Unexpected sightings this summer: Whale Track Summary
©SeaLife Mull
This summer has been full of ups, downs and phenomenal sightings. In our most recent Whale Track summary we round up what has been an unexpected summer of sightings.
Thanks to the dedication of 770 reporters, made up of boat operators and individual watchers, from start of June to end of August, we have received:
· 750 excursions
· 254 land-based surveys
· 4548 casual reports
· 335 photographs
Resulting in 8920 sightings of over 68,000 animals, from 16 different species.
*This data has not been analysed or corrected for effort.
What has blown us away is our Whale Track community has reported over 11,000 sightings in 2025 already! A phenomenal amount of effort, considering 10,000 sightings were recorded in all of 2024 - you have only gone and smashed it and we’re only halfway through the year. We cannot thank our Whale Track community enough for helping us to build a better understanding of the animals in our waters, so we can better protect them.
A WHALE WATCHING COMMUNITY CELEBRATE
This summer has been a roller coaster of emotions for those following the story of John Coe and Aquarius. After almost 5 months apart, and a period of concern over John Coe’s whereabouts, the whale watching community celebrated this month, when the much-loved pair surfaced together near the Small Isles. Find out more about in our recent blog.
©Hebrides Cruises, Indy Greene
The first sighting of John Coe and Aquarius together after 5 months
©Andy Clarke
The first sighting of John Coe since he was last seen 3 months prior
WONDERFUL WHITE-BEAKED
White beaked dolphins are a colder water species with the Hebrides being towards the southern extreme of their range, they are usually seen in open waters further from the coast and favour the waters around the Outer Hebrides and the north Minch. This summer, Sealife Mull had an unexpected sighting of a pod of 12 white beaked dolphins northwest of the Cairns of Coll. Alongside aerial footage of the animals, the crew managed to snap a photograph of one of them breaching and one surfacing, showcasing its key white beaked feature which gives the animal its name.
©SeaLifeMull
BREACHING BASKING SHARKS
Last year was a very quiet year for basking shark sightings reported through Whale Track, with a total of just 108 sightings, so it is nice to see that more are being reported this year. This summer alone, we have received 133 reports of basking sharks across Scotland.
Lewis Doherty had a nice encounter with 2 large basking sharks who were constantly changing direction as they were foraging around the Small Isles. With the sharks apparently oblivious to his vessel, Lewis made the best decision and stopped the vessel to allow the sharks to pass undisturbed. With the brain the size of a walnut, it’s not surprising these gentle giants were likely unaware of the vessel, as their whole focus would have been on feeding.
©Lewis Docherty
Further up the coast, KathF had an unforgettable sighting of a basking shark breaching! Not a uncommon behaviour for basking sharks, but truly impressive to witness, basking sharks are though to breach as a form of courtship/social function, or as a means to dislodge parasites.
©KathF
UNEXPECTED SIGHTINGS
In my previous blog, I mentioned the increase in unusual sightings being reported and the importance of checking species ID to ensure accurate reporting.
This summer has seen a few sightings of species that are seen/reported less regularly in our waters, such as threshers sharks and turtles. Thanks to some reports being sent in alongside photographs, the species ID of these more unusual species have been confirmed. We’ve received multiple reports (from boat operators) of threshers sharks breaching, a truly incredible sight! Although threshers sharks aren’t a listed species on Whale Track, we are still interested in receiving reports of these as well as other unusual sightings (e.g. tuna). We ask that they be logged under ‘other’ with the name of the species being identified in the comments.
We have also heard multiple reports of turtle sightings across the west coast, including a surprise sighting from aboard our research vessel, Silurian. Although reports of turtles were not send through to Whale Track, it’s been great seeing that people are reporting them to the Marine Conservation Society, who have a specific turtle monitoring project.
THANKS TO YOU!
A special thank you goes out to everyone who answered our appeal a few months back asking for recent and historic photographs to help us build and publish our bottlenose dolphin catalogue. Please continue to send in your photographs and sightings. Photos can either be submitted through our Whale Track Photo Portal or emailed in a WeTransfer link to sightings@hwdt.org