Video: Marine animals make a splash off Grampian coast
Whales, dolphins and porpoises spotted off coastline
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THEY are magnificent creatures of the sea – dolphins, whales and porpoises – and they are regularly spotted off the Grampian coast.
And a marine charity is urging people to take advantage of the amazing sights provided by the waters around the Grampian coast.
These fantastic pictures and video highlight the wonderful sealife that can be seen in what is considered one of Britain’s hotspots for marine mammals.
Onboard the Tranquility, which sailed out from Stonehaven harbour, skipper Brian Bartlett was quick to point out a common seal which popped its head out of the water.
And around four miles off the coast, Sea Watch volunteer Ian Sim spied seven white-beaked dolphins.
Ian said people shouldn’t miss out on the chance to spot impressive sea creatures.
The organisation is a national marine conservation research charity dedicated to the protection of whales, dolphins and porpoises around the UK.
Ian, the area co-ordinator for South Grampian Sea Watch, said: “We get a lot of tourists asking if they can go out but we don’t have enough funds or boats.”
And Ian, of Stonehaven, has to raise money every time he takes a group out to sea.
Recently there have been sightings of bottlenose dolphins, Minke whales, white beaked dolphins, Risso dolphins and harbour porpoises off the region’s coastline.
With National Whale and Dolphin Watch Week starting today there will be a range of manned viewpoints where experts will be on hand to help point out the marine mammals.
A fifth of marine creatures spotted off Britain’s coast were recorded between Fraserburgh and St Cyrus.
Ian recommended Aberdeen’s Torry Battery and Stonehaven’s Catterline area for the most regular sightings.
