Posts tagged sightings

Whale Track Stories: Minke Madness in the Minch

Recording excursions using Whale Track provides vital effort-based data on the presence and absence of whales in our waters. Andy Lawson, a member of the Whale Track community, shares his incredible excursion on aboard the MV Loch Seaforth ferry.

Sightings, Guest ArticlesSadie Gorvett22 September 2025marine 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

John Coe and Aquarius: a much-awaited reunion

The West Coast Community inspires a strong connection with not only those that have been lucky enough to see them but everyone who knows their incredible story. In our most recent blog we reflect on a roller coaster of a year for John Coe and Aquarius.

©Hebrides Cruises, Indy Greene

SightingsSadie Gorvett17 September 2025marine mammals, what can you see, scotland, what can i see in Scotland, Hebrides, wildlife, wildlife watching, whale track, sightings, West Coast Community, killer whales

Whale Track Stories: Loch Broom Beluga

Noel Hawkins, a member of the Whale Track community who reports sightings whilst working with Shearwater Cruises in Ullapool, shares a sighting of an unusual and rare visitor to Loch Broom this June.

©Gordon Ball

Sightings, Guest ArticlesSadie Gorvett23 July 2025marine 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

Whale Track Stories: Tracking Skye’s Humpbacks and Responding to Entanglement

This winter, a number of Humpback whales were sighted off the coast of Skye, bringing joy to many. However, this joy turned to despair when two of the individuals became entangled. Luckily, both were freed but not without stress and injury to the animals. Anthony Rigell, a dedicated whale watcher from Skye, was on the ground assisting with the response.

©Anthony Rigell

Sightings, Guest ArticlesSadie Gorvett16 April 2025marine 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: 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

Sightings team treated to lunge feeding minkes, Heli-Ops and lighthouses during Northern Lighthouse Board ship visit

Our Education and Sightings Officer, Sadie, and local volunteer, Sharyn, spent the weekend aboard the Northern Lighthouse Board vessel Pharos to work with the crew on using excursion mode to record their sightings.

Science & Research, SightingsSadie Gorvett6 June 2024sightings, winter sightings, land based whale watching

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

The wonders of winter watching

For many, summer is the time to get out and watch for the abundance of marine wildlife that migrate into our seas each year, but winter is still an exciting and important time to have your eyes on the sea.

Our Education and Sightings Officer, Sadie, dives deeper into why winter watching is so important, encouraging everyone to don their raincoats and woolly hats and #EmbraceYourWhaledSide, dedicating some time to watch from land.

Science & Research, SightingsSadie Gorvett30 November 2023sightings, winter sightings, land based whale watching

What was seen during this years National Whale and Dolphin Watch?

We take a look at what you were reporting during this years National Whale and Dolphin Watch.

Image: John Coe & Aquarius ©Peggy Messeiller-Henery

SightingsSadie Gorvett14 September 2023citizen science, get involved, sightings, whale track, National Whale and Dolphin Watch

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

Eleven species recorded on Whale Track during National Whale and Dolphin Watch 2022

Explore the amazing sightings reported during this years National Whale and Dolphin Watch event.

SightingsSadie Gorvett26 August 2022citizen science, get involved, sightings, whale track, National Whale and Dolphin Watch

‘Mystery pod’ surfaces in Hebrides once more!

Citizen science plays a key role in deepening our understanding of whales, dolphins and porpoise. The ‘mystery’ killer whale pod is a great example of the impact citizen science can have. Discover the story of this mystery pod and how citizen scientists are helping to add more pieces to their puzzle.

Science & Research, SightingsSadie Gorvett22 June 2022whale watching, land based whale watching, whale track, killer whales, sightings

What might you spot this Spring?

Spring is a vital time to monitor whales, dolphins, and porpoises, collectively known as cetaceans, in the waters of western Scotland. Our seas begin to warm and whales migrate into our productive waters to feed. We explore some of the species you may encounter this spring.

SightingsSadie Gorvett18 April 2022citizen science, get involved, sightings, whale track

Sightings Galore at Glengorm!

HWDT’s summer outreach volunteers Bella and Celia recount a fantastic guided wildlife walk and watch from Hebridean Whale Trail site Glengorm.

Events & Outreach, The Hebridean Whale TrailSiobhan Moran24 August 2021glengorm, glengorm wildlife project, sightings, porpoise, guided walks, event, events on mull, Whats on mull, what to do on Mull, wildlife experiences on Mull, wildlife, wildlife watching on mull, wildlife watching, marine wildlife

Nine species recorded during National Whale and Dolphin Watch, including a leatherback turtle.

Explore the amazing sightings reported during this years National Whale and Dolphin Watch event.

SightingsCaroline Willis11 August 2021citizen science, get involved, sightings, whale track, National Whale and Dolphin Watch

News & Social Feeds

Noel Hawkins, a member of the Whale Track community who reports sightings whilst working with Shearwater Cruises in Ullapool, shares a sighting of an unusual and rare visitor to Loch Broom this June.