WATCH - spectacular shots of dolphins on the north coast

Dolphins put on a display of excellence on the Sea of Moyle between Ballycastle and Rathlin Island with Church Bay Fair Head and the Causeway Coast making a spectular backdrop. PICTURE STEVEN MCAULEY/MCAULEY MULTIMEDIA

They have been spotted from Rathlin Island, Ballycastle and along the Causeway coast as far as Lough Foyle. They can travel at over 30 miles per hour meaning they can be in Ballycastle and then in Port Ellen, Scotland, within one hour.

Press Photographer Steven McAuley from McAuley Multimedia and Marvi Kashkoush went dolphin hunting on the North coast on Monday on board RIB Boisterous - and they were not to be disappointed!

A pod was first spotted near Church Bay on Rathlin Island about one mile off shore.

Steven said: “It was a bit of a gamble as we have been keeping a eye out for them for a while with no success, as a matter of fact we were on Rathlin on Sunday and there was not one to be seen!

“However today conditions were excellent, the sea was calm and Marvi and myself decided to give it a go.

WWith the RIB you can quickly close in on them, first they appeared in ones and twos and then in multiple groups breaking the surface and putting on a excellent display.”

Rathlin Island residents have claimed they have seen them almost daily over the last number of weeks.

“They’re very active, they’re feeding hard on mackerel and seem to like the conditions on the North Coast this summer.

“It has been wonderful. Hundreds of people over the last couple of weeks have had a view from boats and from the shore of these wonderful animals.”