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
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- 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
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- March 2010
- Winter 2009/10
- September 2009
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- 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.
June 2016
Summer has arrived, and with it, the peak season for seeing cetaceans around our shores. June was a fantastic month for sightings, we doubled our previous month’s number of sightings for harbour porpoises (for the second month in a row), with over 100 sightings reported to us, of 246 individuals. This is fantastic data for us, and shows how big a difference everyone reporting their sightings can make!
We had a good number of sightings of each of our main 4 dolphin species, bottlenose dolphins again being regularly spotted, with 25 reported sightings, particularly around Mull and Barra. We also had 15 reports of common dolphins, the largest pod consisting of 150 animals. We had 5 reports of Risso’s dolphins, in average group sizes of 7 animals, with sightings occurring in various areas throughout the Hebrides. We also had 8 white-beaked dolphin sightings reported to us, most occurring in the northern parts of the Hebrides, often west of the Outer Hebrides, but also 2 sightings near the Skye bridge, a rarer location for them!
Minke whales seem to be continuing to do well, with 31 reports, Mull and Skye both proving particularly good areas for them. However we only had 2 reports of basking sharks in June, which is unusual for this time of year, as by now they have normally begun to arrive in greater numbers. We should hopefully see a large increase within the next few weeks, so keep your eyes open and if you do spot any (or any cetaceans) keep letting us know!
Lastly, a good month for some of the less common sightings we get in the Hebrides, with 3 reports of humpback whales, 2 occurring off the east coast of Lewis, and one off Arran. We also had 8 reports of killer whales, or orca, which is fantastic when considering we had no reports in May. Not all these animals were from our resident pod of orca, the West Coast Community, the ones spotted further north were mostly orca from transient pods that sometimes visit our waters. By looking at their dorsal fins/eye patches, we can identify our resident pod from the transient ones, which allows us to track specific individuals throughout the area.
Sorry for the delay in releasing our monthly roundup, July’s will follow soon, but keep up with the sightings reports, they can really make a massive difference to our understanding of different species movements and behaviour!
To see a map of the sightings from 1 to 30 June 2016, click here