Cetaceans

[Tugmistress]

Absolutely wonderful pic Colin 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

[Seabird]

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]

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]

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.




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]

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.



Colin

[Seabird]

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/nat...tcetaceans.htm

Colin

[Seabird]

Full Story and more pics on sightings web site.

http://www.caithness-mmm.org/e107_pl...ewforum.php?12

Colin

[Sporran]

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]

Love the pics seabird. jan x

[bluelady]

good pics seabird, i'll have to come up e hill with you one day x

[Seabird]

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.

[bluelady]

wow, you are good at e seawatch seabird,maybe one day i'll get a few good pics

[Seabird]

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.



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

http://www.caithness-mmm.org/e107_pl...iewforum.php?2

Colin

[psyberyeti]

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.






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]

More dolphins



and



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

psyberyeti

[Kenn]

What a wonderful experience and thank you for sharing it.

[Seabird]

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]

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.





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

Colin

[Seabird]

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.





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_pl...ic.php?1112.80
Colin

[bluelady]

love it...