The west of Scotland is home to a higher density of harbour porpoise than is found elsewhere. White-beaked dolphins are found throughout northern European waters.
Common dolphins tend to be summer visitors to Scotland, and are mainly recorded here between May and October, when food is most abundant. They can sometimes be seen in large schools and are highly acrobatic, often leaping clear of the water. Orcas killer whales are the largest species of dolphin.
Their distinctive black-and-white coloration makes them easy to recognise. Orcas can be seen in coastal waters off the west coast of Scotland and in the Northern Isles. Some groups of orca feed on fish, while others target seals.
The Scottish Marine Wildlife Watching Code explains how best to watch marine wildlife with minimal impact on the animals. Planning a marine wildlife tour? You can report sightings of live cetaceans to the Sea Watch Foundation , Whale Track or to your local biological recording scheme. A bottlenose dolphin surfacing with her calf.
The Firth is home to both common and grey seals. Plan your visit. Find out more. Volunteering We rely on our brilliant volunteers to help support the Centre. Get involved. Opening Times. The Centre is open 5 days per week, Thursday to Monday from am to 3.
Contact Us. Follow Us. Google reviews. I mean, how do they know? They are amazing. As I write this, I am trying to outwit them by always carrying it on Moray Firth coastal walks, but inconspicuously, so I have high hopes.
Still, you may ask, why bother when the local branch of Whale and Dolphin Conservation WDC have a Field Officer who manages to nail them on regular occasions?
Dolphins leaping around, right at the mouth of the River Spey. I had no camera. So I went back the next day and they were still there, only a bit further out. A surprise in itself.
But I feel obliged to share it with you. I expect dolphins turn up at river mouths, such as the Spey, to waylay inbound salmon. The best-known of our cetaceans are the bottlenose dolphins of the Moray Firth colony. These are some of the biggest individuals anywhere in the world because the feeding grounds are rich and also, because the water is cold, they need an extra-thick layer of blubber. They have all the expertise to need to point you towards the most up-to-date sightings.
They have an exhibition centre and a cafe too, for a warming bowl of soup, perhaps. Spey Bay is a short drive from Elgin, east of Lossiemouth.
And there are waders and ducks and sometimes pieces of temptingly arty-crafty pieces of driftwood cast up on the massive, stony storm-beach.
Finally, except in high summer, a knitted woolly hat or toorie as we would call it is also advised, should you wish to blend into the background and to keep your ears from falling off in the wind. Most Moray Firth residents who notice these things reckon that, statistically speaking, Chanonry Point by Fortrose, just north of Inverness, is the best place to see dolphins in Scotland. This is mainly because Chanonry Point sticks out into the Firth and that there is comparatively deep water close inshore.
Check tide times before your visit. You might see them very close to where you stand on the shoreline. On the other hand, you may spend some time prowling up and down the beach and see nothing at all by way of marine mammals. As for the actual population size, it depends on what you read. Some say as low as , others give a figure of around The Point also gives a good view of the slightly sinister-looking long defensive walls of Fort George, on the other shore of the Firth and itself another good dolphin watching vantage point.
You might find the plaque that commemorates the death of the Brahan Seer here. Or head to Fort George , just across the water, for an entirely unique perspective from 18th century fortress. The Moray coast is not only famous for bottlenose dolphins, but also harbour porpoises and even whales, especially the Minke whale. A slightly surer option is to take a boat trip.
0コメント