The great Orca Watch is back
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GET your cameras and binoculars at the ready as the orcas are on their way to the Caithness coastline.
With several sightings of orcas having already been made, Sea Watch Foundation (SWF) is waiting in anticipation for the cetacean pods to pass through the Pentland Firth in search of food.
“Being able to sight so many different cetacean species in Caithness, Orkney and Shetland so close to shore is something truly amazing,” said Dr Chiara Giulia Bertulli, Sea Watch sightings officer and lead organiser of this year’s event.
At the end of May, the Pentland Firth welcomes back the charity’s eighth annual Orca Watch event during which the Caithness coast is visited by hundreds of whale enthusiasts, tourists and local media wanting to witness the passage of orcas close to shore.
With the possibility of underwater turbines installed in the area, a decision was made to establish a seasonal watch to gather information on how orcas use this area and what might be the consequences of such an installation.
The 2019 event started on Friday, May 10, and will run to Sunday, May 26, with people from all walks of life invited to join the dedicated volunteers for watches.
Watches will be conducted at Duncansby Head, the main viewpoint – times and locations can be found online.
There will also be volunteer observers on board the John O'Groats ferry, collecting data.
This is an open event and anyone interested is welcome to reach the organised land watches at any time during the day. People are also free to look out for whales and collate sightings anywhere else along the coast. Sightings should be reported here.
“What we hope for is to be able to collect sightings data involving members of the general public, helping each other while sharing skills,” Dr Bertulli said.
“Sightings are important because they give us information about where and when particular species occur, from which we can identify important areas and habitats, as well as determine changes in their status and distribution. Such knowledge helps provide better informed conservation measures."
The north coast of Scotland is one of the best places to see whales, dolphins, porpoise and many different seabird species in the UK. As well as the orca, many other species of whale and dolphin can be seen from the shore including the common minke and humpback whale, Risso’s, common and white-beaked dolphins and the harbour porpoise.
For the bird aficionados, sightings of razorbills, puffins, fulmars, great skuas and terns are possible too.
If you live locally and want to organise your own land or boat watches the recording forms can be found online.
Sea Watch Foundation is also proud to announce an evening of orca talks on Saturday, May 18, at 6.30pm in the Pulteney People’s Centre in Wick.
An Orca Watch beach clean will also be arranged at Sannick beach on Wednesday, May 22, in collaboration with the Highlife Highland countryside rangers. A cetacean talk will be given to the kids at the Canisbay Primary School on Friday, May 24.
Further details of all Orca Watch events can also be found on the Sea Watch Facebook page.
