Season's First Killer Whales Spotted Off Lybster

Friday, May 18, 2007
LYBSTER, SCOTLAND - The first reported killer whales to arrive in Caithness this season have been spotted off the east coast near Lybster.

Marine mammal enthusiast Colin Bird caught sight of the five-strong pod which was swimming northwards, three kilometres east of Lybster viewpoint, earlier this week.

He noted three females in the school, a bull with a large upright dorsal fin and a smaller juvenile orca, before they disappeared around the headland.

After the initial sighting Mr Bird tried to catch up with the killer whales further along the coast.

Out of luck at Whaligoe Steps, he travelled to Sarclet Haven, near Thrumster, where he positioned himself on the north-side cliff overlooking an area where seals haul out on to an outcrop of rocks.

Ten minutes later Mr Bird was treated to another breathtaking view.

He said: "There was a loud whoosh as the bull killer whale appeared 50 yards away on the other side of the rock outcrop. I was so preoccupied trying to get his picture that I just caught sight of two killer whales 25 yards away in the entrance to the Haven.

"The killer whales must have passed by me underwater for they appeared again about 50 yards to the north, close inshore."

This time Mr Bird was able to take some quick photographs.

So far this year he has spotted white-beaked dolphins, white-sided dolphins and a sperm whale.

Male killer whales, or bulls, average between six and seven metres in length and usually weigh from three-and-a-half to five-and-a-half tonnes. Females, or cows, are usually between five and six metres long, weighing between one-and-a-half and three-and-a-half tonnes.

Their bulk depends on where in the world they live.

Estimates from whaling operations have shown that male orcas living in the North Atlantic are usually about six metres long, and females about five-and-a-half.

Meanwhile, the National Seawatch Foundation Whale and Dolphin Watch Week runs from June 23 until July 1.

Karen Munro and Colin Bird will be holding a watch at Thurso's caravan park on June 23 and 24, at 4pm, subject to the conditions of sea and weather.

Watches are also expected to be held at Strathy Point, Portskerra Harbour, Lybster viewpoint and Swiney Hill viewpoint.

For further information visit: www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk

Source: The John O'Groat Journal