Orca Watch 2025 has officially begun. The Sea Watch Foundation team are in John O’ Groats, Caithness, Scotland, to hold this 10-day event from the 24th of May to the 1st of June. Orca Watch has been running for 12 years, originally starting to help research the effects of a tidal turbine installation on marine wildlife, with a focus on orca, in the Pentland Firth. This event has now expanded to include all cetacean and seal species, as well as any other exciting marine wildlife such as sharks. All sightings recorded get inputted to a nationwide citizen science database, the largest and longest-running in the UK and possibly also across Europe. It is vital to continue this work, not only during Orca Watch but throughout the year to monitor and observe cetaceans, recording numbers and behaviour.
This year, the Sea Watch Foundation volunteers and citizen scientists are stationed at 11 watch sites across the North Scotland coast, spanning from Wick to Thurso and around the Orkney and Shetland islands. The team are also conducting surveys onboard Pentland Ferries, travelling from Gills Bay to St Margarets Hope on Orkney. The Sea Watch Foundation’s trained volunteers are also joined by members of the public and ‘Orcaholics’ whilst conducting dedicated searches.
Image of Sea Watch Foundation Volunteers on the John O’ Groats pier whilst waiting for a male orca to pass on Saturday 24th May 2025 (image taken by Harriet Goodchild).
There has been a total of seven different species recorded since the beginning of the event, including five cetacean species and two seal species. In 2024 there were a total of nine different cetacean and seal species, and one basking shark!
This year, there has already been a total of seven orca reports, with 15 individuals counted, as well as 32 individual Risso’s dolphins, two bottlenose dolphins, two harbour porpoise, 36 grey seals and 21 harbour seals. On 27th of May 2025 there was also a report of a basking shark at the Trinkie, Wick.
The first orca sighting of this year’s event was on the 24th of May 2025, first being spotted at Scarfskerry at 18:28. It was confirmed to be a lone male orca (bull) which then travelled slowly round to Gills Bay at 19:33. The Sea Watch Foundation believe that he then travelled north around Stroma Island before being seen again heading towards Duncansby Head at 21.03.
The second orca sighting occurred in the early hours of 05:57 on the 26th of May 2025. This was a small group first seen in John O’ Groats by a Sea Watch Foundation volunteer before heading south from Duncansby Head at 06:44.
On the same day, a pod of 4/5 individuals was seen at the Trinkie, Wick, at 16:19 around 20 meters from the shore. This pod was later confirmed to be the 169’s along with a young calf.
Image of two 169 female Orcas and calf from the Trinkie, Wick, on Monday 26th May 2025 (image taken by Kris Simpson).
Despite the name, Orca Watch does not only record the killer whales seen around the coast but also record all cetaceans and seal species. Sea Watch Foundation volunteers recorded an incredible Risso’s dolphin sighting at the Trinkie at midday on Saturday 24th May 2025.
Image of the Risso’s dolphins seen from the Trinkie, Wick, on Saturday 24th of May 2025 (image taken by Karen Munro).
There will be continual updates on sightings, events and information on the website, social media and in the hub at John O’ Groats. People can come and visit the team and volunteers in the base which is open from 8am to 5pm every evening. Events are being held in person and online, with more information available on the website.
You can see what sightings have been recorded and where by going to Sea Watch’s Map View on the website: https://seawatchadmin.imardis.org/sightings-viewer.
Sea Watch Foundation are partnering with local companies, charities and organisations to create a successful event.
Thank you to: Pentland Ferries, RSPB, Orkney Marine Mammal Research Initiative, High Life Highland Countryside Rangers, The Cabin at John O’ Groats, Scottish Natural Heritage, Shetland Wildlife, John O’ Groats Development Trust, Dunnet and Cannisbay Community Council, NatureScot, our John O’ Groats host Together Travel.
