Whale and dolphin watching from tobermory isle of mull. Information about whale and dolphin watching in the waters surrounding the isle of mull in scotland. Whale and dolphin watching whale and dolphin conservation. Whale and dolphin watching on the isle of mull this website is dedicated to the amazing range of wildlife in the waters around the isle of mull and the hebrides. Long finned pilot whales are unusual and have the dorsal fin towards the front of the body. There is a population of about thirty bottlenose dolphins which we regularly see. Sc040231 dedicated to the protection of whales and dolphins. Brilliant day 3 minkes one juvenile right up to the boat, plus a lunge feeding adult. A new whale trail in scotland lets visitors spot whales from 33 sites. Similarly, the southern is the only finless dolphin in the southern hemisphere.
Watch out for whales and dolphins around scotland with the wdc shorewatch programme. Family trips for a day out or private hire and charter. A unique boat trip in skye with a chance to see whales, seals, dolphins, sea birds and stunning scenery. No experience is necessary, you just need to download a watch form. Our local area is one of the best areas in scotland for porpoise and we see them on the vast majority of summer trips. Whale and dolphin slaughter in the faroe islands campaign. These cetaceans are predominantly black, white beneath, and some of the few without a dorsal fin or ridge. On our whalewatchwildlife trips you will be on board for around four hours sea time and will be searching for. Bird watching highlights include sea eagles, golden eagles, puffins and a great variety of seabirds. As of 2008 the industry in scotland was represented by 51 tour operators, of which 46 offered boatbased tours, and 5 focused on.
Dolphin and wildlife watching boat trips run by ecoventures, cromarty in the moray firth, scotland. Visiting the wales and dolphins of scotland whaletrips. The shetland islands and the orkney islands provide whale watching opportunities, whereas moray firth is renowned for bottlenose dolphin population. It also holds the tripadvisor hall of fame award, given to experiences awarded five or more consecutive certificates of excellence. The territorial waters of the republic of ireland have been designated a whale and dolphin sanctuary since 1991. Paw scotland warns of risky dolphin and whale encounters in. Essentially a fan page, we are not a company or official body.
The new code can be downloaded here, and provides detailed advice on how to safely approach whales and dolphins with minimum risk of disturbance. Scotland recorded the highest number of whales and dolphins in last years national whale and dolphin watch. Dolphins, whales and porpoises scottish natural heritage. Thousands of whales and dolphins, including common dolphin super pods. Our boat based in gairloch operates daily whale and wildlife cruises offshore, to whale and dolphin feeding grounds in the open waters. This is the smallest of the baleen family of whales to be found in scottish waters, being between 8. Japanese tourism operators to promote whale and dolphin. Sealife adventures wildlife and whale watching boat. However, as they are wild animals, we cannot guarantee sightings. Boats depart from moerai for trips to whalewatch, witness mothers playing with their calves, and listen to the underwater opera amplified by the coral seabed. A shorewatch is a 10minute whale, dolphin and porpoise survey carried out by trained volunteers at specific sites around scotland all shorewatch volunteers attend a training day so that the watches are carried out in the same way and we can compare watches between observers. Our familyowned wildlife safari departs daily, directly from the viaduct harbour in central auckland and offers outstanding whale watching, dolphin encounters and rare seabird spotting all year. Sealife adventures run whale search and wildlife watching boat trips from our pontoon on the mainland near oban on the west coast of scotland. How to spot killer whales orcas in scotland wilderness.
The revised code can be downloaded here, and provides detailed advice on how best. The whale hunt, or grind as it is known, has been conducted for centuries. The survey is held annually between july and august by. Baleen whales feed only in arctic waters, eating mostly krill, plankton, and other small marine animals. As well as being a top auckland attraction, its a truly unique new zealand. Visit the wdc scottish dolphin centre for the chance to see the amazing bottlenose dolphins of the moray firth. In the united states, wdc is a founding partner on three voluntary education and recognition programmes. Dolphin species have a prominent dorsal fin in the middle of the back.
The best time to see minke whales in scotland is from the end of may to september. Set up 25 years ago, sea life surveys 01688 302916. Report a stranded whale or dolphin call the cetacean strandings investigation programme csip hotline to report a stranded whale or dolphin. The 2019 season brings excitement with our brand new vessel the dolphin xi built exclusively for whale watching. Whale watching in ireland is a growing tourism activity. The hebridean whale and dolphin trust is the trusted voice and leading source of information for the conservation of. Our familyowned wildlife safari departs daily, directly from the viaduct harbour in central auckland and offers outstanding whale watching, dolphin encounters and rare seabird spotting all yearround. Whether you want to know what has been seen today or look for sightings of your favourite species, this interactive map allows you to change which sightings are displayed. Killer whale orca wild scotland, adventure, wildlife and.
An average of 700 pilot whales and dolphins or more are slaughtered in the faroe islands every year. Whale track provides a quick and easy way for the public to record and submit their sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises from across the west coast of scotland. In total, 25 different cetacean species have been recorded in irish waters, with large numbers of cetaceans making seasonal passages off the coastline, and a number of resident populations in coastal harbours. Experience whales and dolphins along with the stunning scenery of aucklands hauraki gulf marine park.
Mull has always been the top place to watch eagles in the uk, however it is now becoming one of, if not the best place to watch whales, dolphins and basking sharks. Shorewatch watching out for whales and dolphins in scotland wdc. Baleen and beaked whales have a small dorsal fin twothirds along the back. Orcas are highly mobile and can travel at speeds of 35 mph, which enables them to travel vast distances in short periods of time. Killer whale orca wild scotland, adventure, wildlife. Probably the best known dolphin species they can be identified by their size, dark grey back, paler sides and underneath and tall curved or falcate dorsal fin. Right whale dolphins are cetaceans belonging to the genus lissodelphis. According to smass figures reports of whale and dolphin strandings in scotland are on the increase. It contains the northern right whale dolphin lissodelphis borealis and the southern right whale dolphin lissodelphis peronii. Minke whales basking sharks harbour porpoise dolphins occasional orca killer whales atlantic grey seals common seals otters white tailed eagles golden eagles gannets puffins arctic skua manx searwater all this with a backdrop of the stunning scenery that is the isle of mull. Dolphinwatch is a project funded by the scottishpower foundation and national lottery heritage fund and led by rspb scotland in partnership with aberdeen city council and. The northern right whale dolphin is the only dolphin in the pacific with this property. The hebridean whale trail is a network of fantastic whale watching and whale heritage sites across the west coast of scotland that showcases the amazing wildlife, landscapes and heritage that make this area so special.
To the cetacean list you could add blainvilles beaked whale aberaeron,wales 18th july 1993 mammalia 1994 58 p657661 and frasers dolphin, lagenodelphis hosei, south uist, western isles, scotland 3 september 1996 j. The moray firth supports the north seas only known resident population of bottlenose. In total, 25 different cetacean species have been recorded in irish waters, with large numbers of cetaceans making seasonal passages off the coastline, and a number of resident populations in coastal harbours and transitional. Dolphinwatch is a project funded by the scottishpower foundation and national lottery heritage fund and led by rspb scotland in partnership with aberdeen city council and whale and dolphin conservation. Rspb scotlands popular dolphinwatch project is excited to announce the dates of the first ever dolphin festival in aberdeen. The shape of the dorsal fin can also help you to identify if the animal is a whale, dolphin or porpoise.
Rspb scotland launch first ever dolphin festival in aberdeen. Record numbers of dolphins and whales have been sighted in britain this week. Frigid, arctic waters support some of the largest whale species, such as the humpback and the blue whale. Dolphin smart promotes responsible viewing and stewardship of wild dolphins and currently has participating operators in florida, alabama and hawaii whale sense is offered to commercial whale watching companies in the northeast us and alaska see a spout, watch out. The survey is held annually between july and august by the marine conservation charity. These amazing animals are abundant during the summer and as long as the sea state isnt too rough, sightings are very likely. Wilderness guide and wildlife expert jonathan willet shares his experience and research on how to spot killer whales orcas in scotland. The two species can be readily distinguished apart from the geographical separation in their ranges by the extent of the whiteness on the body. Bottlenose dolphins are perhaps the bestknown cetaceans found around scotland. Whale watching in scotland and the skye area, has never been so easy for you to all enjoy. Whale track is free to download and uses gps to accurately track. This whale weighs about 10 tonnes and is usually seen singly or as a cow with her calf. The best period for whalespotting and whale watching is between mid june and the end of september.
It is the first uk based biological recording app to use gps tracking technology at sea. Eilean glas lighthouse is one of the best places in scotland to observe a wide range of whale and dolphin species from the shore. They are smaller members of the delphinid family, oceanic dolphins, and. The best site to encounter these mammals is the inner and the outer hebrides inhabited by both whales and dolphins.
Land watching at chanonry point near fortrose on the black isle is the number 1 location in europe as the dolphins come hunting for salmon only a few metres from the beach on a rising tide. Bottlenose dolphins whale and dolphin watching isle of mull. Entire family groups of whales, known as pods, are driven ashore and killed using hooks and knives. Shorewatch watching out for whales and dolphins in scotland. Probably the best known dolphin species they can be identified by their size, dark grey back, paler sides and underneath and tall curved or falcate. Shorewatch is a network of volunteers trained and supported by wdc to carry out regular 10minute surveys from shorewatch sites across scotland. Boats depart from moerai for trips to whale watch, witness mothers playing with their calves, and listen to the underwater opera amplified by the coral seabed. Our vision is a world where every whale and dolphin is safe and free. Bottlenose dolphin wild scotland, adventure, wildlife and. Enjoy beautiful walks along the tumultuous river spey, spot a seal or osprey, and discover spey bays fishing heritage during a tour of the historic icehouse.
This page was made to reach more people than our attached tumblr. Minke whales basking sharks harbour porpoise dolphins occasional orca killer whales atlantic grey seals common seals otters white tailed eagles golden eagles gannets puffins arctic skua manx searwater all this with a backdrop of the stunning scenery. The humpback whales often hunt by forming a ring of bubbles around their prey which then obstructs escape. You can see how it has been built and photos can be viewed on our facebook page. Paw scotland warns of risky dolphin and whale encounters in scotland this summer. Wdc shorewatch join our network of volunteers to record sightings of whales. These amazing animals are the biggest members of the dolphin family.
There were 204 reports in 2009, rising to more than 930 in 2018. Orcas are actually the largest member of the dolphin family. The map displays all sightings that have been submitted through whale track but you can change this using the map filter tool panel. Please read our update regarding shorewatch activities and covid19. Hebridean whale and dolphin trust hwdt is a marine conservation charity that takes action through a unique programme of community based research and education. Scotland top for whale and dolphin sightings bbc news. The area is exceptional for porpoise, minke whales, dolphins, basking sharks, otters and seals. The first commercial whale watching trips in scotland were offered from the isle of mull in 1989 1, and the industry took off from that point, growing at an average rate of 8. Join a community of citizen scientists monitoring whales and dolphins on the west coast of scotland. Orcas are magnificent creatures and are the largest members of the dolphin family they have to be seen to be believed. Wildlife expert jonathan willet shares his experience and research into how to spot an orca in scotland. Whale sense is a voluntary education and recognition program offered to commercial whale watching companies in the u.
Aberdeens first ever dolphin festival, dubbed dolphinfest, will take place over the last weekend of april, it was announced today. She continued her work with dolphin fleet and her commitment to the whales and the environment until her death in 2017. The scottish dolphin centre is run by wdc, whale and dolphin conservation. Shorewatch watching out for whales and dolphins in. Download it for free and help to collect the information needed to understand the marine environment. We know that scotland is home to a number of whale and dolphin species, yet there are still so many unanswered questions about where they breed, feed and travel. Sealife adventures wildlife and whale watching boat trips. Shorewatch, scotland whale and dolphin conservation. The dolphin xi is built with the newest ecofriendly technology, electronic equipment and other attributes.