Posts tagged Hebrides

Whale Track Stories: Whales of Tobermory

Local boat operator, Lyndsey McLaren, tells us about the best month of 2024, that she will never forget.

©AJ MacLeod

Sightings, Guest ArticlesSadie Gorvett10 October 2024marine mammals, what can you see, scotland, what can i see in Scotland, hebrides, Hebrides, wildlife, wildlife watching, minke whales, whale track stories, whale track, sightings, coastguard, helicopter

Whale Track Stories: A moment we’ll never forget

Lauren, one of our residential volunteers this season, shares a moment, her and fellow volunteer, Kai, will never forget from their first day with the Trust.

©Alexa Kershaw

Sightings, Guest ArticlesSadie Gorvett10 July 2024marine mammals, what can you see, scotland, what can i see in Scotland, hebrides, Hebrides, wildlife, wildlife watching, minke whales, whale track stories, whale track, sightings, coastguard, helicopter

Whale Track: NTS Culzean Castle Community Event

This July, join HWDT and The National Trust for Scotland at Culzean Castle and Country Park to find out what whales and dolphins can be spotted in your area and how you can get involved in helping us deepen our understanding about these animals by conducting a ‘watch from land’ using whale Track.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett4 July 2024Silurian, sightings, open boat, research vessel, research, talk, citizenscience, science talk, Hebrides, Scotland, get involved, education, floating classroom, schoolsComment

Join a Teen Team expedition for free!

Thanks to generous sponsorship, HWDT are delighted to offer two free spaces to young adults living on the west coast of Scotland. If you are aged 16 or 17 and have an interest in the marine environment, apply today to join us for free on an expedition running 04 - 10 August 2024.

Whale Track: Clyde Community Watch Events

This May, HWDT are visiting the Clyde to run a series of Whale Track watch events. Join us to find out what whales and dolphins can be spotted in the Clyde and get involved in helping us deepen our understanding about these animals by conducting a ‘watch from land’ using Whale Track.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett29 April 2024Silurian, sightings, open boat, research vessel, research, talk, citizenscience, science talk, Hebrides, Scotland, get involved, education, floating classroom, schoolsComment

HWDT’s Floating Classroom to visit Mull schools for the first time in 10 years

This April, thanks to support from The Waterfall Fund and Baillie Gifford, we will be setting sail around Mull to welcome schools aboard our research vessel, Silurian. HWDT’s education team are also inviting local communities to join them aboard during our drop-in open boat events.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett10 April 2024Silurian, sightings, open boat, research vessel, research, talk, citizenscience, science talk, Hebrides, Scotland, get involved, education, floating classroom, schoolsComment

Whale Track Stories: Zoe’s unusual tip off

Zoe Stevenson, a member of the Whale Track community who reports sightings whilst working with Hebrides Cruises, shares some highlight lunge feeding minke sightings, including one, thanks to a rather unusual tip off

Coastguard exercise © Zoe Stevenson

Sightings, Guest ArticlesSadie Gorvett29 March 2024marine mammals, what can you see, scotland, what can i see in Scotland, hebrides, Hebrides, wildlife, wildlife watching, minke whales, whale track stories, whale track, sightings, coastguard, helicopter

Whale Track Stories: Lynsey's memorable day

Lynsey Bland, a member of the Whale Track community, shares a sighting from a particularly memorable autumn day.

Minke whale © Lynsey Bland

Sightings, Guest ArticlesSadie Gorvett18 December 2023marine mammals, marine education, what can you see, scotland, what can i see in Scotland, hebrides, Hebrides, wildlife, wildlife watching, minke whales

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.

Whale Track Stories: Hannah's basking shark highlights

Hannah Mcvicar, who reports what sea creatures she’s spotted through Whale Track, shares some memorable sightings from this season, including an unexpected encounter with 8 basking sharks!

Basking shark image © Hannah Mcvicar

Sightings, Guest ArticlesSadie Gorvett26 September 2023basking shark, basking sharks, basking shark scotland, marine mammals, marine education, what can you see, scotland, what can i see in Scotland, where to see basking sharks, hebrides, Hebrides, responsible tourism, wildlife, wildlife watching, good behaviour

Guess who's back...Knobble the minke whale!

Knobble - the famous minke whale - returns to the Hebrides, highlighting how important the region is for these animals, who migrate each year to feed in the rich waters off Scotland’s west coast

All Aboard! Local communities invited to come aboard and explore our research vessel, Silurian

HWDT’s education team are inviting local communities to join them aboard our research vessel, Silurian.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett19 April 2023Silurian, sightings, open boat, research vessel, research, talk, citizenscience, science talk, Hebrides, Scotland, get involvedComment

Have your say on Highly Protected Marine Areas

The Scottish Government are currently running a public consultation to seek your views on Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). HWDT will be responding to the consultation and we hope that all stakeholders will take the opportunity to voice their views, so that the best possible outcome can be reached for whales, dolphins, porpoises and people.

In the News, Science & ResearchLauren Hartny-Mills16 February 2023whales, dolphins, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, Scotland, Hebrides, cetaceans, marine protected areas, MPA, consultation response, highly protected marine areas, have your say, porpoises

HWDT welcomes new Fieldwork Research Manager

Meet Jenny - our new Fieldwork Research Manager, but she’s no stranger to Silurian or HWDT. Jenny has been part of the team for a while, most recently as our Exhibitions Officer in our Discovery Centre, while providing relief cover for the Science Officer on board Silurian.

Science & ResearchMorven Summers17 November 2022HWDT, HWDT staff, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, marine wildlife, marine conservation, Silurian, bottlenose dolphins, Hebrides, Sea Life Surveys

Gaels and whales: exploring the connection

This week the Royal National Mòd is underway; a wonderful celebration of the Gaelic culture here in Scotland. Below, Coinneach MacFhraing explores the connection between the Gaels and the sea creatures which inhabit our waters, by sharing his knowledge of the place names associated with whales and dolphins.

Guest ArticlesMorven Summers19 October 2022Gaelic, Gaelic Development, gaelic place names, Gaels, whales, dolphins, Scottish place names, Island place names, scotland, Scotland, Hebrides, Hebridean place names, Locations in the Hebrides

*PRESS RELEASE* Free Spaces for Teenagers on board August Whale Research Expedition Cruise on Scotland’s West Coast

John Coe and Aquarius do the Rounds

Catching sight of killer whales in the wild is an experience people will never forget; to see a massive black dorsal fin break the surface is truly awe inspiring. Recently, excitement was at a high when west coast celebrities - John Coe and Aquarius - were reported around Mull and Skye, with the pair of old bulls staying in the area for an extended period of time.

Second Research Expedition Records 7 Species!

Our second research expedition of the summer field season was exceptional - recording a total of seven marine mammal species, including killer whales, John Coe and Aquarius of the West Coast Community! Hannah, our Science Officer on board who leads the data collection programme shares her experience

Whale Track Winter Sightings Round-Up

Check out what’s been reported over the winter by our wonderful Whale Track community. Recording whale, dolphin and porpoise movements over winter months is crucial to building a year-round understanding of how these creatures use our waters and document any changes over time. A huge thank you to all our Whale Track reporters for helping undertake this vital work!

'Seasonal Visitors' Encountered on the First Winter Expedition of the Season

Craig Mackie gives us an update on the first winter expedition of 2021, where a couple of ‘summer visitors’ were recorded. The winter survey programme, funded by Nature Scot, is helping us improve our year-round understanding of Hebridean marine environment

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