Orcas delight onlookers in close encounter at Trinkie
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A CROWD of excited wildlife-watchers had a close encounter with killer whales at Wick’s South Head this week.
A fast-moving pod of seven came close to the rocks at the Trinkie pool on Tuesday night – delighting the many onlookers who had been waiting patiently after reports that orcas had been seen heading up the coast at Helmsdale, Latheron and Lybster.
The group – identified as the 27s – comprised two bulls, three females and two juveniles.
There were loads of cheers when the orcas popped up to the surface.
Viv Gunn, from Wick, was one of those who captured close-up photos of the orcas at the Trinkie.
She said: “The atmosphere was brilliant. Everyone was so excited, including the children.
“We waited well over an hour for them to approach the Trinkie. We were lucky as they were so close to the coastline.
“There were loads of cheers when the orcas popped up to the surface. It's such a highlight and a rare opportunity for people in Wick to be able to see such beautiful creatures in their natural habitat.”
The orcas continued past Staxigoe, where a small crowd of people watched from a headland.
Wildlife photographer Karen Munro was among those who, as darkness fell, watched the orcas apparently hunting for seals and then breaching off the coast near Keiss.
This week’s sightings followed the success of the 10-day Orca Watch organised by the Sea Watch Foundation in partnership with Whale and Dolphin Conservation. On Sunday, the final day, passengers on the John O’Groats ferry Pentland Venture saw six killer whales.
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