Breaching minke whale steals the show during ninth expedition
THE NINTH RESEARCH EXPEDITION OF THE 2022 FIELD SEASON PROVED EXCEPTIONAL! A BIT OF SUMMER SUN FINALLY ARRIVED AND A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPECIES WERE RECORDED. ALTHOUGH THE MINKE WHALE STOLE THE SHOW - WITH A SPECIAL SIGHTING OF A BREACHING ANIMAL. HERE CRAIG MACKIE, SCIENCE OFFICER ON BOARD, SUMMARISES THE EXPEDITION…
DAY 1
It was the first day and the forecast was looking favourable, with light winds predicted all week hopefully providing the best opportunities for sighting whales, dolphins and porpoises (collectively known as cetaceans) during the adventure to come. The water around Tobermory harbour was calm and reflective, causing excitement amongst the crew and volunteers for our voyage ahead. We left the coloured houses that litter Tobermory Main Street behind as the boat headed west towards Ardnamurchan lighthouse…it wasn’t long before the porpoises and seals showed face. We continued out over towards the north end of Coll before heading down the coast towards Loch Breachacha, where we would anchor for the night, overlooked by the castle on the shore.
DAY 2
The next morning started off with a bang! Fins were spotted almost as soon as we lifted anchor when a small group Risso’s dolphin surfaced around the boat. A young juvenile was amongst the pod, which was keen to check us out with regular spy hops.
We continued through Gunna Sound and turned northwards, persisting on our track for around an hour when suddenly, the seas around us came to life. Fins pierced through the rippled water and blows erupted around the boat. Harbour porpoises, common dolphins and 6 minke whales were frantically feeding around the area much to the pleasure both the volunteers and the crew. Everyone enjoyed the spectacle before we moved on and headed north to the Isle of Canna, where we would settle at anchor that evening. An exciting day was summarised beautifully by one of our volunteers who had this to say about the experience.
“Risso’s dolphins sound like old dogs. And you love them like that. Instantly and fully, like the sea is running by you too. Or through you. Rinsing away all the not-animal you’ve tried to become. Well, I don’t know about you. But we had a collective oh yeah. It’s more than that, though, and impossible to describe their grey rocky skin and pancake faces and slow rolls with show tails without being sappy enough to say the air changes. When it’s over, everyone’s eyes smile and show themselves. We feel each other in the throat and nose, all of it swelling and opening. Then it’s time to log the other kind of swell, birds and boats, visibility and state and glare.
We all change shifts a time or two before we roll into the sea of everything. The funniest part of the sea of everything was watching people try to take pictures with five minke whales, twelve dolphins and seventeen porpoises all swimming every which way. Even under the boat. Everyone looked like they were playing tambourines rather than snapping shots. Also, we were trying to eat Alan’s lovely breakfast rolls. Squealing, laughing, gasping, biting, switching sides, switching hands, dropping things, jaws, astounded because there were just more there, and more there, and more there.
The cetaceans blow by horse whinnying, much calmer despite the feast they must be having to have met there all together in the sea of everything and stayed to hang out with us so long.
Even the rain couldn’t bring us down after that. Back now with hot chocolates and teas. Warmer than before.”
DAY 3
After the previous days excitement, we were all giddy with anticipation for what the seas of the Hebrides would gift us today. As we headed westwards along the northern cliffs of Canna we were once again rewarded…a giant splash was spotted a few hundred metres from the boat, a breaching minke whale! The splashes continued as the animal leapt from the water no less than 20 times around the area before moving on towards Rhum.
We continued our journey north before finally stopping for the night in Loch Brachadale on the southwestern side of the isle of Skye.
DAY 4
Time really does fly when you’re having fun. Without noticing, we’d completed half of the expedition, so the vessel turned around to head back south through the Sound of Rhum, where minkes, dolphins and porpoise were recorded along the way. Coming out the other side of the Sound, the clouds parted and the sun beat down on the decks for what felt like the first time this season. There is very little in the world better than being on deck in shorts and t-shirt whilst watching cetaceans - everyone on board was quick to pounce on the opportunity to get out of their heavy waterproofs and enjoy the weather. We continued southeast following the cliffs of Rhum before settling down off the coast of Muck. The volunteers took the chance to get ashore and explore the island and have a swim in the clear waters of Galanach Bay.
DAY 5
Suddenly, the final day was upon us and we would have to make the journey back home, heading south from Muck. It wasn’t long before the excitement started with Manx shearwaters, gannets and kittiwakes feeding in the thousands. Suddenly, fins started showing in amongst the seabirds and feeding frenzies were happening everywhere. The entire passage home was graced with whales, dolphins and porpoises - no less than 19 minke were spotted! We finally rounded the corner of Ardnamurchan Point and ventured into the Sound, several more porpoises and a sea eagle spotted before we finally made it back to Tobermory Bay - rounding off a very eventful and successful expedition.
192 nautical miles of the Hebridean seas were surveyed over the week long expedition. Thank you so much to volunteers Natasha, Jess, Cora, Katherine, Ella and Marilyn for joining us on board Silurian to collect crucial data, helping deepen our understanding of Scottish whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Showing the track lines of the area surveyed during HWDT 09
THANKS ALSO TO NATURESCOT FOR SUPPORTING THE DATA COLLECTION ON BOARD SILURIAN.