National Whale & Dolphin
Watch Sightings 2004
HWDT
working together with SEAWATCH FOUNDATION for
National
Whale & Dolphin Watch 2004
Of the 3 sites
manned by HWDT Staff and Volunteers:
Due to gales and the foghorn! land-based watching was only possible
from 21st – 25th September. A total of 5 Minke Whales were sighted
during this time, with 2 separate whales recorded.
Sea state 2.5 – 3.5 with strong WNW winds and horizontal showers!
Never-the-less, on the Sat 28/08:
A small group of between 2-6 Harbour Porpoises were spotted swimming
fast, feeding and swimming slowly, travelling, between two creel buoys
in the Sound of Mull from 11:40-11:55, 12:15–12:45, 13:45, and
1 single HP at 17:00.
We even managed to point out the HP to a 4 visitors from Ireland who
had come across to Mull for the day, were unable to get onto any (fully-booked!)
boat trips, so decided to take to the headland on foot in the hope of
seeing some Cetaceans!
By Sun 29/09, Sea state had increased to 3.5 - 4 by 10:45am, with stronger
W winds on the Sun 29/09:
2 HP were observed swimming fast, feeding in the same area 11:45 and
again 12:10. Watch was abandoned at 14:00 due to increasing wind!
(We usually abandon visual surveys on ”Silurian” at SS 4
or above! Sightings can easily be missed between white caps and it would
skew results, giving a lower average.)
Unfortunately no cetaceans (or members of the public!) were spotted,
and surveys had to be abandoned early afternoon on both days due to
rather large amounts of rain and cold, soggy seawatchers.
- Un-manned but advised site - Caliach Point:
1 Minke Whale blow! at 11:30am 28/08, and 1 Harbour Porpoise travelling
6oom off-shore, 12:30pm 28/08, spotted by a dedicated Lone Ranger watcher.
FINALLY a BIG Thank you to every one of you - staff, volunteers
and members of the obliging public, who came out and joined us for even
a small amount of time to scan the sea! Special thanks also
go to the warm and friendly dogs who kept us company x
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