This morning it is at Duncansby Head where Sightings Officer Chiara join the rest of the orca watchers and conduct a land-watch from. The rain is falling but the sea conditions are good and she stays there for few hours looking out for whales and dolphins.
New of Risso’s dolphins come from the John O’Groats Ferry where fellow volunteer observers have sighted a pod further out. It is excitement all of a sudden and everyone starts searching even more for fins out at sea. Unfortunately, the pod is not sighted from Duncansby though harbour porpoises are recorded all morning long.
The day ended with an evening of orca talks which was held at the Pulteney People’s Centre in Wick, where four speakers took the stage.
Dr Peter Evans director of Sea Watch who talked about orcas around the UK, Dr Saana Isojunno and Emily Hague from St Andrews University who provided insight into the predator-prey interaction between orcas and seals, Megan Hockin-Bennett from OrcaLab who shared her experience filming orcas off Johnstone Straight in Canada, and Dr Chiara Bertulli Sightings Officer at Sea Watch who provided information on how to conduct watches, fill in recording forms and submit sightings.
A ruffle organized by WDC concluded the night!