Orcas, Risso’s dolphins and a basking shark spotted off Caithness coast during 2025 Orca Watch
Seven marine species have been recorded so far during this year’s Orca Watch, which is taking place around the Caithness coast and beyond.
The annual citizen science project, led by the Sea Watch Foundation, is based at John O’Groats until Sunday.
Spotters have been out around the coastline in the county, as well as in Orkney and Shetland, trying to spot marine wildlife including the popular killer whale.
BBC TV cameras have also been in the area during the 10-day event, filming footage for Countryfile.
Volunteers and members of the public have been stationed at 11 official watch stations, while the team has also conducted surveys onboard the Pentland Ferries vessel between Gills Bay and St Margaret’s Hope.
As well as orcas, they are looking out for all cetacean and seal species, as well as any other exciting marine wildlife such as sharks.
The Sea Watch Foundation said on Wednesday that a total of seven different species had been recorded since the beginning of the event, including five cetacean species and two seal species.
This included a total of seven orca reports, with 15 individuals counted, as well as 32 individual Risso’s dolphins, two bottlenose dolphins, two harbour porpoise, 36 grey seals and 21 harbour seals. On May 27, there was also a report of a basking shark at the Trinkie in Wick.
The first orca sighting of this year’s official event was made at Scarfskerry on Saturday evening, a lone male orca (bull) which then travelled slowly round to Gills Bay.
A pod of four or five creatures was spotted on Monday at the Trinkie, around 20 metres from the shore. This pod was later confirmed to be the 169s along with a young calf.
Orca Watch has been running for 12 years, after originally starting to help research the effects of a tidal turbine installation on marine wildlife, with a focus on orca, in the Pentland Firth.
All sightings recorded get inputted to a nationwide citizen science database, the largest and longest-running in the UK. Organisers say it is vital to continue this work, not only during Orca Watch but throughout the year to monitor and observe cetaceans, recording numbers and behaviour.
Updates on sightings can be seen at the event hub at John O’Groats, on the website at www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk or via the free Sea Watcher App. People can come and visit the team and volunteers at the base at Groats which is open from 8am to 5pm every day until Sunday.
Events are being held in person and online, with more information available on the website.