowers were treated to an amazing encounter with a pod of dolphins while out in the Firth of Forth.
The Queensferry Rowing club had braced the chilly weather for an excursion on Friday, only to be hugely rewarded when they "noticed some fins in the distance."
Rowing up river with four rowers and a skipper, captain Marianne Sandison told Edinburgh Live they had been approaching the bridges at around 9.15am when the dolphins revealed themselves.
Rowing around Scotland for over ten years, she explained that they had only ever seen a pod of dolphins a "handful of times."
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She added: "The water was reasonably calm, with little wind. Maria van Dalen, our crew's skipper first noticed fins in the distance just after we passed under the Queensferry Crossing.
"We decided to row a little closer, mindful that we didn't want to disturb them, but the dolphins decided they were keen to check us out too and soon surrounded the boat.
"The pod of four treated us to a wonderful display, surfacing and circling us for about 10 minutes. They moved further up river, though we could still track their fins and also spot them but the small flock of gulls accompanying the dolphins, presumably after the same fish they were feeding on."
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Managing to capture the incredible moment on camera, Marianne explained that seeing dolphins so far up river is very uncommon, making the experience all the more special.
She continued: "We never tire of seeing the grey seals and sea birds we share our home waters with. Seeing this pod of dolphins, later identified as common dolphins, which are not terribly common in this part of the Forth, was a real treat though!
"We felt very privileged that the dolphins chose to spend some time so close to the skiff, giving us a really good view.
"Barbara Agnew was able to get some nice photos, while Anne Flannery captured a nice little video of the dolphins around the boat. Crew member Sharon Homan-James and I just held our breath in wonder.
"Cetaceans seem to be an increasing common sight on the Forth, which is great news. We're all feeling lucky to have seen them so far up on the busy river, and I think Club has only spotted dolphins a handful of times in our ten year history."
