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-Spring 2015
We typically receive very few sightings during winter months, which largely reflect the lack of observers, dire weather and short days. It does not necessarily mean that there are less cetaceans around, although the migratory species such as minke whales are thought to be largely absent this time of year. Since January this year, we have received 30 sightings of five cetacean species. Over one-third of these were of harbour porpoises. They seem to be distributed throughout the Scottish west coast at this time of year, albeit in small numbers (mean of 3 porpoises per group). This is very interesting as very little is known about this species during winter. It is assumed that they head offshore during winter and spring to calve, although it is difficult to know for sure! Bottlenose dolphin sightings were confined to Mull and Islay (but perhaps sightings further north have not been reported to us?). This apparent southern bias is interesting as we have seen this in previous winters too. Perhaps bottlenose dolphins head south for winter? Common dolphin, Risso's dolphin and killer whales were reported from Harris and Lewis, while unidentified dolphins were reported on five occasions around Lewis, Mull and Loch Sunart.
It won't be long before the summer visitors start to appear near our shores. Minke whales have yet to be reported to us, but we are eagerly anticipating the first sighting! Since 2009, the first minke sighting has been between 9 February and 16 April. These early sightings are usually of single animals which may appear anywhere from Lewis to Neist Point to Coll, so keep your eyes peeled!
A map of this sightings from 1 January to mid-March can be viewed here
.