Killer whale fans hoping for more close encounters as Orca Watch returns to Caithness
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Volunteers and citizen scientists taking part in Sea Watch Foundation’s Orca Watch 2023 will be hoping for a repeat of some of last year's killer-whale excitement in the Pentland Firth.
There were close encounters with two orcas on the opening day of the 2022 event, and ferry passengers were reported to be "hugging and kissing" after seeing a group of eight killer whales a few days later.
Orca Watch is a nine-day event based in John O’Groats but with watches taking place all around Caithness and north Sutherland, and in Orkney and Shetland. The aim is to collect as much data as possible on whales, dolphins and porpoises, with everyone encouraged to join in land watches, boat trips and talks.
Orca Watch returned to John O’Groats in 2022 after being cancelled in 2020 due to Covid and being run as a largely online event in 2021.
It gets under way on May 27. John O’Groats Ferries – a key partner of Orca Watch – will be welcoming volunteers and citizen scientists on board its Orkney services and wildlife cruises on the Pentland Venture, and will offer a discount to orca-watchers.
A year ago, Hazel Masson told of her "totally amazing" experience on the first day of Orca Watch 2022 after travelling from North Shields to be a volunteer.
She was among the passengers on the Pentland Venture who had close-up views of two bull orcas that were later identified as Ulfer and Trinkie.
"Everyone was so excited and it was so wonderful seeing them in their natural environment, swimming wild and free," Hazel said at the time. "The ferry was so respectful.
"It was awesome to see Ulfer so close to us and dive down and go under the front of the boat."
A few days later, another group of passengers on the ferry could barely contain their excitement after seeing a group of eight killer whales in the firth.
That encounter happened after John O'Groats Ferries agreed to run an unscheduled sailing at short notice following reports that whales had been seen in the waters around South Ronaldsay.
"Everybody was just elated – they were hugging and kissing," skipper William Bremner said. "We could hardly get them off the boat."
There have been multiple orca sightings in Caithness waters over the past month.
Sea-watcher Karen Munro captured a stunning set of photographs showing two pods, known as the 27s and the 12s. In the case of the latter, it was the first time they had been recorded in Caithness waters in a decade.
Sea Watch Foundation encourages everyone to contribute data, whether during Orca Watch or throughout the rest of the year. Sightings can be submitted to www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/sightingsform
The national marine environmental charity partners with a number of other businesses and organisations.
Orca Watch began in 2012. It was founded by Colin Bird, a former regional coordinator at Sea Watch Foundation.
