Close encounters off the Caithness coast – 27's pod at Keiss pods and killer whales with kayakers at Freswick
What could be the same pod of orcas, the 27's, was seen in Sinclair's Bay and Freswick Bay last night surfacing close to the Caithness coastline.
Andy Harris from Sinclair Bay Lodges had guests staying in his glamping pods near Keiss harbour when the cetaceans, thought to be the famous 27's pod, surfaced at around 8.30pm.
"It was the best sighting we have had since we opened a year ago. All our guests were on the patios watching," said Andy.
"We counted a total of eight orca. They seem to have been teaching their young to hunt in the shallow water around the bay. They came from the south. It was the ‘27’s pod’ we notified all four couples (guests) by text message. They were all viewing from the private patio and Jacuzzis."
Andy and his fiancée Penny designed and built the glamping pod site and opened it on June 1 last year. "It’s a popular place for seals. We have also seen pods of dolphins and a minke whale." The site also has a half-mile stretch of coast close by that contains brochs, WWII pillboxes and the 16th century ruins of Keiss Castle.
About 30 minutes later, what is believed to be the same pod, was encountered by some kayakers in Freswick Bay who fearlessly caught video footage of the close encounter with the killer whales.
David Shand captured video of the pod and said: "Five orcas (killer whales), swam halfway across Freswick Bay at great speed, from one kilometre away, evidenced by the large dorsal fin of the largest male. "They swam among our sea kayaks, very close to us, just under the surface. There were two distinct large males, one with by far the tallest dorsal fin. They then headed just past us spending a few minutes at the headland."
There were numerous other sightings of the 27's pod across the Caithness coastline last night that have been shared to social media.
