National Whale and Dolphin Watch Week 2006.

Despite appalling weather conditions across the UK during National Whale and Dolphin Watch 2006 (August 12-21) hundreds of people, young and old, turned out to help trained observers at more than 70 manned sites around the UK, while many more sent in their own sightings

separate sightings have already been logged from the watch with eight species of whales, dolphins and porpoises reported (harbour porpoises, minke whales, killer whales, and five species of dolphins – Risso’s, common, bottlenose, white-beaked and white-sided).

Results are still coming in from some of the more remote and sea-based observation points and the final number could top 600. The Moray Forth in North East Scotland proved a particular hotspot, with seven out of the eight species recorded there during the watch

In the days immediately following the Watch fin whales were reported in St George’s Channel, west of Pembrokeshire for the second year running – suggesting this area might have become a summer favourite for what is the world’s second largest whale.

One of the least know species of beaked whales – Sowerby’s beaked whales - were seen in the inner Moray Firth from Fort George by experienced Sea Watch observer, Alan Airey. He reported them surfacing four times in perfect unison, and showing their beaks before disappearing from view. Sowerby’s tend to stay well away from shipping lanes and are usually only seen when washed up or stranded.

Highlights for the 2006 watch, region by region, are as follows:

  • Wales: Bottlenose dolphins were seen from Pembrokeshire to the North Welsh coast. Common dolphins were seen off Pembrokeshire and made an unusual appearance in Cardigan Bay. Harbour porpoises were recorded from Milford Haven to Anglesey.
  • South West: Encouraging numbers of harbour porpoises were reported across the South West, and particularly along the North Devon coast. Bottlenose dolphins were recorded in several groups off Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, along with common dolphins around the Isles of Scilly.
  • South Coast: Bottlenose dolphins were spotted at Brighton Marina, close to Worthing Pier and in the estuary of the River Blackwater in Essex
  • North East: white-beaked or white-sided dolphins were seen off Flamborough Head. White-beaked dolphins were also seen offshore at Whitburn and Tynemouth and harbour porpoises were recorded off Flamborough Head and Spurn Point, near Craster in Northumberland and close to Lizard Point, Tynemouth and Cresswell.
  • Channel Islands: Bottlenose dolphins were seen off Gorey Pier and Minquiers Reef and a humpback whale was reported off the French coast.
  • South East: Common dolphins were seen in Blackwater estuary in Essex and harbour porpoises were seen at Canvey Island, Dungeness in Kent, Gorleston in Norfolk and Dunwich Heath and Felixstowe in Suffolk
  • North East: White-beaked or white-sided dolphins were seen off Flamborough Head. White-beaked dolphins were also seen offshore at Whitburn and Tynemouth and harbour porpoises were recorded off Flamborough Head and Spurn Point, near Craster in Northumberland and close to Lizard Point, Tynemouth and Cresswell.
  • North West: Bottlenose dolphins were seen at St Bees and Morecambe Port and harbour porpoises were seen as St Bees, Port Carlisle, Blackpool and Silloth
  • Isle of Man: A minke whale was seen below Douglas Lighthouse and off Dalby point. Bottlenose dolphins were seen as Port Cornaa and Risso’s dolphins north of Niarbyl.

Highlights of the Watch in Scotland included:

  • On the west coast – the welcome return of minkes after a dramatic decline last year. During the watch they were spotted in the Sound of Sleat, at Rubha Hunish and around the islands of Mull, Eigg, Rum and Skye in West Scotland. A shortage of food supplies – sprats – was thought to be to blame for their comparative absence in 2005 and it remains to be seen whether they are back to their 2004 numbers. On the north and east coasts, minke whales were recorded off Out Skerries, East of Yell and off Fladdabister in the Shetlands, off Burwick in Orkney, from Lybster Viewpoint and off Whaligoe Steps in Caithness and at St Cyrus Bay in South East Scotland.
  • On the North East and North West coasts of Scotland – the arrival of common dolphins, a species more usually associated with warmer waters. During the watch they were seen off the Lybster viewpoint and from South Kessock and North Kessock on the North East coast. Other reports during the summer have also recorded them off the west coast right up to the Minches north of Skye.
  • In the Shetland Islands - a large group of around 100 Atlantic white-sided dolphins south of Linga in Bluemull Sound was recorded by the Shetland Sea Mammal Group. Other sightings in Shetland during the week included minke whales, harbour porpoises and Risso dolphins.
  • Orkney and North Scotland - four species were recorded: minke whales, white-beaked dolphins, Risso’s dolphins and harbour porpoises

A full list of the sightings for the watch so far are listed here.

Click here for the full report and sightings maps for NWDW 2006.

Back to the top