Marine Life News Archive - 1996
A dead PILOT WHALE has been found washed up on the beach at Haroldswick, Unst.
Two KILLER WHALES were also seen by Jonathan Wills at 18.30, 3 miles south of Rams Ness, Fetlar.
A pod of 6 RISSO'S DOLPHINS were off Sumburgh Head today.
Although not Shetland News it transpires that a Beluga (almost certainly the same individual that was here on the 4th) was around Orkney on the 7th and has now moved further south to the coast of Thurso where it beached and had to be un-beached by the local SSPCA. In addition there are unconfirmed reports of a pod of 20 Beluga in the Tay estuary.
A pod of c.20 WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHINS were off Sumburgh Head this afternoon.
Unfortunately there was no further sign of yesterday's BELUGA WHALE today, despite extensive searching.
Top news of the day was the discovery of Shetlands' first and only about Britains fith BELUGA WHALE swimming in Hoswick Bay (near Sandwick) late this afternoon. The species is very distinctive being almost entirely white in colour and lacking any dorsal (back) fin. It also has a bulbous forehead and frequently lifts its head from the sea - apparently 'looking around', although this individual was not performing in this way.
Its normal range is the northern polar regions where it
occurrs in the sea around the ice pack, although it is known to
migrate south as the polar ice cap expands during the autumn. It
is one of the 'toothed' whales, feeding primarily on fish and
crustaceans and is usually found in large groups of several
individuals together, which makes this one even more unusual.
About 200-300 folk turned up at Hoswick to see the whale as news of its discovery spread rapidly throughout the isles, aided by a news broadcast on Radio Shetland. It was last seen about 6.45pm heading south towards Sumburgh Head, hopefully it will be relocated again tommorrow.
The Beluga at Hoswick - photo Hugh Harrop
A RISSO'S DOLPHIN was close inshore off Sumburgh and Compass Head this morning. Yesterday's pod of 5 WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHINS were also seen there again today.
A pod of 5 WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHINS were off Sumburgh Head this morning.
Jonathan Wills reported the following from the 'Dunter' today:
1135: 6 HARBOUR PORPOISES off south coast of Noss, apparently
feeding on large mackerel shoal.
Jonathan Wills reported the following from his boat
'Dunter'
today on a trip to Skerries.
1220 - 1620: A total of 47 HARBOUR PORPOISES seen from Dunter on
a trip from Lerwick to Skerries and back. Main concentrations of
porpoises around east Whalsay Holms, off Muckle Holm and between
Skerries and the Skaw of Whalsay.
Jonathan Wills reported the following from the 'Dunter' today.
1100: 1 adult and 1 very small juvenile HARBOUR PORPOISES in the Voe
of Culbinsbrough, Bressay.
1205: Five HARBOUR PORPOISES south of Noss.
1540: 1 adult and one very small juvenile HARBOUR PORPOISES in
Noss Sound.
Jonathan Wills reported the following sightings from the
'Dunter' today.
1100BST : Two HARBOUR PORPOISES off south-east coast of Noss.
2005BST : Four (possiby more) KILLER WHALES again passing
within a few yards of the Score Point, Bressay. Seen at a
distance of 500 yards, from on land (we'd moored up the boat and
gone ashore). My third sighting at this location this year and
the fourth (counting the Bruntland one last month) in this
vicinity.
As on previous occasions, the whales swam off southwards, at
about 10mph, towards Noss - this time apparently feeding on fish,
not seals.
They appear to be attracted by the upwelling of water over the
70' high underwater cliff which stetches NE of the Score. Every
sighting has been with the flood tide.
The regular Sumburgh pod of 5 KILLER WHALES were showing well again today.
Four KILLER WHALES were seen from the m.v. Dunter at Score Point, Bressay at 1230. They comprised a large adult female with a calf and two other medium-sized whales (no large bull present). They were watched for 15 minutes patrolling very close inshore - within four feet of the rocks and in water less than 9 feet deep - apparently hunting seals. The Large female was seen displaying a skinned seal to the calf as the group swam away quickly towards Voe of Culbinsbrough. All three adult whales had a notch about half way up the dorsal fin. Apparently the same whales as some seen at the same spot in May.
A MINKE WHALE was off Sumburgh this morning along with 5 PORPOISE.
Jonathan Will reported the following from the 'Dunter' today
between 10.00 and 1245. 2 HARBUR PORPOISES at the Holm of Gunnista,
Bressay, with 4 more 1m south of Noss Sound, and 2 at Breiwick, Lerwick.
30+ COMMON
and GREY SEALS were at the Holm of Beosetter, and 10 COMMON
SEALS at Stoura Clett, East Bressay.
5 KILLER WHALES were off Eshaness at around noon today.
The Shetland Sea Mammal (formerly the Shetland Cetacean Group) are having their annual open day at Sumburgh Head on Sunday (27th). Go along and see displays about Whales and Dolphins in Shetland waters and hopefully some of the animals themselves as watchers will be stationed around the south Mainland reporting any sightings as soon as they happen.
A MINKE WHALE was off Sumburgh Head today, and 10 PORPOISES were in Mousa Sound.
A pod of 6 KILLER WHALES were off the east side of Yell, probably those reported on the 19th.
The pod of 5 KILLER WHALES were off Sumburgh Head again this afternoon and a pod of 6 comprising one large bull, a calf and 4 others swam north through Yell Sound at 20.30 and headed up the west side of Yell.
Jonathan Wills reported the following HARBOUR PORPOISE sightings from the Dunter today, at 08.20 two in Dales Voe, 10.20 one at Holm of Beosetter, Bressay, and at 23.50 five off Helliness, Cunningsburgh.
The pod of 5 KILLER WHALES were off Sumburgh Head again today.
A single HARBOUR PORPOISE was in Noss Sound at 1040BST.
Up to 12 HARBOUR PORPOISES were at the north end of Mousa Sound.
Angus and Mary McKechnie report a pod of 6 KILLER WHALES in Culbinsbrough Voe, Bressay, seen from their croft at Bruntland yesterday (Saturday).
Jonathan Wills reports 2 HARBOUR PORPOISES just south of Noss Sound from the 'Dunter' at about mid-day.
A pod of 5 KILLER WHALES were off Noss this afternoon at about 3.30, later being seen off Fladdabister about 5.30 heading south.
Two MINKE WHALES were off Sumburgh Head this afternoon.
At the Noss open day today, at least 15 HARBOUR PORPOISES passed through Noss Sound.
Late breaking news - yesterday (3rd) a gathering of c.70 KILLER WHALES made their way through Bluemull Sound. The SIC ferry followed them and got very close allowing all those present excellent views!!!
The 2 HUMPBACK WHALES were off Sumburgh Head again today, although they were a fairly long way out from land, in addition the KILLER WHALES, 2 MINKE WHALES and c.30 WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS were also seen there today.
The pod of 5 KILLER WHALES were around Sumburgh Head today, along with 2 MINKE WHALES.
Two MINKE WHALES were off the east side of Sumburgh Head today.
The pod of 5 KILLER WHALES were in the West Voe of Sumburgh again today - eating seals!.
The two HUMPBACK WHALES were off Compass/Sumburgh Head again this afternoon and evening, along with about 6 MINKE WHALES.
Up to 9 MINKE WHALES and the pod of 5 KILLER WHALES were off Sumburgh Head today.
News of the day was 10 MINKE WHALES off Sumburgh Head this afternoon. If its calm tommorrow they may well be there again, hopefully with the Humpbacks.
And the pod of 5 KILLER WHALES was again off Sumburgh Head today.
News of the day was the reappearance of 2 HUMPBACK WHALES off Sumburgh Head, performing well this afternoon leaping out of the sea. If the weather is good again tommorrow, they will almost certainly be back - watch from the car park on the east side of the head. In addition there were also 2-3 MINKE WHALES there and 200-300 WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS - Sumburgh Head is definitely the place to be for cetacean watching.
Up to five large GREY SEAL bulls are also frequenting the quay of the Shetland Catch Fish Factory, feeding on fish thrown to them by factory workers and fishermen, they are 'Lerwicks friendly seals' and come very close to the quay.
Jonathan Wills recorded a HARBOUR PORPOISE (Neesick) west of Holm of Beosetter, Bresay during his seabird tour around Noss today. Noss Sound is an excellent place to see this species as they are regular there during the summer.
A pod of 10 KILLER WHALES are frequenting the Sumburgh Head/Scatness area - chasing seals!
A pod of 9 KILLER WHALES was seen north of Bressay this evening. The whales, including two large bulls, a calf and several juveniles, appeared among sea angling boats about half a mile north of the Score Point at 8.40pm and swam slowly south-east towards Noss before disappearing into the fog off Rules Ness at 9.10pm.
A pod of 5 KILLER WHALES were off Noss today.
Two KILLER WHALES were in Nor Wick at 07.45 and Harolds Wick at 12.30 on the 14th May (both places are on Unst).
The HUMPBACK WHALE was off Sumburgh Head again today, along with c.20 WHITE-SIDED DOLPHINS and a MINKE WHALE.
The HUMPBACK WHALE is still present (see below).
The HUMPBACK WHALE was again off Sumburgh Head.
A HUMPBACK WHALE was off Sumburgh Head today.
A MINKE WHALE was off Sumburgh Head again today, seen from the top of the cliffs at the car park.
A MINKE WHALE is frequenting the area around Sumburgh Head. A pod of KILLER WHALES were reported off Easter Quarff on Thursday (9/5/96) and again off Gulberwick on Friday.
A pod of 6 WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHINS were swimming arouns Sumburgh Head today, if previous years occurrences are anything to go by they may remain in the area for some time.
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