Sea Watch News Archive
News archived here are dated earlier than: 24 August 2008
11 August - MINKE WHALE ENTANGLED IN THE NET, SCOTLAND
On the 30 th July at 17:30 Colin Bird, SWF Regional Coordinator for North East Scotland received a text message from the BDMLR asking to assist a dolphin reported trapped in fishing net on the North Coast of Caithness. At the Dwarick Harbour at Dunnet Head he met local BDMLR Co-ordinator returning from the search. He and a colleague had spent 60 minutes observing the nets and had seen nothing. Later a boat sent from John O'Groats did a search of the area and also found nothing. At 20:00 local fishermen went to check their nets and found what they described as an 8 ft Minke whale tangled in the netting. The fishermen found a number of holes in their net and think the Minke whale was seen when first entangled, then got free then re-entangled again later. They made a quick video before releasing the whale and sending it on it's way.
4 August - SPERM WHALE STRANDED ON THE MORAY FIRTH, SCOTLAND
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3 rd of August. Julie Cooper reported a sighting of a sperm whale observed from the boat between Forth George and Lossiemouth in the mid afternoon. The whale was seen initially in a horizontal position, then vertical with its head out of water. It drifted to within 20 feet of the boat, then submerged horizontally.
4 th of August. A large 40-45 ft long sperm whale has been spotted in shallow water near Avoch on the Moray Firth near Inverness, Scotland. The whale was reported to be stranded earlier today but refloated without assistance on the incoming tide. Initial reports suggested that two whales were in the area, but it appears that one of the whales has now moved further out to sea. Sperm whales are usually seen in groups, so the rescue team is monitoring the area for further animals. Sperm whales are a deep diving species and the Moray Firth does not have the food - large squid - they feed on.
The condition of the whale is not thought to be good and the whale may strand again as the tide goes out later today. BDMLR has sought veterinary advice but animals of this size are very difficult to control or rescue.
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5 th of August. There have been concerns the adult sperm male, which measures between 40-45ft, would become stranded in shallow water. The Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society (WDCS) had a report of a sighting of it from Chanonry Point, the Black Isle, on this morning. The Inner Moray Firth which narrows sharply at Channory Point, and is likely to be very difficult for sperm whales to navigate. Sea Watch Regional Coordinator Alan Airey also reported today that " the sperm whale is heading back to Inverness on the incoming tide, going round in circles and taking shallow breaths."
Latest news from Alan Airey: in the afternoon the sperm whale beached at Alturlie Point, Inner Moray Firth and died at around 19:30.
Thank you Alan Airey for the photos and all who send us their updates on the state of the sperm whale.
31 July - NORTHERN BOTTLENOSE WHALE BEACHES IN HAMPSHIRE
30 th of July 2008: A Northern Bottlenose Whale was first sighted alive by Richard Wright and his kayaking colleagues at east Wittering (West Sussex). It moved fairly slowly, following the coastline, surfacing approximately every 4 to 5 minutes, then descending but leaving a constant stream of bubbles and obvious swirls in the water above it. At a time Richard did not know the species of the animal he saw and, reporting to Sea Watch, described it as deep dark grey, almost black colour, with quite a pointed backwards curving hook shaped dorsal fin and a slightly bulbous back of a head. They observed the whale for an hour till approximately 9:20pm.
31st July 2008: The Northern Bottlenose Whale made its way to entrance to Chichester harbour, Hampshire at low tide and then turned around and came back in the evening. Equipment and specialist help from the Animal Rescue Team from Hampshire Fire and Rescue has been moved to the area in case the whale strands on sandbanks. A team will be monitoring again from first light tomorrow morning.
1st August 2008: it is believed that the Nothern Bottlenose Whale had beached itself on a sandbank on the Langstone side of Hayling Island (Hants) at high tide late last night. Blood was taken by local Vet Richard Edwards and sent to the lab for tests. Tests have proved that the whale has kidney failure, muscle myopathy and is very dehydrated. It has been agreed by the three Vets onsite that the whale should be euthanised to save any further suffering. After some time whale managed to swim back to sea and was seen free swimming but very disorientated. However, it restranded for the second time, and medics had to euthanize it at about 6:45pm. A post-mortem examination will be carried out and samples will be sent to laboratory for testing.
30 July - FIN WHALE SIGHTINGS IN NW SCOTLAND
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On the 24th of July a tall vertical blow of a fin whale Balaenoptera physalus was spotted two miles of Rona Bank, North Minch, North West Scotland. Not long after that a high dorsal fin pointing backwards and situated two-thirds along back emerged from the water allowing a closer look at this animal.
Other sighting was made on the 29th of July not so far from the first one. A fin whale was sighted 2.5 miles west of the Carr Point, Gairloch. According to the observers this whale might have been foraging in the area.
Thanks to Nick Davies, Hebridean Whale Cruises, for submitting these sightings and photos.
27 July - NATIONAL WHALE AND DOLPHIN WATCH 2008 RESULTS
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The 7th annual National Whale and Dolphin Watch, organised by the Sea Watch Foundation, took place between 21st and 29th of June 2008. Despite the bad weather in some parts of the UK, the Watch Week still produced some interesting results.
Sixty manned sites were advertised to the general public, but watches were carried out in more than 160 locations around the country. A total of 372 sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises were reported during the week, comprising of nine species and totalling in 2057 individual cetaceans observed. The bottlenose dolphin was the most frequently seen cetacean with 153 sightings, the harbour porpoises were reported 124 times during the week. The third most common cetacean species was the minke whale with 45 sightings. Other species spotted were Atlantic white-sided dolphin, white beaked dolphin, short-beaked common dolphin, Risso’s dolphin, killer whale and one humpback whale sighting.
Click here to download the National Whale and Dolphin Watch report 2008.
Read what some observers and SWF Regional Coordinators said about their experience during the Event.
Natalie Ward, HWDT, SWF Regional Coordinator for SW Scotland and Inner Hebrides: “Our NWDW events were a success. We had two sightings of harbour porpoise during our watch at Tobermory lighthouse which and although we had no sightings at Ardnamurchan lighthouse there was a great turn out at the afternoon watch and the children from Acharacle primary school seemed to enjoy themselves as well.”
Alison Couch, St. Cyrus National Nature Reserve (SE Scotland): “We had a very good Fin Spotting day for NWDW 2008 - 14 bottlenose in total and 40 people joined in to help reserve staff scan bay for whales, dolphins and porpoises and learn more about the marine mammals that live around our coast.”
Chris Cameron and Julie Dawson (North Wales): “On the Saturday we went up to our chosen site only to find that we couldn't even sea the sea! We drove to a couple more possible sights but sea conditions were very rough and there wasn't much to look at. No sightings at all. After a couple of hours, during which the wind seemed to be getting worse and we after talking to one dog walker/fisherman and two other tourists braving the gales we decided to relocate to Whistling Sands (Porth Oer) where we managed to find a sheltered spot on the path overlooking the beach. Tremendous views of Grey Seals here but no dolphins. “
Chris and Sharon Blackmore (North Devon): “We've had quite a few locals and holidaymakers stop for a chat and today a nurse from the hospital where I work joined us for an hour with her daughter. She said they're hooked!! We always have copies of the Sea Watch and Sea Watch Adopt a Dolphin leaflets on display during our watches all year round and during NWDW week we have a few of your posters up around the watch site with details of Sea Watch.”
Sarah Lister (University of Aberystwyth, West Wales): “Yes, we were fortunate with bottlenose dolphin sightings that week, certainly on Saturday and Monday and Tuesday - there had been some rain beforehand and I'm wondering whether the salmon were accumulating in the area before they head up the rivers here - I know the dolphins were eating them because I saw one poor fish get slapped out of the water by a big fluke!”
Sam and Ian French, Gairloch Marine Life&Criuses (NW Scotland): “Sunday (22 June) dawned with winds reaching speeds of 20 to 25 mph. We received a huge response from locals and visitors all of were keen to assist with any land based watches organised. With thirty-two volunteers gathered at our new marine wildlife centre we decided to split into two groups with the first setting up a view point at Red Point and the second at Peterburn near Melvaig. Armed with binoculars, spotting scopes, ID guides and sightings forms we began recording at noon. The first sighting came in at 12:26, a group of 8 harbour porpoise just off shore at Peterburn. The gannets proved an invaluable help to the sightings, today we were seeing groups of 20+ plunge feeding and sooner or later a fin or fins surfacing in the area.A big shout went up at Red Point, a minke whale was sighted approximately 1.5km off shore heading north. Big lunges through the swell and lots of spray as the wind caught the splash. Lunch time gave a welcome rest out of the wind and showers and in steamed up cars nothing was sighted for a while.At 14:59 big flurry of splashing approximately 4km off shore towards the north point of Rona Island and the Hinds Shoal area, lots of gannets and approximately 30 common dolphins. At 15:20 a pod of porpoises containing 4 adults and 2 juveniles ˝ km west of Peterburn. Overall in poor conditions a very successful day with the largest number of volunteer watchers to date. We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who gave up their day to assist us with the watch!”
Alan Airey, SWF Regional Coordinator for North Grampian: “The first watch I had in the Moray Firth was a very wet and wild affair, but fantastic seabird action. Three of us braved the elements with a visit from the press as well. When it was sunny on Saturday, whilst wearing the Sea Watch T shirt I attracted a lot of interest, with questions asked about cetaceans and sea life in general.”
Robin Petch and Kris Simpson SWF Regional Coordinators for Eastern England: “The week was launched at The Deep in Hull on Saturday 21st June. It was a wet and grey day which was no problem to visitors to this superb “submarium” who wanted to see the fish and other marine creatures on display or to enjoy the 4 short illustrated talks given by Sea Watch Regional Co-ordinator Robin Petch. The 2 watches did not reveal any cetaceans in this part of the Humber but around 100 people saw the presentations with a few hundred more passing through and looking at the display boards or stopping to chat. The displays in fact remained up all week so hundreds of people will have had the opportunity to learn something about the work of Sea Watch and our UK cetaceans. The weather at Flamborough Head on Sunday 22nd June was bright but very windy with whitecaps covering the sea to the south of the headland and all but a small sheltered area inshore to the north. Even the marquee for the Sea, Sand and Sky Environmental Fayre at nearby South Landing had to be dismantled, along with our SeaWatch display, because of the weather! During two and a half hours in the morning and early afternoon there was only one brief possible porpoise sighting. Perhaps 20 or 30 people passed through the area during the watch with around half of these stopping for a few minutes to learn about the Event.”