Killer End to our 2019 Summer Surveys
OUR SURVEYS COLLECT DATA ON WHALES, DOLPHINS, PORPOISES AND BASKING SHARKS IN HEBRIDEAN SEAS. EDUCATION MANAGER, PIPPA, SHARES HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR LATEST TEEN Research EXPEDITION ON BOARD SILURIAN…
STARTING WITH A BANG
On our first evening aboard we took a break from training to watch a firework display over Tobermory bay. It was beautiful, with amazing reflections in the still water of the harbour and the town’s lights twinkling behind.
MINKE MONDAY
The following morning our six enthusiastic teens completed initial training and ready and raring to set sail we ventured out and around Ardnamurchan point. Along the way the team were kept busy logging sightings of seals and harbour porpoises. To our excitement, a minke whale was spotted and we slowed to get a better look and photos for identification. The minke was obliging and we had a lovely encounter as the whale surfaced around Silurian giving everyone a great view.
SCOTTISH SCENES
That evening we anchored in Loch Moidart and went ashore to explore the castle. As the sun began to set, bats flew over our heads chasing insects and we heard the distinctive roar of stags rutting in the distant hills.
Conditions during this trip were just right for surveying the waters around the Small Isles and the Sound of Sleat, putting us in a good position to cover new ground, previously unsurveyed this year. This led us to beautiful and remote anchorages including Loch Harport and Isleornsay (Isle of Skye) as well as the picturesque sandy bay, Camas an Lighe on Ardnamurchan peninsula.
AN ENCOUNTER OF THE STINKY KIND
We had a couple of fleeting glimpses of common dolphins, sprinting through the white caps on an undisclosed mission and heard the distant whistles and calls of the pod communicating. To our surprise, we also detected the unmistakable foul aroma of a stinky minke, but unfortunately, despite our attempts we didn’t see the whale surface due to a challenging combination of glare and swell.
FINE DINING
During the expedition we ate like kings, with warming lunches prepared by HWDT crew and an impressive range of evening meals cooked by the teens themselves. We were also treated to cake on a couple of occasions, baked by our younger crew members, during their break time whilst we were underway.
THE EDIBLE GLITTER, ON THE CHERRY, ON THE ICING, ON THE CAKE
What better way to finish our last summer research survey of 2019, than with a rare sighting of two killer whales, John Coe and Aquarius from the West Coast Community. All of the stars aligned for us that morning, as we set out on our last day to survey the waters towards Coll and take advantage of the good weather. When the call went out, that killer whales had been sighted from the mast, excitement rippled across the boat. Even from a few miles away, the huge black fins rising out of the water were unmistakable.
IN THE PRESENCE OF ORCA
It was such a privilege to spend time in the presence of John Coe and Aquarius. John Coe’s dorsal fin is so crooked and so distinctive with the big notch at its base. Their huge bulk was amazing and yet they move so gracefully, cutting through the water with ease. The sound of their powerful blows as they swam closer to Silurian, sent shivers of excitement running down our spines, and there was a real sense of wonder on board as we observed them going about their lives. Killer whales can move very quickly when they want to, but the pair didn’t seem in a hurry to be anywhere, instead travelling slowly, spending time at the surface interacting with each other and socialising. Perfect for us to turn the engine off for a time, minimising the impact of our presence, whist we admired them from a distance.
I’m sure the memories and emotions from that day will last with us all forever. Many people dream of encounters like these and we all felt very blessed to experience such a magic moment.
THANK YOU’s
Emma, Brian, Caren and I would like to extend a huge thank you to the citizen scientists that sailed with us on board. You all accepted and supported each other, working really well as a team. It was fantastic how dedicated and enthusiastic you were about all aspects of the expedition. We couldn’t collect this vital data without you!
We would also like to thank data partner, Sea Life Surveys for radioing Silurian and sharing John Coe and Aquarius’s location as soon as they encountered them, for this we are very grateful.
All in all, a super successful survey to end the season on, and with such a killer end!