Results of survey 4
February 2002
For further information contact the Ranger Service Tel 01847 821531Getting There
Click
here for a map of Dunnet Bay Area
Very easy to find. The Ranger Base is on the coast road at the
caravan/camp site at Dunnet.
Date of survey was from April 2000 to March 31st 2001
Cetacean is the name given to whales, dolphins and porpoises. It does
not include sharks or seals. The N/NE coast of Scotland is comparatively
rich in cetaceans with more than 30% of the UK fauna being recorded
regularly since 1980. A total of sixteen species have been recorded
along the coast or in the near shore waters. Eight of the commonest
species are either present all year round or are regular visitors and on
featured on this site. Whale survey 2000 follows a successful project
run by Highland Council (H.C.) Ranger Service (Assynt) in association
with Assynt Field Club. It is being coordinated by H.C. Ranger Service
and the Northern Studies Centre.
This guide has been written to accompany the 2000 N/NE Coast Cetacean
Survey. It will show you how to go about looking for cetaceans and what
key identifying points to look for when spotting a whale, dolphin or
porpoise.
More information is desperately needed about the status, distribution
and movements of these mammals in our waters so we would ask you to send
us records of any sightings you make.
What to look for:
Estimate the general size.
Porpoise <1.8m
Dolphin 2.4-4m
Killer,Pilot & Minke whale 5-10m
Humpback,Sperm whale >10m
Look for the dorsal fin on its back, and note how far down its back
it occurs. Some large whales do not have a dorsel fin while others,
like Minke whales, have a very small dorsal fin two-thirds the way
down their backs.
Note the general size and shape of the dorsal fin. Is it upright
like the Killer whale or sickle shaped like the Common dolphin or
perhaps triangular like a Common porpoise?
Look for whale blows. Jets of water blown from the whale's nostril
are important to identify larger whales. How high is the blow? Is it
single or double? Is it vertical or pointing forward?
Note any characteristic behavior. Some species will jump out of the
water or bow ride in front of boats for example.
COMMON/HARBOUR PORPOISE
The commonest cetacean around British waters and the most frequently
sighted round here. It is often seen in small family groups in inshore
bays such as Dunnet or Gills Bay and in the Pentland Firth, peaking
July-October. Also in nearshore waters off Faraid head and Cape Wrath.
It is easy to identify because of its small size, less than 1.8m long.
However it is a shy retiring species and the most usual sighting is just
a blip of its triangular dorsal fin. It rarely bow rides in front of
boats.
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN
The species of 'flipper' fame. Famous resident of the inner Moray
Firth area (the most northerly resident group in the world). Rarer
outside this area with very occasional sightings. Almost uniform grey
apart from skin lesions noted in many of the Moray Firth specimens.
Belly is slightly paler than the back. Size 2-2.4m Bottlenose dolphin
are very playful and like to bow ride. They can be seen in-groups of
varying sizes.
STRIPED DOLPHIN
Striped dolphin, 1.95 - 2.4m, rarely observed, as it tends to prefer
offshore waters where it will bow ride boats and leap acrobatically.
Diagnostic features are grey flanks dividing a dark back and pale belly,
distinctive, thin black stripe, extending from the dark beak, around the
eye to the underside of the rear flank of the animal. Occasionally seen
in very large numbers of several hundreds.
WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN
Another playful, very acrobatic dolphin that occurs in small groups.
2.7m long. It is dark above with a white belly and a white mark on its
side not extending beyond the dorsal fin. A yellow ochre blaze on the
flanks near the fluke and a paler blaze along the flanks extending to
the beak help to identify the species. It has a short beak and
relatively large sickle-shaped dorsal fin.
WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHIN
This is quite a common dolphin especially in late summer when
mackerel shoals move towards the coast. Then they can be seen in large
numbers. At 3m long, they are easy to identify with their white beak,
and, when they jump clear of the water, their white sides and white rump
behind the large sickle-shaped dorsal fin. They like bow riding boats.
RISSO'S DOLPHIN
This robust, larger species of dolphin is generally very pale
(silvery grey) in body colour, with darker fin, flukes and flippers. The
dorsal fin is relatively large and sickle-shaped. Close up, scarring
caused by other dolphins can be seen particularly in older animals. They
are commonest during the late summer months when feeding on squid, their
main food. They are 3.5m long with large bulbous heads.
ORCA OR KILLER WHALE
This striking cetacean can be seen anytime, but especially during
summer from June to September when they feed on seals, birds and fish.
They swim in small groups, rarely singly. They are easy to identify with
their long upright dorsal fins and pointed heads. They are black with
obvious white patches behind the eye and base of the dorsal fin, while
the smaller female has a dorsal fin slightly back pointing.
PILOT WHALE
Nearly always in compact schools, they are almost all black in colour
with bulbous cylindrical heads and very large dorsal fins and flippers.
They are 5-6m long and eat mainly squid but will follow shoals of
mackerel.
MINKE WHALE
The commonest of all the whales and regularly seen in offshore waters
with sightings peaking around August. At 9m long they are small for a
whale. Their long back and tiny dorsal fin two-thirds the way down the
back is quite distinctive - as well as the white flippers. They are
often associated with flocks of gulls. A dive sequence of surface, blow
and roll with the dorsal fin briefly appearing, two-thirds down the
back, before diving, is diagnostic.
The best places on land to whale watch are headlands such as Cape
Wrath, Strathy Point, Holborn Head, Dunnet Head, Noss Head and the
Pentland Firth where strong currents bring in prey species such as
herring, mackerel and squid. Pick a calm day with good visibility out to
sea. If the sea is rough with lots of white water you may as well give
up.
Be prepared to sit patiently for a couple of hours constantly
scanning out to sea with binoculars or telescope. It is usually best to
watch 2 hours before sunset or 2 hours after dawn as the light will be
better for seeing. Look out for gulls congregating in a feeding frenzy
above a shoal of mackerel or herring.
The most useful information will be obtained if you regularly got to
one site and watch 2-3 hours once a month or more. Make sure you record
weather, the state of the sea, and what you see. Remember all
information is important, even days when you see nothing.
It is also possible to see other species that have been recorded in
the area but not illustrated on this page which include: Humpback whale,
Beluga, Sperm whale, Northern bottlenosed whale, Sowerby's whale, Sei
whale, Common dolphin and False killer whale.
Recording forms and further details can be obtained from the address
below.
All information and sightings should be sent to:
Highland Council Ranger Service
Dunnet Pavillion
Dunnet
Caithness
KW14 8XD
Tel: 01847 821531
Last date for acceptance of records is May 2001.
All reports of live strandings should be made to British
Divers Marine Life Rescue, Tel: 0385 738671. Dead cetaceans
should be reported to S.A.C, Tel: 01463 243030. All records will be
forwarded to Seawatch Foundation.
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