Posts tagged Scotland

Our popular floating classroom school visits provide primary school children the opportunity to jump aboard our research vessel, Silurian, experiencing what it’s like to live and work as a marine mammal scientist.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett16 October 2024Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, Scotland, education, outdoor education, outdoor learning, floating classroom, Siluiran

Hundreds of people join ferry watching event in Scotland and contribute to marine conservation

The ferry routes operated by Caledonian MacBrayne (CalMac) off Scotland’s west coast are fantastic platforms for spotting wildlife, journeying through stretches of water rich in marine life.

Events & Outreach, SightingsMorven Summers13 September 2024Wild Discovery, Mammal, Mammal Society, events, CalMac, Ferry, Scotland, ferry watching, Things to do Scotland, whale watching, whale watching in Scotland, Isle of Lewis, Outer Hebrides, Wildlife, wildlife watching

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

“Sighting!…No…Exciting!”

This September we set sail to Shieldaig and Gairloch to invite 4 schools, never before visited, aboard our research vessel and floating classroom, Silurian. Our Education and Sightings Officer, Sadie, shares the fun had by pupils, teachers and crew.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett10 May 2024Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, Scotland, education, outdoor education, outdoor learning, floating classroom, Siluiran

Harbour porpoises respond to chronic and repeated seal scarer noise from aquaculture

Data gathered during research expeditions on our research vessel, Silurian, has shown that harbour porpoise are negatively impacted by Acoustic Deterrent Devices, which are used to deter seals at aquaculture sites. Here, Dr Charlotte Findlay, details the research she led to better understand the impact on this species.

Science & Research, Silurian, Guest ArticlesLauren Hartny-Mills7 May 2024acoustic, acoustic recordings, porpoise, what is harming whales and dolphins, scotland, hebrides, ADD, fish farms, Scotland, aquaculture, impacts of fish farming, harbour porpoise, underwater noise, noise pollution, west coast of scotland

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

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.

"Best experience ever!"

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett10 October 2023Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, Scotland, education, outdoor education, outdoor learning, floating classroom, Siluiran

“I found my job… working on this boat!

From 24 - 28 April, our education team jumped aboard Silurian, our research vessel, to transform her into our popular floating classroom. Our Education and Sightings Officer, Sadie, shares the fun everyone had - not least the pupils visiting but the HWDT team on board Silurian.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett10 May 2023Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, Scotland, education, outdoor education, outdoor learning, floating classroom, Siluiran

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

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

“I didn’t know what a stinky minke was but now it’s my favourite whale”

For the first time since pre-pandemic, we welcomed aboard five schools in and around Tobermory, Salen and Strontian to learn first-hand about the amazing whales, dolphins and porpoises that can be seen locally.

Silurian, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett28 September 2022Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, Scotland, Gaelic, education, outdoor education, outdoor learning, floating classroom, Gaelic-medium education, Siluiran

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.

Public consultation on UK Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy

The Scottish Government is currently running a public consultation and is seeking your views on a new UK Dolphin and Porpoise Conservation Strategy. The strategy aims to support the conservation of nine of the most commonly seen cetaceans in UK waters, and now includes minke whales.

Last winter survey of the season ends on a high

The sun shone down as we set sail for the last winter survey of the season. Six volunteers from the local community joined us on board as we surveyed waters to the north of Mull

Silurian, Survey SummariesRebecca Dudley9 April 2020Silurian, volunteer holidays, whales, dolphins, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, survey, Scotland, Hebrides, cetaceans

Battling through snow and hail on our February winter survey!

Wild weather extended into February as we set out for our latest winter survey. We encountered all types of weather as we surveyed the waters to the east of the Isle of Mull, with snow showers and hail storms broken up by sunny spells.

Silurian, Survey SummariesRebecca Dudley2 April 2020Silurian, volunteer holidays, whales, dolphins, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, survey, Scotland, Hebrides, cetaceans

December Winter Survey Update

2019 marks a very special year for HWDT as we surveyed the Hebridean seas every single month for the first time in our history! Recently Silurian completed surveys in November and December with magic minke whale and Christmas killer whale encounters!

Silurian, Survey SummariesRebecca Dudley20 February 2020Silurian, volunteer holidays, whales, dolphins, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, survey, Scotland, Hebrides, cetaceans

Was that really January? Silurian basks in sunshine during last winter survey

We couldn’t believe our luck as we scanned the flat calm seas whilst bathed in sunshine during our latest winter survey. Sunglasses were a must and some members of team team had to get the sunscreen out!

Silurian, Survey SummariesRebecca Dudley30 January 2020Silurian, volunteer holidays, whales, dolphins, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, HWDT, survey, Scotland, Hebrides, cetaceans

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