Rescue teams are watching and waiting to see what the whales do next
Animal welfare experts have said a pod of more than 60 whales at risk of beaching in the Western Isles are out of immediate danger.
Latest reports from the sea loch suggest the whales have now moved out into open water.
Experts said it was possible they could move back into the loch at any time but there was currently no sign of the whales there.
The pod was last seen in the loch at 0930 BST.
The whales were first spotted near Loch Carnan, off South Uist, on Thursday afternoon.
It was feared the whales could die in a mass stranding.
Earlier, rescuers who monitored the whales overnight said they had “calmed down” and had made their way into deeper water at the centre of the loch.
It was hoped they would be able to navigate their way back out to sea.
About 20 of the whales were spotted with head injuries.
It is thought the injuries may have been caused by the whales’ attempts to strand themselves on the rocky foreshore of the sea loch.
Pilot whales normally prefer deep water but come inshore in search of squid, which is their main food source.
Last week a pilot whale died after getting stuck in the Sullom Voe in Shetland.
The Scottish SPCA earlier said it did not look like any more whales had broken away from the big pod but added that there was a large coastline to search.
Sick and injured whales are thought to beach themselves to die.
However, at times, dying whales have been followed to shore by healthy animals.
Conservationists have also suggested the whales may have got lost.
Rescuers were hoping to put inflatable pontoons in place for refloating any whales which become stranded.
On Friday, the pod was seen moving back and forth from the shore and rescuers said the animals were “very vocal”, which they said may be a sign of distress.
Members of the British Divers Marine Life Rescue have been at the scene.
In October a pod of pilot whales were in danger in the same sea loch.
Days later, 33 whales, thought to be the same group, were discovered dead on a beach in County Donegal.
Pilot whales can grow up to about 20ft (6.1m) and are among the most common marine mammals.
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