July 2013 was a very interesting
month for sightings with a total of 131 reports submitted to HWDT. While the
number of sightings was quite low, the variety of species reported was high and
included fin whale, turtle and killer whales.
The species reported most during July was the harbour porpoise, lending proof that this is one of
the most abundant populations of harbour porpoise in Europe. Sightings are
still less than this time last year when we had 84 reports of harbour porpoise,
however 51 sightings this July is still impressive! Worldwide, harbour
porpoises are found in relatively inshore waters in the northern hemisphere.
They are widespread throughout coastal regions of the Hebrides and are resident
year-round. 
Thee were 17 sightings of
basking sharks this July. The basking shark is the second largest fish in the
ocean, after the whaleshark and can grow to an impressive 11 meters long!
People have reported basking sharks approaching their boats as they filter the
water for plankton with their wide mouths agape. In some cases the shark is as
long as the vessel!
July was a poor month for minke
whale sightings with only 16 reports of minke being submitted to HWDT. This is
down from 25 reports last month and 30 reports in July 2012. While the number
of minke whale sightings may be lower than in previous years, the reports HWDT
have received are in no way less exciting. Many of the sightings reports from
July described the whales lunge feeding. Lunge feeding is a behaviour associated
with minke whales feeding on sand eels, and it has not been seen in a number of
years due to a decline in the sand eel population. The fact that minke whales
are once again lunge feeding may be an indication that the sand eel population
has begun to recover.
HWDT received 19 reports of
bottlenose dolphins in the Hebrides this July. Many of these dolphins were seen
in the waters around the north end of the Isle of Mull, which is interesting as
bottlenose dolphins are usually found around the southern end of the island. There was
even a pod of around 10 individuals enter Tobermory bay three evenings
running. They provided tourists and residents alike with a grand display of
leaping and splashing. One lady captured this spectacle on film and you
can see the footage here on the HWDT facebook page
July also saw a sighting from
one of our rarer visitors in the form of a single fin whale which was spotted
10 miles east of St Kilda. Sightings of fin whales in the Hebrides are very
rare, with the last sighting occurring in September 2011, and generally only
occur during summer months. It has been suggested that the whales, which are
normally found in offshore and shelf waters, move into our inshore waters to
take advantage of the rich food resources available during the summer.
The west coast community (WCC)
of killer whales were very active this past month, on the 10th HWDT
received a report of two killer whales hunting seals off the rocks at Triagh
Mhor beach (Tolsta Beach). Between the 19th and the 23rd
of July there was numerous reports of a group of 4 killer whales in the waters
around the Small Isles, Coll, Ardnamurchan and the southern coast of Skye.
Using photographs submitted by members of the public HWDT were able to match
two of these killer whales to individuals in our photo-ID catalogue,
identifying them as the males “John Coe” and “Comet”. Killer whales were again
seen along the south coast of Skye on the 31st when they were
spotted by some land based observers from Neist
Point.
During July common dolphins were
seen on 10 occasions, Risso’s dolphin on 4 occasions, Atlantic white-sided
dolphins were seen once and unknown species of dolphins were seen twice.
HWDT also received a report of an unknown species of turtle, the turtle was
spotted from land as it broke the water surface near Carragriech on Harris, it
was described as creating long very visible sea trails in the calm clear water
as it propelled itself along the surface with its flippers.
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