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Bottlenose Bonanza off Mull

Over the past few days there’s been a flurry of bottlenose dolphin sightings off Mull; the first report was received on 27th August when approximately 30 dolphins (including about 10 young) were spotted off the Ross of Mull. Following that initial report, we learned a couple of days later that two groups of bottlenoses were sighted on the same day; a pod of 20 (again including young) was sighted off Glengorm while another smaller pod of about 10 - 15 were seen at the north end of Iona Sound. Without images we can't be sure whether these are the same animals or two separate pods. Yesterday (31st August) also saw a report of a small pod of 5 off Ardnamurchan Lighthouse, heading northwards.

Scottish bottlenose dolphins are at the northern-most extreme of the species' global range, and are seen throughout the entire Hebridean area. They are most frequently seen in inshore waters, close to the coastline around headlands and bays. Hebridean sightings hotspots include the Isles of Mull, Iona, Coll, Tiree, and Barra. The west coast population of bottlenose dolphins is relatively small in comparison to the larger resident pods found in the Moray Firth and Cardigan Bay. Photo-identification work has found that there is a population of about 55 animals inhabiting the Inner Hebrides (Kintyre to Skye) and a separate group of about 12 animals recorded in and around the Sound of Barra. What is interesting is that the ‘Barra Boys’ will be visited by individuals from the Inner Hebridean pod but we have no evidence that they ever return the favour by breaking from their home range and interacting with the larger pod.

You can get involved with research efforts, and make a massive contribution to our understanding of the west coast bottlenose dolphins, by sending in any images you may have of the animal’s dorsal fins. Dorsal fins are unique to individuals and our Sightings Officer, Sandra Koetter, can match images to our catalogued individuals, allowing for a much better understanding of their movements, abundance and habitat preference. Sandra adds, “Photo identification is one of the most important tools that we have as it enables us to analyse the movements of individuals and groups alike which is vital for the conservation of this species. We are dependent on the public to report sightings and forward photos to us.”

Please, if you have had an encounter with a whale, dolphin or porpoise, let HWDT know by reporting your sighting online.

Thanks to Explore Mull, Chris Gibson, Andy Tait and Steve Porter for reporting their sightings.