East Grampian SeaWatch

NEWS PAGE

New humpback whale sightings

(Thanks to Jessica Craig, Kirsty Macdonald, Tim Marshall, Kevin Hepworth for these records)

20-01-12. Again, humpback whales have been seen for the last three mornings around Collieston

15-01-12 10.18am: 1 humpback whale south of Hackley Bay approx 1200m offshore. Blow and surface, slow travel south sea state 3-4, wind F4SW

15-01-12: At least 2 humpback whales off Balmedie CP this pm. Very active doing a lot of tail slapping.One of them was a very large individual probably at the top end of the Humpback scale! They started to head slowly north at 15.00. Tim Marshall

There were apparently further sightings on the 16th from these locations. 16th and 17th of January. In addition, three humpbacks were seen off Collieston before Christmas.

5th-7th August 2011. Photo exhibition showcasing the amazing diversity of wildlife in the UK at Forvie Visitor Centre (Friday, Saturday, Sunday)

Boat- and land-based whale & dolphin watches all weekend. To join a watch, visit seawatchfoundation.org.uk/events.php to find one in your area

For more information, call Sea Watch at 01545 561 227 or visit www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk

17/06/11 - News Release - Humpback whale drops by to feed in Aberdeen harbour

Aberdeen Harbour is well known locally as one of the best places in Europe for watching dolphins but on Thursday it hosted a creature much bigger.

Ian Hay, the project manager with the East Grampian Coastal Partnership, was on his way home from work, around 4.30 pm, when he decided to have a quick look for dolphins from the Torry Battery. A few people were watching something in the harbour mouth, but instead of the usual dolphins what surfaced was a humpback whale, one of the largest creatures on the planet. The whale was feeding on small fish and could be seen lunging to the surface every five minutes, showing much of its head and on occasion a large blow typical of a large whale.

Ian Hay said: "I could not believe what I was seeing. Indeed it was not until I saw the photos and discussed what I had seen with Sea Watch co-ordinator Kevin Hepworth, that I ruled out the much smaller and more common minke whale which is regularly seen here in the summer months." The humpback whale was observed by a few lucky visitors, including a tour bus which stopped to watch the Northlink ferry leave for Lerwick. As the ferry left, so did the whale.

Sea Watch Research Director Dr Peter Evans said: "Its distinctive back means this was most definitely a humpback. For a humpback to appear, almost certainly there will be a lot of fish around. We have been receiving reports of unusually large numbers of seabirds (gannets, auks, etc) feeding off the Grampian coast and into the Moray Firth, and GPS loggers on breeding razorbills and guillemots on Fair Isle show them all feeding off Aberdeen which confirms the presence of large numbers of fish."

Sea Watch local co-ordinator Kevin Hepworth has appealed for anyone who thinks they have seen it to let him know. He says: "Sightings like this add to our knowledge about the species . Although humpbacks are occasionally seen around the Scottish coast, they are not usually seen quite so close to land or in the harbour. If anyone thinks they have spotted it, please let me know on 0797 114 9117.

Latest news from Howard Loates, the Sea Watch co-ordinator for the Moray Firth, is that it has been seen off Chanonry Point from 06:30-08:30 this morning, and is now apparently breaching of the Sutors of Cromarty.

Sea Watch Foundation is a Registered Charity.

If you would like to support us you can adopt a Cardigan Bay bottlenose dolphin. All monies go directly back into the research and conservation of the dolphins you adopt. Voted best animal adoption scheme by BBC Wildlife. http://www.adoptadolphin.org.uk