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Fishers' involvement is crucial. Image: WDC/JTF

When porpoises and people overlap

We're funding a project in Hong Kong that's working with fishing communities to help save...

Mindful conservation – why we need a new respect for nature

'We should look at whales and dolphins as the indigenous people of the seas -...
A dolphin called Arnie with a shell

Dolphins catch fish using giant shell tools

In Shark Bay, Australia, two groups of dolphins have figured out how to use tools...
Common dolphins at surface

Did you know that dolphins have unique personalities?

We all have personalities, and between the work Christmas party and your family get-together, perhaps...
Leaping harbour porpoise

The power of harbour porpoise poo

We know we need to save the whale to save the world. Now we are...
Holly. Image: Miray Campbell

Meet Holly, she’s an incredible orca leader

Let me tell you the story of an awe-inspiring orca with a fascinating family story...
Humpback whale. Image: Christopher Swann

A story about whales and humans

As well as working for WDC, I write books for young people. Stories; about the...
Risso's dolphin at surface

My lucky number – 13 years studying amazing Risso’s dolphins

Everything we learn about the Risso's dolphins off the coast of Scotland amazes us and...

Easter Blog

Spring has arrived in Spey Bay!

We have got lots of eggsciting things going on here at The Scottish Dolphin Centre this week; we are starting our Wildlife Wanders (guided wildlife walks for visitors) as of Friday 18th April which are at 14:15 every day (weather permitting)! From Friday 18th – Sunday 20th April, we have also got an eggstra special Easter Trail! Kids and adults alike can participate at any time of the day to go and hunt for special clues located around the reserve in order to receive Easter treats! Pardon the puns – just can’t resist!

Signs of Spring are showing up all over the place, it’s hard to miss! There are lots of pretty blossom on the trees and the very exciting arrival of swallows and ospreys! The evenings are getting lighter and lighter every day and the balmy sea air feels full and warm (apart from the crazy windy weekend we had which created sand storms)!


We residential volunteers are very conveniently located, just outside the front of our house we can watch the swallows swooping and perching. I find them very uplifting with their cheery song and impressive tail feathers. Once dusk envelopes the landscape, we can also see bats flitting about the place on their nightly antics. Just a stone’s throw away is the river mouth, where this week we have seen the osprey hovering and diving. I have taken a walk up along the path towards the bridge where I also saw an osprey making its way down to the river.


On my walk, I noticed a heron silently fishing. So I sat down to watch him. Being very quiet, I saw him take position and strike. I believe he caught a fish but it all happened so quickly I can’t be sure! Whilst I was sat being very quiet, I noticed some movement on the ground level near to where I was sitting, so I kept watch and I was treated to seeing a weasel pop his head up! I saw a flash of his white underbelly and then he was gone as quickly as he had appeared!

I had a day off on Friday, and the sun was shining, so myself and fellow volunteer Fiona headed out for a bike ride. We had a brilliant day, spotting seals at nearby Port gordon. We jokingly said that it would be great to see dolphins when we got back… low and behold when we arrived we saw lots of people on the Shorewatch hill looking out. So we ran into the shop and borrowed some of the binoculars, which are available to hire for free for our visitors, and made our way across the shingle to the shore. We sat down and watched… it was pretty spectacular, we saw two bottlenose dolphins and they were breaching out of the water, over and over again, jumping out and landing on their side making a big splash! We couldn’t believe our luck!

Spring is definitely my favourite time of year, everything is growing and blossoming ready for a new year and there is a buzz of excitement in the air. Butterflies are fluttering by and bumbling bees are buzzing round the blossom.  Lots of animals seemingly hang around in pairs and soon enough we will have ducklings, goslings and much more! Very exciting! Who doesn’t love an Easter chick?