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 2016
Between 1 November 2015 and 30 March 2016 (i.e. winter and spring), HWDT received 175 sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises.This is about the same number of records that we receive each July. But does this mean that cetaceans are more abundant in summer or winter? It is hard to tell for sure, but considering that the weather is poor and days are short during winter, 175 records is very impressive indeed - so thanks to all those who took the time to submit them to us!
What stands out immediately from the data (see map) is that the diversity of cetaceans is still high in Hebridean waters during winter and spring. In fact we documented 9 species here during the reporting period this year, the same number as last year. Thanks to these data, we are starting to realise that some species once thought to abandon our waters, actually stay around through the winter. Harbour porpoises are a case in point which accounted for a whopping 63% of all records! It seems that on the rare occasion that the wind and swell abate during winter, allowing people to get out and about, sightings of porpoises come in... albeit in small group sizes (average of 3 per group). It is amazing that our smallest whale (they are toothed whales) put up with the coldest waters through the winter, in sea lochs the fresh water influences the surface temperatures which can be as low as 5 or 6 degrees celsius. No bother to our porpoises!
The next most commonly reported species was the bottlenose dolphin, chiefly around the Inner Hebrides and Sound of Barra. It seems that Islay is a favourite haunt of theirs during winter months, before records start to spread north again in spring and summer. But maybe they are under-recorded further north during winter? We would love to receive more sightings of this species which exists only in small numbers in our study area. Common dolphins and minke whales were rare during the winter and spring period, as expected as both are seasonal visitors. Minke whales dissappeared to their mystery breeding ground yet again this year... we wonder what threats they face while there, if any? The truth is, we cannot claim to be fully protecting them while the location of their breeding ground eludes us. This is a challenging issue, but hopefully photo-identification will reveal more in time.
Risso's dolphins, white-beaked dolphins, killer whales, pilot whales and humpback whales were all recorded in low numbers during this period. Unlike the previous spring/winter, we did not record any sperm whales, although they were seen in early April west of St. Kilda in deep waters. Stay tuned for more updates on our sightings as we head towards summer. From now until October we will do monthly sighting updates. Thanks again for all the sightings, and do keep them coming!
To see a map of the sightings from 1 November 2015 to 31 March 2016, click here