The team who joined our seventh expedition encountered minke whales and dolphin calves galore while battling through large swells in the Minch. Read all about their expedition here…

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

Surprise Sightings this Spring: Whale Track Summary

This spring saw some surprise sightings for some of our Whale Track community.

©Noel Hawkins

Science & Research, SightingsSadie Gorvett10 July 2024whale watching, land based whale watching, Whale Track, sightings summary

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

Close encounters of the whale kind…

The team who joined the sixth expedition of the 2024 summer field season encountered ten minke whales while circumnavigating Islay and Jura.

Plankton party, poems and …pigs during fifth expedition of the 'summer' season

The fifth expedition of the year presented some challenging weather conditions, but the hardy souls aboard Silurian provided equal measures of fun and laughter with food. A plankton party and pass the pigs providing a memorable week for all.

Stinky Minkes

Nicknamed stinky minkes , mInke whales are the most frequently seen whale in Scottish waters. We delve into why we love these stinky but special whales.

Kids Blogs, Events & OutreachSadie Gorvett7 June 2024Kids, children, fun facts, Kids blogs, minke whales

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

St Andrews University students join us aboard to gain first-hand monitoring experience

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, three teams spent time travelling to different areas of the west coast, collecting vital visual and acoustic data on marine mammals.

Whales, dolphins and sunshine during third expedition

The team of the season's third expedition enjoyed sightings of whales, dolphins, and sunny weather! They recorded over 200 marine mammals in the week-long live-aboard expedition surveying the Hebridean seas.

Join a Teen Team expedition for free!

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 04 - 10 August 2024.

“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

Second expedition encounters porpoises, dolphins...and strong winds

The second survey of the season kicked off amidst April showers and strong winds. Our intrepid team of volunteers were trained in Silurian’s scientific protocols and battled the waves to collect valuable data. Read all about their experiences here…

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

First expedition brings whales, dolphins, porpoises...and Storm Kathleen!

The first expedition marked the start of the 2024 summer field season and despite some challenging weather - namely Storm Kathleen - the crew and team of citizen scientists monitored areas of the Southern Hebrides and recorded five species of marine mammal.

Whale Track: people power for conservation

The Big Green Give Match Fund is live! Donate now to ensure our Whale Track community can continue to protect whales and dolphins in Scottish seas.

FundraisingMorven Summers18 April 2024The Big Give, Green Match Fund, Crowdf, fundraising, charity support, help whales and dolphins, help us, help save whales, help save our seas

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

HWDT welcomes a new charity Chair in its 30th year

Today HWDT trustees announce that they have appointed Helen Stace to succeed Juliana Butler as the new Chair of the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust.

In the NewsAlison Lomax2 April 2024marine conservation, HWDT, HWDT staff, Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust, Juliana Butler, Alison Lomax, Chair, Chairperson, Helen Stace

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

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

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