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.
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Our thirteenth research expedition of 2022 left for twelve days at sea, gathering vital visual and acoustic data off Scotland’s west coast. Calm weather and fair seas resulted in some fantastic encounters, with common dolphins heralding in the day almost daily! Craig Mackie, Science Officer onboard, recalls the expedition
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Our twelfth research expedition of 2022 left Tobermory for a seven-day survey monitoring the marine environment onboard Silurian - our research vessel. Wild weather returned but our team of citizen scientists powered through with a lot of laughs and continued to collect vital acoustic and visual data coupled with some fantastic sightings. Here Hannah Lightley, Science Officer onboard, recalls the expedition…
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Our second Teen Trip of the year circumnavigated Mull, calling in overnight at Colonsay and Coll. Here the teens recount their experience of their time spent on board Silurian surveying Hebridean Seas.
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Every year, we offer dedicated teen research expeditions, providing young people with the skills, and experience of being a marine scientist on board a working research yacht. In this blog the teens recount their experience surveying Hebridean Seas.
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The ninth research expedition of the 2022 summer field season proved exceptional. Summer conditions finally arrived and a number of different species were recorded. Although minke whales stole the show - with a fantastic encounter with a breaching whale. Read Science Officer, Craig Mackie’s account of the expedition
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Marking the middle of the summer 2022 research expeditions, Silurian - our research vessel - set sail from Tobermory monitoring Hebridean seas. Tricky weather conditions continued but our team of volunteer citizen scientists powered through to help gather vital visual and acoustic data and were rewarded with some incredible encounters. Here Hannah Lightley, science officer onboard, describes the expedition.
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Silurian - our research vessel - and her team of dedicated volunteers circumnavigated the Isle of Lewis during the seventh research expedition of the 2022 summer field season. Battling through some challenging conditions, the team were rewarded with some great encounters on the way back to Stornoway. Here Craig Mackie, Science Officer on board, recalls the expedition
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As we move into ‘Summer’ off Scotland’s west coast, thanks to the team of volunteer citizen scientists we continue to monitor Hebridean seas, gathering vital visual and acoustic data. Despite some challenging weather conditions, our stoic team on board were rewarded with some interesting encounters. Here, Hannah Lightley, Science Officer on board summarises the expedition.
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Monitoring Hebridean seas is well underway, with Silurian - our research vessell - completing her fifth expedition of the 2022 Summer field season. Some great conditions allowed us to gather data from some of the more remote and exposed parts of our study area. Here, Craig Mackie, Science Officer on board, recalls details of the expedition
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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 2nd – 8th August 2022.
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Every year, we welcome aboard teams of students from St Andrew’s University Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) to discover how we collect data on board our research vessel, Silurian. Over the course of 10 days, each team spent time travelling to different areas of the west coast, collecting vital visual and acoustic data on marine mammals. Each of the teams share their experiences here
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We’re well underway with our monitoring Hebridean seas this year, with Silurian, our research vessel, completing her fourth expedition of the 2023 summer field season. Some challenging conditions didn't dampen the spirits of the fantastic citizen scientists who joined us on board…the encounters with whales, dolphins and porpoises helped too!
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Silurian, our research vessel is a hard working boat and throughout the year is gifted some TLC. Here one of the team, Brian, updates on recent efforts to keep her shipshape.
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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
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We’re off!! The summer field season (April - October) on board our research vessel, Silurian, has started. Despite battling challenging conditions, the team on board remained steadfast. Hannah, our scientist who led the data collection on board, shares the expedition update
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Just in time for Spring, as spotting conditions improve and the wildlife begins to arrive in larger numbers around local shores, we have released a new and improved Whale Track app. Here we explore five new features of Whale Track.
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Our winter survey programme on board Silurian has been running since 2019, learning more about the year-round presence of marine mammals and basking sharks in Hebridean seas. These surveys are important given that prior to the start of the programme, little winter data existed for the region. Science Officer, Jenny, gives an update on the last winter survey of this year…
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Adventure beckons as the summer field season on board our research vessel, Silurian, kicks off this weekend. But before we raise the anchor and set sail, we’d love to share some of the exciting developments we’ve made over the winter with support from the NatureScot Nature Restoration Fund.
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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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