Orcas in North-east England (1 Viewer)

[Mark Newsome]

Following the report of a pod of Orcas 6 miles off the Northumberland coast on 7 May, presumably the same group has been reported off Crimdon Dene, County Durham today. Reports say they have been chasing seals right up to the shoreline directly infront of the Crimdon beach car park, NZ482371, 54.727236, -1.251861.
I guess more reports will come in as people go to check, but there are several healthy seal populations between Teesside and the Farnes so they could wander the northeast coast for a little while.

Mark

 

[Mark Newsome]

No further definite news either way from this area. Things descended into confusion yesterday when birders arrived at Crimdon to find no-one knew anything about the sighting (its a popular public place so you'd have thought there would be first hand accounts), and subsequent 2nd hand reports at Hartlepool took place when birders were on the Headland looking and seeing nothing. No photos have surfaced yet (as far as I know), which would be surprising if they were pursuing seals just offshore as reported.
There are Bottlenose Dolphins in this stretch, often very close to shore, so perhaps there has just been some hype/imagination/incorrect reporting. Hope to be proved wrong!

Mark