Sightings Index
- Community Sightings Network
- Watching Cetaceans
- Report a Sighting Online
- Identification Tips
- Recent Sightings Table
- Monthly Sightings Reports
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- Winter/Spring 2016
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- Winter-Spring 2015
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- Winter 2013/2014
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- 2012 Sightings Summary
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- Winter 2011/12
- 2011 Sightings and Strandings Summary
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- Winter 2010/11
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- Winter 2009/10
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- Strandings
Monthly Sightings Reports
HWDT’s Community Sightings Network encourages residents, local wildlife operators and visitors to the area to report their sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises to HWDT. This information is important because it contributes to our understanding of where and when particular species occur. Report your sighting HERE.
Each month HWDT publishes a summary report of the sightings recorded via our Community Sightings Network. In summer we receive the greatest number of sightings while winter is a quiet time. This is partly due to the number of species present but also reflects the sea state and number of people on the water watching for whales, dolphins and porpoises. In winter, fewer people are watching and the sea state more frequently makes sightings difficult, or even impossible. Also non-resident species have migrated for the winter. At this time of year HWDT receives more strandings reports than at other time as storms can wash animals ashore. These seasonal variations will be reflected in our reports.
Select the monthly report you wish to view from the panel on the left of this page.
Winter 2010/11
Winter has been a very quiet season with only 25 sightings reported between October and March.
Harbour porpoises have been sighted all year, being the species with the most sightings recorded (13) during the winter. Most sightings were reported from the Clyde area and the Isle of Skye as well as Loch Duich. As we do not get many sightings from the Clyde we are more than happy to know that the animals there are still around even in the winter.
Basking sharks were reported twice during October. Both sightings were made on the west coast of Tiree.
Common Dolphins were also reported twice in October. A group of 100 individuals between Coll and the Treshnish Isles were reported to be common dolphins. In addition, another sighting on the Isle of Skye was made at the end of the month.
Minke Whales sightings occurred on 3 occasions in October. At the start of the month one animal was seen between Arisaig and the Isle of Eigg. On the 14th of October 3 animals were recorded off the Mull of Kintyre with another sighting in the same area of one animal at the end of the month.
October in general was a good month to spot wildlife, what made it even more special was the sighting of a fin whale and a humpback whale. On the 16th of October a fin whale was reported off Erradale. On the same day a humpback whale was spotted of Sandaig, west coast of Tiree.
One bottlenose sightings was recorded for October off the coast of Jura on the 14th.
In March two bottlenose sightings have been recorded. One was off the east coast of Scotland, off Stonehaven. The sighting has been forwarded to the local Stonehaven Dolphin Research Group.
The second sighting was very special for us in the HWDT office as it happened right here in the bay on St. Patricks Day. A pod of approximately 7 dolphins visited us here in Tobermory. We had the chance to go out on a boat and take photographs of the 45 minute encounter. Photo-ID is currently under way to determine if any of our animals were in that group.