[kas]

If anybody is out seawatching in the next week (13th-21st August), it is the UKs national whale and dolphin watch week. So if anyone sees anything your sightings can be reported to the seawatch foundation at the following website-

http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/events.htm

I know they would be delighted with any info anyone could give. I am hopefully going on 2 watches this weekend, I just pray it is calm weather.

Thanks Kas

[John M]

Kas,
I was at Strathie Point two weeks ago and saw Minke Whales feeding on herring. There was at least ten of them lunge feeding. Park at the entrance to the Lighthouse and look over towards Dounreay. Apparently they had been there for several weeks before I came accross them. There was also a pod of Orca in John O`groats on 1st August but they could be long gone.

Good Luck.

[kas]

HI John
See the following thread for pictures of the Orca at Groats.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=37343

I work at Dounreay and have been watching the Minkie at lunch times, this year has been excellent. Strathy is where one of the seawatches is this weekend.

Do you live up here or were you on holiday?

[Karl J]

Sounds an interesting sideline to birding and i'll most probably be somewhere along the Norfolk / Suffolk coast during the next week.

I know we get porpoises in Yarmouth & Lowestoft harbours but is there maybe anything else in the area ? ... So's i can do a bit of reading up beforehand

[John M]

Originally Posted by kas

HI John
See the following thread for pictures of the Orca at Groats.
http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=37343

I work at Dounreay and have been watching the Minkie at lunch times, this year has been excellent. Strathy is where one of the seawatches is this weekend.

Do you live up here or were you on holiday?

Hi Kas,

Live near Oban but was kayaking, surfing and bird watching along the North Coast. Went to Duncansbay Head and got some good sights of the sea bird colony there. We then went down to the Moray Firth and had great veiws of the dolphins from Charnory Point. Only thing that spoilt the trip was the sight of the windfarm near Latheron. What a monstrosity.
Are the Minkes still there?

[kas]

Originally Posted by Karl J

Sounds an interesting sideline to birding and i'll most probably be somewhere along the Norfolk / Suffolk coast during the next week.

I know we get porpoises in Yarmouth & Lowestoft harbours but is there maybe anything else in the area ? ... So's i can do a bit of reading up beforehand

Hi Karl
The same website has a species guide and a recent sightings page. The recent sightings page gives you a map and you click on the area you live, you should find out there what is about your neck of the woods. Porpoise records are also collected.
Thanks Kas

[kas]

Originally Posted by John M

Hi Kas,

Live near Oban but was kayaking, surfing and bird watching along the North Coast. Went to Duncansbay Head and got some good sights of the sea bird colony there. We then went down to the Moray Firth and had great veiws of the dolphins from Charnory Point. Only thing that spoilt the trip was the sight of the windfarm near Latheron. What a monstrosity.
Are the Minkes still there?

Yes the minkie are still about, saw a basking shark the other day as well. There is also alot of White beaked dolphin and porpoise as well, the orca are still about but have been avoiding me much to my dismay.

Hope you enjoyed your holiday. As far as the turbines go, that is only the beginning. There are hundreds more proposed for up here.

[Karl J]

Thanks Kas, bookmarked and i'll have a look tomorrow

[John M]

Originally Posted by kas

If anybody is out seawatching in the next week (13th-21st August), it is the UKs national whale and dolphin watch week. So if anyone sees anything your sightings can be reported to the seawatch foundation at the following website-

http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/events.htm

I know they would be delighted with any info anyone could give. I am hopefully going on 2 watches this weekend, I just pray it is calm weather.

Thanks Kas

Kas,
How did the whale watch go? Weather on the west coast was not good for watching, windy and rough seas. I suspect there will be a few people interested in any sightings you had.
Cheers

[kas]

Hi John.

On Saturday on Strathy point, the weather was ok, within seconds of setting up we had large dolphins far off shore splashing around. Sadly they were too far away even with the scope to get an ID. We also got some good shots of Minkie Whale and some porpoise.

I was unable to get to the watch on Sunday at Lybster as my son had football. But I di see on the net that they got Bottle nosed dolphin, Harbour porpoise, Minkie whale, White beaked dolphin and Orca.

On Monday night from my house we had white beaked dolphin and porpoise.
The porpoise have been visible evrey night since, there is so many spread over quite a large area that I cant put a number on them. But I wouldnt be surprised if there is 100+.

We also have a basking shark lurking about, I saw it last week and it has been spotted regularly since. My one and only shark sighting.
If I get anything else apart from the porpoise this week I'll post it up.

Cheers Kas