Orca Watch 2024 was a great success! Over 60 dedicated volunteers, including some familiar faces from Sea Watch Foundation’s internship program, joined hundreds of enthusiastic members of the public for an extraordinary week of spotting orcas and other cetaceans in Caithness.
The event wasn’t just about sightings. Engaging activities like talks from renowned speakers like Dr. Erich Hoyt, Dr. Deborah Giles, and Dr. Ruth Esteban, as well as a Photo ID workshop by our Scottish Officer, Craig Mackie, kept everyone engaged.
The map below details the locations of all the cetacean species spotted during the event (these are still preliminary findings). Similarly, a table summarises the types and numbers of marine mammals and even non-marine creatures encountered, offering a glimpse into the region’s rich biodiversity. A final report with detailed findings will be release soon.
The week wasn’t just about data collection – it was about unforgettable experiences! On June 1st, participants witnessed a rare and thrilling event – an orca pod hunting close to shore. Initially spotted near Brough Bay, a pod of one male and two females swam along the coast towards John O’Groats. As they passed by, they were seen actively approaching the shoreline. At just meters away, observers watched in awe as the orcas thrashed and hunted at the water’s surface. The map below tracks this pod’s path for over 7.5 hours, revealing their impressive journey along most of our designated observation sites.
A huge thank you goes out to everyone who made this possible: staff, ambassadors, volunteers, sponsors, accommodation partners, and local residents. Their dedication and contributions were instrumental to Orca Watch 2024’s success.
