UK National Whale and Dolphin Watch Results 2008

July 2008. The 2008 National Whale and Dolphin Watch produced some interesting results despite bad weather, especially in the north, according to Sightings Officer Edita Magileviciute.


Sixty manned sites were open to the general public, but watches were carried out in more than 165 locations around the country. A total of 339 sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises were reported during the week, comprising of eight species, and sightings records continue to come in. Bottlenose dolphins were the most frequently seen cetacean with 146 sightings, whilst harbour porpoises were reported 106 times during the week. The third most common cetacean species was the Minke whale with 41 sightings. Other species spotted were Atlantic white-sided dolphin (6 sightings), short-beaked common dolphin (17 sightings), Risso's dolphin (6 sightings), killer whale (10 sightings) as well as a humpback whale.

Harbour porpoises
The results were comparable to previous years with harbour porpoises being the most widely distributed around the British coasts ranging from Orkney to Channel Islands, with concentrations mainly on the east coast of Scotland, Wales and South West of England.

Bottlenose dolphins
Bottlenose dolphins were reported off Northeast Scotland all the way down to the Channel Islands, with the Moray Firth and Southwest Cardigan Bay being the most common locations.

Common dolphins
Short-beaked common dolphins were observed more off the northeast coast of Scotland and Northwest Scotland than in their more regular haunts in South-west England and West Wales.

Minke whales
Minke whale sightings were observed in several areas of Scotland with the major concentration (30% of sightings) in the Northwest of Scotland and Outer Hebrides.

Atlantic white-sided dolphins
Atlantic white-sided dolphins were seen mainly off East Scotland between Aberdeen and Stonehaven. Risso's dolphin sightings ranged from Orkney to Anglesey in North Wales. There were no records from their usual range along the west coast of Scotland or the Isle of Man.

Orca & Humpback
Ninety percent of killer whale sightings were reported from Orkney and Shetland, with more sightings occurred this year than in any previous year of the National Whale & Dolphin Watch. The rarest species sighted was a humpback whale in Catfirth, Shetland.

Wales most popular
The region with the highest reported number of sightings was Wales with 98 sightings. Northeast Scotland had 79 sightings reported. Other regions with high numbers (20 or more) of sightings were Orkney and North Scotland, Cornwall, South Grampian, and North Grampian, Northwest Scotland and Outer Hebrides. Northeast Scotland had the greatest variety of species sighted, with six identified species seen during the week.

Bad weather
Edita said:"The bad weather in some parts of the UK meant that many watches were cancelled or abandoned early. Even when watches were carried out, the sightings rates were down, as the likelihood of seeing cetaceans decreased significantly with poor visibility, rain, fog and high seas. However, In New Quay Bay, West Wales, we observed bottlenose dolphins almost every day despite rain, fog and gusty winds."

Notable sightings from this year's watch include:
• A Risso's dolphin spotted in the River Clyde, close to the centre of Glasgow.
• A group of approximately 100 short-beaked common dolphins in the Sound of Sleat, Inner Hebrides
• Groups of 18-40 short-beaked common dolphins off Caithness and in the Moray Firth, Northeast Scotland.
• Groups of 30-35 killer whales in offshore waters northeast of Shetland.
• A humpback whale in Catfirth, Shetland