Posts in Silurian
Surprise sighting during second winter survey!

Our winter survey programme on board Silurian, our research vessel, has been running since 2019, aiming to understand more about the year-round presence of whales, dolphins and porpoises in Hebrides seas.

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Not one, but two species of dolphin encountered on our first winter survey of 2024!

Our winter survey programme on board Silurian has been running since 2019, trying to understand more about the year-round presence of marine vertebrates within the Hebridean seas. these surveys are important given that before the start of the programme, little winter data existed for the region. below, the team onboard the first winter survey of this year, give an update…

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Listening for Conservation

Many of us have little comprehension of how noisy the aquatic world is, you’d be forgiven for assuming it’s a peaceful environment…it’s anything but! Our seas and oceans are a cacophony of sound and getting increasingly noisier, as human activity intensifies the soundscape.

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For the love of long-term monitoring

Long-term monitoring is the foundation of effective conservation. At HWDT we talk about long-term monitoring a lot but what is it and why is it such an important part of wildlife conservation?  

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Silurian Season Highlights: 2023 Achievements

Over 90 people joined an expedition during the 2023 field season. Trained in data collection and survey protocol, these citizen scientists joined a community of people - stretching back over 20 years - helping to improve the understanding of whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks off Scotland’s west coast and safeguard them for future generations.

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Dolphins galore on sixteenth survey of the year!

The Crew of our sixteenth research expedition surveyed The Minch and Sound of Rasaay, encountering four species of cetacean in their week-long trip. Unfortunately, the trip was cut short due to a mechanical issue but not before the team were inundated with dolphins! Read all about their time on board Silurian

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Whaley wet weather for the fifteenth research expedition!

The crew of our fifteenth research expedition of the year left Mallaig and monitored water east of the Isle of Skye. Despite challenging weather, the fantastic team of citizen scientists who joined the crew onboard encountered six species of marine mammals across the seven days.

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All in a weeks work for our First Mate Jake!

Silurian is not just a research vessel, she’s home to the hundreds of volunteers who join us each year and doubles up as a floating classroom, welcoming on board school children to be inspired by their local marine environment. Our First Mate Jake has been giving our hardworking vessel some TLC.

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The Better Biodiversity Data project on tour: learning about marine mammal recording

Christine Tansey, the Better Biodiversity Data (BBD) project Partnership Officer from the National Biodiversity Network Trust recently joined Silurian on a trip from Ullapool back home to Tobermory. With a background in terrestrial conservation and recording, this opportunity gave Christine an insight into the protocols used and challenges faced when collecting and processing cetacean sightings and acoustic data.

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Killer whales kick-start fourteenth research expedition

The crew of our fourteenth research expedition surveyed the Sea of the Hebrides, encountering four species of cetacean in their week-long trip. One the first afternoon the team were surprised to sight the West Coast Community killer whales travelling past Ardnamurchan Point. Read all about their time on board Silurian here…

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Saving the best til last (day) on board our thirteenth research expedition

The crew of our thirteenth research expedition of the year left Tobermory and monitored the waters of the Southern Hebrides. The fantastic team of citizen scientists who joined the crew on board encountered 5 species of marine mammal across 101 sightings during the nine-days.

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On the trail of On Sonorous Seas

From Tobermory to Iona, and now Lochmaddy, the immersive On Sonorous Seas has been exhibited at a number of Hebridean Whale Trail sites. The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust was thrilled to be a partner in On Sonorous Seas and that other communities on the west coast will experience its impact.

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Lunge-feeding minke whales wow the team during twelfth expedition

The crew of our twelfth research expedition of the year left Tobermory and circumnavigated the Isles of Barra and Skye. The fantastic team of citizen scientists who joined the crew on board encountered nine species of marine animal across 12 days.

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Dolphin whisperers and minke magnets on our second teen expedition

In this blog the teens from our second teen trip of the year recount their experience surveying Hebridean Seas and the fun times they had joining us onboard our research vessel, Silurian.

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How do we gather data? NatureScot join us to find out

Rona Sinclair, Mobile Species Advisor for Nature Scot and funding manager for our cetacean monitoring project, joined us on board Silurian to learn about how data is collected.

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Dips, dolphins and lots of creels on our first teen trip of 2023

Every year, we offer dedicated teen research expeditions, providing young people with the skills, and experience of being a marine scientist on board a working research yacht. In this blog the teens recount their experience surveying Hebridean Seas.

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250 animals logged during ninth research expedition

Our ninth team of citizen scientists left Tobermory to survey the Sea of the Hebrides, circumnavigating the Isles of Tiree and Mull. They sighted a total of 250 animals across 7 days. Read all about their experiences here

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Bottlenose dolphins at breakfast during eighth research expedition of 2023

The team joining our eighth research expedition left Tobermory to monitor Hebridean seas onboard our research vessel - Silurian. Six species of marine mammal were recorded across the seven fin-tastic days of survey.

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White-beaked dolphins recorded at the northern reach of study area

The team joining our seventh research expedition left Ullapool to monitor the waters off the west coast of Scotland. six species of marine mammal were recorded, as the team reached the most northern point of our research area.

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