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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...

Shorewatch’s September Big Watch Weekend

After a fantastic season it’s time for Shorewatch’s bi-annual Big Watch Weekend: 12th, 13th and 14th September. During this weekend our dedicated Shorewatchers layer up and anchor themselves to their Shorewatch sites, with the aim of completing as many Shorewatches as possible. We will then be able to see what is going on at that exact point in time with whales, dolphins and porpoises around the Scottish coastline. We have 24 specific Shorewatch sites where volunteers complete 10-minute surveys that monitor presence and absence of whales, dolphins and porpoises. These Shorewatches are not conducted more than once an hour so that there is sufficient time to allow the cetacean to leave the area and avoid being counted twice.

Here at the Scottish Dolphin Centre, during Big Watch Weekend, and in fact every day of the week until 31st October, we shall be conducting Shorewatches on the hour, every hour during our opening times. Come down and join us and hopefully we shall spot some of the world’s largest bottlenose dolphins together.

This year our Shorewatchers have had some fantastic sightings. Ranging from harbour porpoise to common dolphin, risso’s dolphin to orca and minke whale to humpback whale! All these sightings highlight what a fantastic platform the Scottish coastline is for land-based cetacean watching! So what are you waiting for? Head out to one of our Shorewatch locations and see what you can spot for yourselves.

 Our Shorewatchers all do an amazing job to help protect these incredible creatures so the Shorewatch team would like to take this chance to thank them for their commitment and hard work! We couldn’t do it without them!

For more information about the Shorewatch programme please don’t hesitate to contact us at [email protected]  or by calling 01343 820339