‘Mystery pod’ surfaces in Hebrides once more!
‘Mystery pod’ surfaces in Hebrides once more!

Citizen science plays a key role in deepening our understanding of whales, dolphins and porpoise. The ‘mystery’ killer whale pod is a great example of the impact citizen science can have. Discover the story of this mystery pod and how citizen scientists are helping to add more pieces to their puzzle.

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Science & Research, SightingsSadie Gorvettwhale watching, land based whale watching, whale track, killer whales, sightings
Remote parts of the Hebrides surveyed during fifth research expedition
Remote parts of the Hebrides surveyed during fifth research expedition

Monitoring Hebridean seas is well underway, with Silurian - our research vessell - completing her fifth expedition of the 2022 Summer field season. Some great conditions allowed us to gather data from some of the more remote and exposed parts of our study area. Here, Craig Mackie, Science Officer on board, recalls details of the expedition

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Silurian, Survey SummariesCaroline Williswhale conservation, wildlife watching, wildlife experiences in Scotland, volunteers, volunteer holidays, volunteer holiday, citizenscience, citizen science projects, science tourism, scientific tourism, join us on board, low impact whale watching, helping save whales, helping save dolphins, eco break, eco tourism, holiday with a difference, conservation holidays, experience in the field, marine biology, marine conservation
*PRESS RELEASE* Free Spaces for Teenagers on board August Whale Research Expedition Cruise on Scotland’s West Coast
*PRESS RELEASE* Free Spaces for Teenagers on board August Whale Research Expedition Cruise on Scotland’s West Coast

Thanks to generous sponsorship, HWDT are delighted to offer two free spaces to young adults living on the west coast of Scotland. If you are aged 16 or 17 and have an interest in the marine environment, apply today to join us for free on an expedition running 2nd – 8th August 2022.

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In the News, SilurianMorven Summersgreat opportunity, free expedition, west coast of scotland, join us on board, opportunities for young people, marine conservation, gain experience, young people, how can young people get experience in marine conservation, research trip, research expedition, teen research expedition, teenager, teenage, skills development, amainzing opportunity, Hebrides, scotland, sponsored place
Silurian welcomes aboard students from St Andrew's University
Silurian welcomes aboard students from St Andrew's University

Every year, we welcome aboard teams of students from St Andrew’s University Sea Mammal Research Unit (SMRU) to discover how we collect data on board our research vessel, Silurian. Over the course of 10 days, each team spent time travelling to different areas of the west coast, collecting vital visual and acoustic data on marine mammals. Each of the teams share their experiences here

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Survey Summaries, SilurianSadie GorvettSt Andrews University, Marine Mammal Masters Fieldtrip, University Field Trip, training course, training, silurian, acoustic survey, visual monitoring, whale, dolphin, porpoise, who is studying Scottish dolphins, who studies whales UK, Scottish wildlife, rese, students, student training, marine biology, SMRU, Sea Mammal Research Unit
It's not all black and white...Scottish Killer Whales
It's not all black and white...Scottish Killer Whales

Orca Watch is running this week, a ten-day event coordinated by the Seawatch Foundation. With land based watches taking place all around Caithness, North Sutherland, Orkney and Shetland, enthusiastic citizen scientists will be keen to catch a glimpse of these apex predators. But it’s not all black and white when it comes to killer whale populations in Scottish seas

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SightingsMorven Summerskiller whale, killer whales, orca, orcas, orcawatch, Orca Watch 2022, scottish killer whales, scottish killer whale catalogue, West Coast Community, Northern Isles Community, norway, scotlnd, scotland, Scotland wildlife, scottish whales, what do we know about Scottish whales, studying scottish killer whales, seawatch, WDC, john coe, Aquarius
Wild weather and cetaceans marked the fourth expedition of 2022
Wild weather and cetaceans marked the fourth expedition of 2022

We’re well underway with our monitoring Hebridean seas this year, with Silurian, our research vessel, completing her fourth expedition of the 2023 summer field season. Some challenging conditions didn't dampen the spirits of the fantastic citizen scientists who joined us on board…the encounters with whales, dolphins and porpoises helped too!

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Survey Summaries, SilurianMorven Summersmo, monitoring vessel, monitoring, common, po, acou, acoustic survey, acoustic recordings, whale, whale conservation, what whales can I see, research, research expedition, whale research in Scotland, whale and dolphin research, dolphin research, dolphin sounds, ci, citizen science, research programme, join, how can I get involved in whale research, get involved, scotland, who studies whales UK, see whales in the wild UK
*PRESS RELEASE* On Sonorous Seas
*PRESS RELEASE* On Sonorous Seas

Iona-based visual artist Mhairi Killin will open her major new collaborative multi-media exhibition On Sonorous Seas at An Tobar on Mull from 8 July to 27 August.. The installation - which mixes whale bone sculpture, video, poetry and soundscape alongside a series of podcasts - is inspired by the complex relationship between the militarisation of Scotland’s waters and its existing ecosystem.

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In the NewsMorven SummersART, art, science art, art project, sonar, seas, mili, military, hebrides, hebridean seas, silurian, acoustic, acoustic recordings, sound, sound installation, mhairi Killin, Fergus Reade, Creative Scotland, artist, Silurian
John Coe and Aquarius do the Rounds
John Coe and Aquarius do the Rounds

Catching sight of killer whales in the wild is an experience people will never forget; to see a massive black dorsal fin break the surface is truly awe inspiring. Recently, excitement was at a high when west coast celebrities - John Coe and Aquarius - were reported around Mull and Skye, with the pair of old bulls staying in the area for an extended period of time.

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SightingsSadie Gorvettjohn coe, John Coe killer whale, John Coe, aquarius, Aquarius, killer whale, killer whales, UK orca populations, UKs last killer whales, scottish killer whales, Scotland, Hebridean wildlife, Hebrides, Recent sightings, where can i spot killer whales, where can I see, where has John Coe been spotted, conservation, marine conservation, citizenscience, who studies whales UK, whales in the wild, Whale Track, whale trail, Hebridean whale
Second Research Expedition Records 7 Species!
Second Research Expedition Records 7 Species!

Our second research expedition of the summer field season was exceptional - recording a total of seven marine mammal species, including killer whales, John Coe and Aquarius of the West Coast Community! Hannah, our Science Officer on board who leads the data collection programme shares her experience

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Silurian, Survey SummariesMorven Summerskiller, killer whale, west coa, joh, john coe, Aqua, Hebrides, orca, orcas, bottlenose dolphins, minke, data, data collection, what can you see, whats been see, whats been spotted, expedition, explore, research trip, research vessel, marineconservation, marine conservation, marine mammals, scotland, NatureScot, citizenscience, citizen science, how can i help, how can I get involved in whale research, how can I help, get involved, whale, dolphin, porpoise, acoustics, acoustic monitoring, science
All aboard! Why hands on experiences are important
All aboard! Why hands on experiences are important

What do you remember most about school? The lessons sat behind a desk, spending lunch times playing with your friends, or the excitement and anticipation of that one off school trip, getting out of the confines of the classroom, visiting somewhere new and experiencing something for the first time. In this blog we explore why hands on, outdoor experiences are important for children.

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Events & Outreach, FundraisingSadie GorvettEducation programme, environmental education, floating classroom, silurian, marine education, outdoor education, outdoor learning, hands on learning
First Research Expedition of 2022 Kicks Off!
First Research Expedition of 2022 Kicks Off!

We’re off!! The summer field season (April - October) on board our research vessel, Silurian, has started. Despite battling challenging conditions, the team on board remained steadfast. Hannah, our scientist who led the data collection on board, shares the expedition update

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Survey Summaries, SilurianMorven Summersresearch trip, research, marine conservation, marine wildlife, what do we know about Scottish whales, winter sightings, winter survey, scotland, Hebridean wildlife, hebrides, west cost, data collection, data, acoustics, acoustic survey, acoustic monitoring, visual data, visual monitoring, efforts to better understand, whale, dolphin, dolphins, ocean protection
Exploring the new Whale Track app and website
Exploring the new Whale Track app and website

Just in time for Spring, as spotting conditions improve and the wildlife begins to arrive in larger numbers around local shores, we have released a new and improved Whale Track app. Here we explore five new features of Whale Track.

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Silurian, Science & ResearchSadie Gorvettsilurian, Silurian, research trip, research, research expedition, research vessel, whale research in Scotland, dolphin, dolphin sounds, whale and dolphin research, scotlnd, hebrides, Hebridean wildlife, scottish wildlife, sealife, ocean protection, monitoring, conservation, conservation holidays, marine wildlife, marine tourism, how can i help, protect the ocean, protect whales, save the whale, how can I get involved in whale research, acoustics, acoustic monitoring, soundscape, marine noise, underwaternoise, NatureScot, nature restoration fund, nature, restoration, Scot Gov
Seen a fin? send it in! – Scottish charity urges public to report whale and dolphin sightings in Hebrides
Seen a fin? send it in! – Scottish charity urges public to report whale and dolphin sightings in Hebrides

The Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) are calling on members of the public to get involved with efforts to protect Scottish whales and dolphins by reporting what they’ve spotted and carrying out surveys from both land and sea. The appeal comes as the conservation charity launches its new and improved Whale Track community sightings app and website.

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Science & Research, Sightings, In the NewsSadie Gorvettsilurian, dolphin, whale and dolphin research, hebrides, Hebridean wildlife, scottish wildlife, sealife, ocean protection, monitoring, conservation, how can i help, protect the ocean, protect whales, save the whale, how can I get involved in whale research, NatureScot, nature, restoration, Scot Gov, Whale Track, citizenscience, citizen science, HWDT
Last Survey of the Winter Field Season
Last Survey of the Winter Field Season

Our winter survey programme on board Silurian has been running since 2019, learning more about the year-round presence of marine mammals and basking sharks in Hebridean seas. These surveys are important given that prior to the start of the programme, little winter data existed for the region. Science Officer, Jenny, gives an update on the last winter survey of this year…

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Survey Summaries, SilurianGuest Userresearch trip, research, marine conservation, marine wildlife, what do we know about Scottish whales, winter sightings, winter survey, scotland, Hebridean wildlife, hebrides, west cost, data collection, data, acoustics, acoustic survey, acoustic monitoring, visual data, visual monitoring, efforts to better understand, whale, dolphin, dolphins, ocean protection