Posts Tagged ‘Scotland’
50 shades of grey – watching orcas in Scotland
Every year, people gather on cliff tops in the north of Scotland to watch out for orcas, some of whom come down from their winter herring-hunting grounds in Iceland on the look out for seals in the early Scottish summer. Run by the Sea Watch Foundation and supported by WDC, we call this event Orca…
Read MoreFamiliar Fins, New Faces and Bizarre Encounters … !!
Ask anyone and they’ll tell you that Scotland has been having a dismal summer this year, low temperatures and rain and wind galore. The weather however isn’t going to stop our dolphins go about their daily business and so we returned (even more determined than ever) to our field site on the Isle of Lewis…
Read MoreOrca Watch in Scotland …the results are in
The WDC team has now left Scotland and the beautiful Caithness coastline but the sightings continue. During our week in the far north we were fortunate enough to see orcas, humpback whales, minke whales and harbour porpoise from our vantage point at Duncansby Head, just two miles from John O Groats. Other keen whale watchers…
Read MoreA Fantastic Season and a Farewell to the Scottish Dolphin Centre’s Residential Volunteers
It has been a truly fantastic season here at Spey Bay! There have been dolphins a plenty treating all of us newbies to some exceptional displays. From wee tiny calves to groups of adolescent teens, all have been showing off their immense power and strength when breaching and doing somersaults out of the water. However…
Read MoreWild dolphin crossbreeding in UK revealed by WDC
Shrinking dolphin populations in UK waters may be causing one species to mate with another according to WDC research. WDC has recently released the first documented proof of hybridisation between wild dolphins in UK waters, where one species mates with a completely different species. In a recently published scientific paper scientific paper ,…
Read MoreScottish windfarms decision bad for marine mammals
WDC are supportive of efforts to reduce climate impacts and move away from the use of fossil fuels. However, the decision by Scottish Ministers today to consent these four offshore wind farms off the Forth and Tay on the east coast of Scotland will drive another nail in the coffin of the local harbour seal…
Read MoreFamiliar Fins and Hybrid Dolphins
Encountering dolphins in the wild is a pleasure and a privilege, encountering dolphins known to you in the wild is even more special. Starting in 2010 we came to the Isle of Lewis to study and learn more about the population of Risso’s dolphins who use the area, five years on and we’re beginning to…
Read MoreBoat crews asked to keep distance from baby dolphin
WDC’s field officer in Scotland, Charlie Phillips, has asked that sailors and crews of boats using Inverness ity harbour and marina, and the Kessock Channel, to proceed with caution and not to seek out a baby dolphin born in recent days. This is a very vulnerable time for the young calf and loud noises from…
Read MoreRisso’s dolphin MPA for North East Lewis?
We have been watching Risso’s dolphins foraging almost every day since we arrived last weekend to conduct our annual surveys off the Isle of Lewis in Scotland. Since we were last here…. drum roll please…. our survey area in North East Lewis has become a proposed Marine Protected Area (MPA) for these dolphins! We couldn’t…
Read MoreThere be a mutiny at Spey Bay this Sunday on Pirate Day!
With the end of the six weeks holidays coming near here at the Scottish Dolphin Centre we will be celebrating in style! Over the past few weeks we have been seeing lots of dolphin activity with pod sizes ranging from just two individuals to twelve! The ospreys who will be preparing for their long migration…
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