As signs of spring are beginning to appear and everyone is looking forward to the season ahead, we take a look back at what was a wonderful winter for watching.
©Western Isles Cruises
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We welcomed a number of wildlife tour providers and boat operators to our first ever Whale Track Boat Operator Event, sharing good practice and celebrating the contributions these companies make to marine science.
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2023 was a record-breaking year for marine conservation charity the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) and their Whale Track community of citizen scientists. For the first time in the Trusts 30-year history, over 10,000 sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks were reported by members of the public in one year.
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With the nights drawing in and the frost settling on the ground, winter is well and truly upon us, so we take a look back at a jam packed autumn of sightings.
©Zoltan Around the Globe
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Scotland’s west coast seas are a vitally important area for minke whales – with some of these spectacular but vulnerable marine mammals notching up Europe’s longest sighting histories of almost 30 years, research by the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust shows.
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As the summer season draws to a close, we take a look at the incredible number of sighting reports that our dedicated Whale Track community have submitted between June and August
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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
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National Whale and Dolphin Watch is an exciting annual marine mammal monitoring event, run by the Seawatch Foundation, that aims to get as many people as possible looking out to sea all around the UK, providing a snapshot of what is being seen in UK waters. Find out more about the event and how to get involved.
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Basking sharks, humpbacks, and Risso's that look like belugas, it's been a busy spring for sightings. Check out what's been reported in our spring sightings summary blog.
Image credit: Jimmy Hall
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Since we started writing these sightings summary reports last year, for the first time our most sighted species podium has a new species. Check out what has been seen this winter and what species have made it onto the podium.
Image credit: Elaine
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A walrus has been spotted hauled out on Cairn na Burgh Beag - a small island which forms part of the Treshnish Isles, off the NW coast of the Isle of Mull. Local creel fisherman, Lorn MacRae, spotted the massive creature basking on the shore in the winter sun.
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A lone bottlenose dolphin was reported off the coast of Appin, sparking investigation into who the individual may be. Thanks to the efforts of all involved, the dolphin was identified, deepening the understanding of this individual’s life story and shedding light on the movements of bottlenose dolphins around our coasts.
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Thanks to everyone still watching for whales and dolphins over autumn and winter and reporting what they’ve spotted - it’s fantastic to see the awesome encounters coming through Whale Track. From our favourite killer whale celebrities, John Coe and Aquarius, to the 100th humpback whale being added to the Scottish Humpback Whale ID Catalogue, it’s been an exciting couple of months for marine life in Scottish seas
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What have our Whale Track community been seeing this Summer?
We look back at some of the sighting reports we’ve received this summer, with a focus on the different species of whale recorded in Hebridean seas.
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National Whale and Dolphin Watch is an exciting annual marine mammal monitoring event, run by the Seawatch Foundation, that aims to get as many people as possible looking out to sea all around the UK, providing a snapshot of what is being seen in UK waters. Find out more about the event and how to get involved.
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What have our Whale Track community been seeing this Spring?
We look at some of the sighting reports we’ve been receiving this Spring, including long finned pilot whales, basking sharks and even a fin whale!
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When reporting your sighting, we ask you to identify the behaviours displayed by the animal you’re watching. But why is this important?
We've broken down what behaviours you may see and why it is so important to record them.
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.
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The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) are calling on members of the public to get involved with efforts to protect Scottish whales and dolphins by reporting what they’ve spotted and carrying out surveys from both land and sea. The appeal comes as the conservation charity launches its new and improved Whale Track community sightings app and website.
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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!
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