Sightings Index
- Community Sightings Network
- Watching Cetaceans
- Report a Sighting Online
- Identification Tips
- Recent Sightings Table
- Monthly Sightings Reports
- November 2016
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- 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
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- March 2010
- Winter 2009/10
- September 2009
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- 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.
May 2012
Our community sightings network has collated dozens of each of our more frequently seen species throughout May; including bottlenose dolphins, minke whales and harbour porpoises, and literally hundreds of sightings of common dolphins; often seen in pods of up to 100 individuals! There have been 17 orca (killer whales) sightings, stretching from a wide range of areas: some seen around the Monarch Isles, south west of North Uist; and also further north, around the Flannan Islands; but with another sighting as far away as a mid-point between Shetland and Norway! Some of the region's more uncommon species such as the Risso's dolphin and the Atlantic white-sided dolphin, in Loch Miodart and Achiltiebuie Bayin, respectively; with 10 sightings of each. The Risso's dolphin, a worldwide, temperate and tropical species, has an impressive diving capability of up to half an hour at a time. We've also had a large number of one of our most fascinating non-cetacean species: the basking shark. They have been spotted around all over the region: near Arinagour, the south coast of Tiree, Bag Huisinis, Crossapool Bay and the mouth of Loch Cuin.
May Silurian post: During May there were three research voyages aboard the Silurian. Weather varied greatly from blazing sunshine to the more typically Scottish elements of wind and rain. As the boat sailed around the Hebrides plenty of sightings have been recorded including common dolphins which on one occasion were even bow riding with their calves! Harbour porpoises, minke whales, basking sharks and the less commonly sighted white beaked whales were also spotted as well as many grey seals, sea birds and even a dead sheep. The hydrophone was very successful in recording acoustic data from cetaceans, particularly harbour porpoises and common dolphins even when they could not be seen on the surface.