Large numbers of minke whales and a humpback whale

A count of 28 minke whales together with one humpback whale was made by Sea Watch regional co-ordinators Kevin Hepworth and Peter Macdonald between the Orkney mainland and Copinsay, during a survey trip from Aberdeen to Orkney on Saturday 2nd July. Other observers along the north coast of Scotland have also reported unusually large numbers of minkes in the Pentland Firth in late June and July, along with regular sightings of orcas. At Lybster, observer Colin Bird has observed up to 17 orcas recently, and witnessed attacks by orcas upon seals there.