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EVENTSNational Whale and Dolphin Watch Week28 Jul - 2 AugBerry HeadAs an island, the UK and its coastal waters are home to a huge variety of marine life. Most people, however, are unaware of the true diversity of wildlife that exists in the seas around the British coast. There have been 29 species of whale and dolphin (collectively known as ‘cetaceans’) recorded in our waters and it is likely many more have come and gone unnoticed. Aside from common & bottlenose dolphins and harbour porpoise that some people may have spotted, we are also occasionally graced by the presence of ocean giants, such as sperm and fin whales. Slightly more common are the Risso’s dolphin and, if lucky, the charismatic Orca (killer whale): with its distinctive panda markings it is an intelligent and efficient predator that hunts seals in packs. Despite having such a wealth of marine mammals, there are still gaps in our knowledge when it comes to their movements and behaviour. The Sea Watch Foundation was established in 1991 in order to better understand cetaceans in the UK and Ireland, while educating the public and raising awareness. For a number of years they have been running an annual Whale and Dolphin Watch week, where members of the public are encouraged to spend a few hours watching the sea and recording details of the marine life they encounter. The findings feed into a national database that provides a ‘snapshot’ of the state of our waters for one week of the year. The Torbay Coast and Countryside Trust’s Berry Head National Nature Reserve provides a perfect place for cetacean watching and each year, the ranger team, with the help of lots of volunteers take to the headland with their binoculars and notepads to engage in some citizen science. If this sounds like something you might be interested in, the good news is that it requires no prior knowledge of whales and dolphins. All equipment is provided and a training session from a cetacean expert teaches volunteers everything they need to know. Back to the Events page |