Posts in Sightings
A milestone for citizen science as over 10,000 sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises are reported to marine conservation charity

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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For the love of long-term monitoring

Long-term monitoring is the foundation of effective conservation. At HWDT we talk about long-term monitoring a lot but what is it and why is it such an important part of wildlife conservation?  

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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.

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A Picture Tells a Thousand Words

Photography has never been so accessible; the development of camera technology in our phones and the affordability of professional kit means more people than ever can take amazing photos. But did you know…for decades photos have been a fundamental resource in driving forward our understanding of whales and dolphins.

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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

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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

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Telling the Tale of the West Coast Killer Whale

The tale of the West Coast Community of killer whales will be told in a new film by Director, George Hoagy Morris.  Over the coming weeks, George will take to the water, attempting to capture footage of the elusive West Coast Community.  Inspired by the story of this unique population of killer whales, the film will share their tragic story with new audiences.

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National Whale and Dolphin Watch 2023

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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Silurian: from smuggling to science

Since 2002, our research vessel, Silurian, has been collecting information of international importance on marine life in the Hebrides.  A recognisable and familiar presence off Scotland’s west coast, Silurian and her teams of citizen scientists have worked hard, monitoring and protecting areas of critical habitat for whales and dolphins, but has she always undertaken such vital work?

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Monitoring the Hebrides for 20 Years!

To protect our marine environment, we must first understand it.  How do we deepen our understanding…data. HWDTs flagship, Silurian, celebrated a milestone in 2022 - marking 20 years of monitoring Hebridean seas. Read all about the 20th field season on board Silurian  

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Not spotting a whale makes for meaningful whale watching

It’s official, we’re now in Spring!  The longer days and (hopefully) fairer weather are welcome and thoughts may be turning to outdoor adventures.  When you’re out on a headland, gazing out over the big blue in the hopes of seeing a fin break the surface, can spotting nothing be just as rewarding? 

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Killer Whale Mums Mean Business

On Mother’s Day, we’re taking a dive into the maternal instincts of whales, exploring how dedicated killer whale Mums are when it comes to raising young

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Dolphin Detective Work Identifies Individual

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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