The annual Orca Watch of the Pentland Firth begins on Saturday.
Organised by Sea Watch Foundation, the event started after the research group, and volunteer regional coordinator, Colin Bird, noticed that there was an annual passage of the impressive animal through the waters between North Scotland and Orkney towards the end of May.
Orca Watch is always timed to coincide with this passage in the hope that as many people will get to see the animals as possible. This year it runs until Sunday May 28.
People from all over are invited to join the dedicated volunteers for watches throughout. The main watch site, Duncansby Head, will be surveyed daily.
Anyone interested in taking part should feel free to attend the watch point. If they see anything from elsewhere, Sea Watch would love to hear about it. Sightings should be reported at www.seawateventchfoundation.org.uk/sightingsform.
Anna Jemmett, Sea Watch volunteer and organiser of this year’s event, said: “It is wonderfully exciting to see a whale or dolphin in the wild for yourself and although it takes both luck and patience (and many layers of warm clothes!) the rewards are worth it, seeing a cetacean is magical.
“The aim of Orca Watch is to collect vital data on our visiting orcas and also the other cetacean species in the area, whilst informing the public about these special animals just off their shores.”