Melissa Corkhill

By Melissa Corkhill

04th August 2010

Fourteen species of whales, dolphins and harbour porpoise have been seen in the seas around the UK this year. And this weekend sees the start of Whale and Dolphin Watch so it is hoped even more will be spotted.

Melissa Corkhill

By Melissa Corkhill

04th August 2010

Melissa Corkhill

By Melissa Corkhill

04th August 2010

Sea Watch, organisers of the UK National Whale and Dolphin Watch, which runs from Saturday August 7 to Sunday August 15, are hoping members of the public will be able to help spot even more of the cetaceans. Sightings will help scientists understand more about their abundance and distribution.

SOWERBY’S BEAKED
Thirteen of the species seen this year are regular visitors to UK waters, although this year some have turned up in unexpected locations. The 14th species spotted was a Sowerby’s beaked whale off Kent in July, which later stranded and perished. Sowerby’s beaked whales normally live in ocean canyons exceeding 1,000 metres depth, far to the west of the British Isles, so a sighting off the Isle of Sheppey is a rare event. Sadly, it was found dead the next day at Seasalter near Whitstable.

SEI WHALE MOTHER AND CALF
Sea Watch has also just received unconfirmed sightings of a 15th species – a sei whale mother and calf off Orkney. If confirmed, this would be a highly unusual sighting of this relatively rare whale which is usually found in deep Atlantic waters from Iceland and Norway south to the Iberian Peninsula. The last sighting of a sei whale in the Orkney region was in July 2008 when one was seen a few miles east of Stronsay. The previous sighting was in almost exactly the same locality 28 years ago in July 1980.

TAKE PART
Details of how to take part in the National Whale and Dolphin Watch from land and sea are on the charity’s website www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk, along with details of how to send in pictures as part of the charity’s Photo a fin ID campaign.

So far this year Sea Watch scientists have received a number of interesting records:
FEBRUARY sightings of a newborn bottlenose dolphin calf off Anglesey in North Wales. Bottlenose dolphin calves are usually born between March and September.
APRIL there were sightings of killer whales in the Irish Sea, off the Isle of Man, earlier in the season than expected.
MAY a group of almost 100 long-finned pilot whales was seen in the Cromarty Firth and then spotted travelling the coast of north east Scotland where they were last observed at Lybster, Caithness. This species rarely visits so close to shore.
JUNE a sperm whale was identified a number of times off Torbay in Devon. It is rare to see this magnificent animal so far east in the English Channel and in such shallow water.
JULY Almost 50 white-beaked dolphins were watched from Souter Head, Cove, five miles south of Aberdeen harbour. Although the white-beaked dolphin is the commonest dolphin in the North Sea, it is unusual for such a large group to come so close inshore. They were probably in pursuit of fish
AUGUST At least two northern bottlenose whales were recorded in the Wash off Norfolk, heading southwest. These animals are normally found in deep waters in the North Atlantic. It is thought that some lose their way during the migration from the Norwegian Sea past the Northern Isles to the North Atlantic which is why we sometimes see these animals off the British coast.

Sea Watch Director Dr Peter Evans said: “Marine mammals are an important barometer of the health of our waters. By monitoring where, when and how many are seen, we can pick up trends in populations, and identify human pressures such as pollution, disturbance or entanglement in fishing gear.

“There is still a great deal we need to understand about our marine mammals so that we can put in place effective conservation measures – where they go, how they interact with humans, and where they feed and breed. Any sightings or photographs that the public can send in can help unlock some of the mysteries.

“A concentrated watch over a number of days enables us to build up a snapshot of marine mammals around our coast.. This is the ninth successive year the watch has been held, and it provides us with vital background information, as well as raising awareness about the diversity of species that our waters sustain.”

The 13 species most often seen in UK waters are: minke whale, fin whale, humpback whale, sperm whale, northern bottlenose whale, long-finned pilot whale, killer whale (orca), Risso’s dolphin, Atlantic white-sided dolphin, white-beaked dolphin, common dolphin, bottlenose dolphin, and harbour porpoise.

USEFUL BOOKS FOR FAMILIES
Whales and Dolphins (Usbourne Discovery) I love the simple layout of these books and they appeal to a young age group with their bright pictures and easy to read text.
Ocean (Eyewitness Guide, DK) This book is just awesome, as are all the Eyewitness Guides. Packed with information, this book has been used for many home ed projects.
Lift The Flaps Under The Sea From a young age my daughters have loved this book – it is colourful and exciting.

The beautiful image accompanying this story is taken by Jeff Rotman of New Jersey.

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