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Seabird
23-Jun-06, 22:03
Porpoise with calf, taken at Lybster.
There were Bottlenose Dolphins but they refused to come close and pose.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/PorpoisewithCalf23-6-06.jpg

Seabird
16-Jul-06, 22:43
Dolphins playing at Chanonry Point, Fortrose.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/DolphinandCrowd.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/Dolphinpair.jpg

Seabird
16-Jul-06, 22:45
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/Diving.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/Diving2.jpg

Seabird
16-Jul-06, 22:48
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/Breach.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/Backflip.jpg

connieb19
16-Jul-06, 22:49
They are lovely pictures Seabird, where were they taken? :)

connieb19
16-Jul-06, 22:51
They are lovely pictures Seabird, where were they taken? :)Oops sorry, you've already said where they were taken..

Seabird
16-Jul-06, 23:05
Chanonry Point Fortrose.
Thats the big turning on the left just before the Kessock Bridge on the A9.
At this time of year the dolphins come in from the open sea into the inner Moray Firth chasing salmon.
They come in with the rising tide and go out when the tide starts to fall.
Those people in that picture are within yard of that dolphin.
Those dolphins came in at 11:15am and were still playing at 15:00 when i left.
It was quite fantastic to watch.
If you want to see them look at a tide time table and get there early(not a lot of parking spaces)
Go to othersde of lighthouse and look towards Fort George.
They are wild creatures and are unpredictable but according to the holiday makers staying there, the dolphins have displayed several times this week.

Seabird
12-Aug-06, 19:12
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/CommonDolphin.jpg

Dolphins and Porpoise were again in the the Bay at Lybster for the first day of National Sea watch

Seabird
16-Apr-07, 20:52
Pictures taken from the viewpoint at Lybster.
The dolphins were making their way back to the open sea on the ebbing tide.
Although White-beaked Dolphins are present off Caithness all year round few are seen or perhaps seen and not reported.
Any Whale or Dolphin sighting should be recorded and sent to the seawatch foundation who moniter these fantastic creatures.
There is an on line form on their website.
http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/
We have also started to keep a record of all Dolphin and Whale sightings around the Caithness coast on the Caithness Marine Mamal Medics web page
http://www.caithness-mmm.org/news.php.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/WhitebeakedDolphing15-4-07.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/WhitebeakedDolphinf15-4-07.jpg
A lot of holiday makers enjoy seeing Dolphins, Whales and seals.
So lets make sure they know we have them in Caithness by sending in sighting reports and perhaps create a few more jobs and extra income for the county.
Colin

Seabird
02-May-07, 23:07
3 Porpoise and a Whitesided Dolphin sighted off Lybster thsi evening.
The whitesided is quite common off our coasts all year round.
But it's very lucky if you get to see one a mere 300yards off shore.
Also this one does not fit the standard description given in most books.
But he was fantastic to look at with a large white circle foreward of the dorsal, this is seen in pic, it also had a large white patch on the tailstock.
Picture quality poor, my fault camer was on manual for a different shot.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/WhitesidedDolphin2-5-07.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/WhitesidedDolphin2-5-07d.jpg

Colin B

Kenn
03-May-07, 00:22
Many thanks Seabird is so good to see the pics, can you check and see if 1 Dolphin is called Rainbow? She should have a calf with her, not had the oppurtunity to see her yet but she is a frequent visitor to Cromarty Firth and points north , will get to meet up with her at some point .
Before you send for the men in white coats, I adopted her 3 years back.

Seabird
03-May-07, 21:48
Many thanks Seabird is so good to see the pics, can you check and see if 1 Dolphin is called Rainbow? She should have a calf with her, not had the oppurtunity to see her yet but she is a frequent visitor to Cromarty Firth and points north , will get to meet up with her at some point .
Before you send for the men in white coats, I adopted her 3 years back.

Rainbow i assume is an adopted Bottlenose Dolphin from the WDCS.

http://www.wdcs.org/wildlifecentre

They should be able to give you that info.

Beleive it or not, very few BND come over from the South side and visit us in
Caithness.
We get Whitebeaked Dolphins- Whitesided Dolphins-Risso's Dolphins- Common Dolphins but very few Bottlenose Dolphins.
If you give me a dorsal description i'll let you know if i see it.

Just received a report today that Mink Whale was seen at Latheron, and Tues down at Berridale

buggyracer
03-May-07, 22:02
some really nice pics there sea bird.

Kenn
03-May-07, 22:42
Was just jesting Seabird, yes you have the right link and I do get regular updates but just never had the chance to go see her in the flesh yet.

On a more serious note is the east or the west coast better for cetacean watching? Was asked by a customer who is headed to Oban gave him the web link in the hope that he would find some relevent info there.

Seabird
04-May-07, 22:42
Was just jesting Seabird, yes you have the right link and I do get regular updates but just never had the chance to go see her in the flesh yet.

On a more serious note is the east or the west coast better for cetacean watching? Was asked by a customer who is headed to Oban gave him the web link in the hope that he would find some relevent info there.

To be honest i dont think there is much difference, you just need to know where to look and have lots of patients.
And be very lucky.
There are more tour boats on the West coast but they dont guarantee a sighting any more than ours on the North Coast at Groats.
You are certain of Porpoise in Gills Bay July August and certain providing you catch the incomming tide at Chanonry Point of Bottlenose Dolphins July August. All subject to weather and sea conditions.

Seabird
04-May-07, 22:54
Tonight the sea was calm with very little wind.
Minke Whales had been sighted further South at Latheron and Berridale earlier in the week so i thought with luck i might see a whale or two from Lybster Viewpoint.
I had been there 6 minutes before i sighted 2 Harbour Porpoise feeding at the far side of Lybster Bay.
Then at 18.30 after 30 minutes of watching i got a sighting of a Whale some 2k to the SW.
I could see it quite clearly through my bino's.
I watched it feeding for 1 1/2 hours.
It's head came right up out of the water with mouth open.
I coulds see the blow was at the front of the head, this told me it was a Sperm Whale the first i have ever seen in the wild.
There was also something else feeding in the same way but smaller that i could'nt Identify it may have been a calf.
Colin

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/SpermWhale4-5-07d.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/SpermWhale4-5-07c.jpg

Seabird
08-May-07, 22:23
A summary of whale, Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise sightings in Caithness so far this year is being recorded on the Caithness Marine Mammal Medics web page.

http://www.caithness-mmm.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewforum.php?12

I will be posting any pictures i may capture on this thread, but i think it fitting to post sightings data on the web sight that is dedicated to the well being of Caithness Marine Mammals.
So far there have been to date 27 sightings about Caithness involving 8 species, these are Beluga, Sperm Whale, Minke Whale, Bottlenose Dolphin, Whitebeaked Dolphin, Whitesided Dolphin, Risso's Dolphin and the Harbour Porpoise.
If anyone does see cetaceans around the Caithness Coast please pass the information to the above web site for inclusion in the Caithness Calendar.
Colin

Seabird
10-May-07, 20:27
Tonight the sea was calm with very little wind.
Minke Whales had been sighted further South at Latheron and Berridale earlier in the week so i thought with luck i might see a whale or two from Lybster Viewpoint.
I had been there 6 minutes before i sighted 2 Harbour Porpoise feeding at the far side of Lybster Bay.
Then at 18.30 after 30 minutes of watching i got a sighting of a Whale some 2k to the SW.
I could see it quite clearly through my bino's.
I watched it feeding for 1 1/2 hours.
It's head came right up out of the water with mouth open.
I coulds see the blow was at the front of the head, this told me it was a Sperm Whale the first i have ever seen in the wild.
There was also something else feeding in the same way but smaller that i could'nt Identify it may have been a calf.
Colin

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/SpermWhale4-5-07d.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/SpermWhale4-5-07c.jpg

Sea watch Foundation have looked at the Whale image i sent them and have suggested the dorsal looks more like that of the Humpback Whale.
So it seems that the smaller whale that i could not ID may have been a
Humpback Whale.
I did take 48 pics but only 2 were reasonable and i did'nt list what pic belonged to which Whale.
I was aware that the dorsal did look like a Humpback, but as any bird watcher will tell you pictures can some times mislead in the Identification of a species.
Observation is by far the most reliable means of identification.
I do agree with seawatch it could be a Humpback but i would have liked to have seen the very large flippers or the markings on the tail before i put foreward that i had seen a Humpback in Caithness waters feeding with a Sperm Whale.
That would be a fantastic sighting to record
To my knowledge very few if any have been sighted in Caithness waters in resent years.
Colin.

Seabird
15-May-07, 23:47
First saw them off the Lybster Coast while doing my seawatch Foundation watch.
They were about 3k out and not getting any closer.
I watched them for 35 minutes until they disappeared around the headland going North at 20.15.
There were about 5 animals 1 large bull with a juvenile and at least 3 females.
At this point i thought if i'm quick i might catch them further up the coast.
I raced down the cliff path and almost gave myself a coronary rushing up the hill to the village.
Jumped in the car and rushed to Whaligoe steps at Ulbster that was 21.15, no luck there.
Next stop Sarclet there is a large seal group there so they must stop there for a snack.
I got there at 21.25 and sat on the cliffs over looking the Haven.
At 21.35 they arrived.
I saw the big bull pop up just behind the outcrop of rocks the seals usualy sit on.
Then they came up at the entrance to the Haven on my side of the outcrop of rocks about 30 yards distant taking me by surprise.
Then they continued North keeping close to the shore.
Thats when i was able to take some pics, but the light was very poor so i've had to touch them up on the computer.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Orca15-5-07dSarclet.jpg

Colin
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Orca15-5-07fSarclet.jpg

Kenn
16-May-07, 01:01
Whow Seabird Orca..now that is a sight to see.
Question, where is Lybster viewpoint?

Tugmistress
16-May-07, 09:52
Absolutely wonderful pic Colin :D and magnificent animals too!
Hope you keep your full res images, i have an idea i want to put past you next time we meet :D

Seabird
16-May-07, 18:30
Whow Seabird Orca..now that is a sight to see.
Question, where is Lybster viewpoint?

It's on the cliffs above the heritage centre, access is via the gate by the bridge.
The view point has a wonderful seat with drawings engraved on it from Lybster School.
Also good protection on those windy days.
Colin

dancingtaz13
16-May-07, 22:14
Every time Orca are spotted up here i always miss them! Seabird, you're very lucky to be there at the right time to see them. Killer whales are my fave.
Knowing my luck i would go to Lybster on a good day/night and see absolutely nothing!! :(
The pictures are great too.

Seabird
29-May-07, 17:49
3 Porpoise and a Whitesided Dolphin sighted off Lybster thsi evening.
The whitesided is quite common off our coasts all year round.
But it's very lucky if you get to see one a mere 300yards off shore.
Also this one does not fit the standard description given in most books.
But he was fantastic to look at with a large white circle foreward of the dorsal, this is seen in pic, it also had a large white patch on the tailstock.
Picture quality poor, my fault camer was on manual for a different shot.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/WhitesidedDolphin2-5-07.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/WhitesidedDolphin2-5-07d.jpg

Colin B
Picture checked by Seawatch Foundation and has much as i hate humble pie their verdict is that it is a Risso's Dolphin, and the circle mark is a propeller scar or a shark bite. oh how i hate being wrong.

Seabird
13-Jun-07, 18:26
The Moray Firth Dolphins have now been photographed so many times that about 80 or so have names.
Dolphin dorsal marks and nicks and some times scarring is used for identification.
The same system for identification is happening with Humpbacks, Minkes, and Orcas.
The picture of a Bottlenose Dolphin is one i took on Sunday 10th June 07
at Chanonry Point Fortrose
His name is Sundance ID No 105 and he is 17 years of age.
My thanks to Charlie Phillips of the W.D.C.S. who supplied me with the I.D data.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/SundanceID150m17yoa.jpg

Colin

Seabird
13-Jun-07, 22:11
This link shows what can happen when litter is discarded at sea.
The Minke died a very slow and painful death.
Its a very sad sight and i hope the people responsible for littering at sea get to see what can result from their stupidity.


http://www.nature-shetland.co.uk/naturelatest/latestcetaceans.htm

Colin

Seabird
29-Jun-07, 02:12
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Orcav28-6-07.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Orcar28-6-07.jpg

Full Story and more pics on sightings web site.

http://www.caithness-mmm.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewforum.php?12

Colin

Sporran
29-Jun-07, 05:39
Brilliant shot, Seabird! :)

Orcas, orcas, black and white,
Truly are an awesome sight,
Surging through the deep blue ocean,
Seabird snapped a pair in motion!

paris
01-Jul-07, 22:31
Love the pics seabird. jan x

bluelady
04-Jul-07, 23:36
good pics seabird, i'll have to come up e hill with you one day x ;) ;)

Seabird
06-Jul-07, 21:09
Pity it wasn't this evening Bluelady.
It's not very often you get Dolphins within 100meters of the shore.
These pics were taken from the Lybster Viewpoint at Swiney Hill.
Risso's just four years ago were regarded has rare in the North sea, but now they are quite a common sight.
I must admit this one is looking quite old.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/Rissos6-7-07d.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/Rissos6-7-07l.jpg

bluelady
08-Jul-07, 21:54
wow, you are good at e seawatch seabird,maybe one day i'll get a few good pics :Razz

Seabird
28-Jul-07, 15:24
It's always a shame to see such a fantastic creature like a Minke whale wash up on our shore line.
I have left out the location details for health and safety reasons.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/MinkeSkirzaHarbour25-7-07.jpg

More pictures and details on the Caithness Marine Mammel Medics web site.

http://www.caithness-mmm.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewforum.php?2

Colin

psyberyeti
03-Aug-07, 10:07
These are just a few of the dolphin photos taken off the Forss coastline on 1 June at 08:40. I've been meaning to put them on here since then - finally got around to it. The amazing thing about this sighting is that we were surrounded by many pods - where ever you looked there were just more pods. The experienced crew came up on deck because they had never seen so many dolphins in one area at one time. We estimated their number at a minimum of 100 dolphins. I was really pleased as it was only my second day out on a workboat. These groups of dolphin came in from the north, around us, and then on to the Forss coastline where it looked like a feeding frenzy was going on. I wish we could have followed them further.

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/psyberyeti/Dolphins/IMG_3787.jpg

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/psyberyeti/Dolphins/IMG_3788.jpg


These guys were just everywhere. Ah, limited to two photos.. Two more in the next post.

psyberyeti (on a day off from work - whooppeee)

psyberyeti
03-Aug-07, 10:10
More dolphins

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/psyberyeti/Dolphins/IMG_3792.jpg

and

http://i24.photobucket.com/albums/c22/psyberyeti/Dolphins/IMG_3791.jpg

It was a great day out, even while doing work.

psyberyeti

Kenn
03-Aug-07, 14:28
What a wonderful experience and thank you for sharing it.

Seabird
03-Aug-07, 17:58
Common Dolphins are one of the most colourful and dramatic movers in the oceans.
They can gather in groups of several hundreds all leaping and splashing.
This does mainly occur on the West coast, but so far this year there have been reports on the North coast at Forss and Duncansby/Freswick area also a large group of over 300 seen on the otherside of the Moray Firth. (East coast)
I've only seen a small group of about 6 off Dunbeath and they were a long way off from my position at Lybster.
I'm glad you got us those wonderful pics well done.

Colin

Seabird
05-Aug-07, 12:06
My first visit to Chanonry Point this year.
I knew if i check the tide was right and the weather reasonable a sighting was highly probable.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/CP4-8-07L.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/CP4-8-07K.jpg

The sun did prove to be a draw back.
It's been so rare this year that i never even considered it.

Colin

Seabird
05-Aug-07, 12:22
After Chanonry Point the wife wanted to visit Cromarty, the wife had a relative who served there during WW 2.
Quick meal at the Royal Hotel then up the South Souter.
And what a surprise there were Dophins playing at the entrance to the Firth.
Although i must say it is a well known area for Dolphins.
They were a little distant but were great through binoculars.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cromarty4-8-07E.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cromarty4-8-07M.jpg

The last Dolphin has still got birth marks, thats the circle marks round it's body.

There are more pics on the Caithness Marine Mammel web site.
http://www.caithness-mmm.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?1112.80
Colin

bluelady
08-Aug-07, 20:17
love it... :)

Wish
08-Aug-07, 21:45
Ooooo I love those, thanks for posting:cool: I have longed to catch a glimpse of the dolphins for ages, we sat practically a whole week at Chanory Point a couple of years back and didn't see one.

Since moving to Skye, I haven't managed to see any either, i'm not really sure where the best place is for dolphin spotting here is?

bluelady
11-Aug-07, 20:33
The Caithness Marine Mammel Medics were aware of the Minke Whale and her location.
There is already a picture on this thread.
They avoided stating the location for health reasons, several tons of rotting flesh is not a healthy place to be near.

Seabird
22-Sep-07, 18:23
These fantastic creatures are still making an appearence at Chanonry Point Fortrose.
You must be there just before the Low Tide.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/BND20-9-07b.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/BND20-9-07c.jpg

Seabird
22-Sep-07, 18:28
A little nearer to Home.
The Group of Porpoise that gather each year at Gills Bay are still here.
My pictures were taken from land near the Harbour.
If you want to get closer the North Coast Adeventure boat will be operating until next Saturday when it packs up for the Winter.

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/PorpoiseGillsBay22-9-07.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/PorpoiseGillsBay22-9-07c.jpg

Tugmistress
26-Sep-07, 21:09
Not so nice, this is what happens when a cetacean gets trapped in fishing nets and dies (or sometimes before death) ... the tail is cut off.
What s left here is 80cm of a female harbour porpoise ... newborn size is 80cm to 95cm.

http://caithness-mmm.org/e107_files/public/1190836528_2_FT0_bycatch_01_.jpg

Martin England
04-Oct-07, 16:18
I have been watching this thread since it started months ago, great info, sightings and pictures well done Seabird, may you have many more happy hours watching these great creatures. WELL DONE :)

Martin

Seabird
07-Oct-07, 13:22
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/Minke6-10-07c-1.jpg

http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/Minke6-10-07k.jpg

More Pics on the CMMM web site. Photo Section
http://caithness-mmm.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewforum.php?2

Colin

Seabird
07-Oct-07, 15:54
I counted 5 Whales this morning.
Many thanks to Dave Nicolson for phone call.
Whales were last seen at 3pm.
http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e307/seabird72/Cetaceans/PairofMinkes7-10-07.jpg

Colin

Kenn
04-Dec-07, 18:23
Has any one else seen this fascinating documentary?
It seems that bottle nosed dolphins have a sinister side to their nature and attack both porpoises and juvenile dolphins resulting in a traumatic death for those attacked.
It was a little gruesome, watching the disection of these animals, but the eventual post mortem findings by scottish and american marine biologists with a little help from some astonishing video footage leaves some questions unanswered as to why they do this although, it is well documented that other animal species practise infanticide.
I shall look at dolphins in a new light fom here on.

Seabird
04-Dec-07, 19:56
Has any one else seen this fascinating documentary?
It seems that bottle nosed dolphins have a sinister side to their nature and attack both porpoises and juvenile dolphins resulting in a traumatic death for those attacked.
It was a little gruesome, watching the disection of these animals, but the eventual post mortem findings by scottish and american marine biologists with a little help from some astonishing video footage leaves some questions unanswered as to why they do this although, it is well documented that other animal species practise infanticide.
I shall look at dolphins in a new light fom here on.

I watched it last year.
The evidence was there on video film, but people thought the Dolphins were just playing.
My personal feeling is they are behaving in the same way that the Male lion does.
When taking over a pride, they kill any cubs that were born to the previous head of the pride so they can mate and produce their own off spring.