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Sealife spotters treated to bonanza of sightings during ‘big watch’ on Moray Firth

Orca were spotted off the coast during the weekend. Pictured: shorewatch volunteer Katie Dyke, Burghead Headland Trust trustee Steve Truluck.
Orca were spotted off the coast during the weekend. Pictured: shorewatch volunteer Katie Dyke, Burghead Headland Trust trustee Steve Truluck.

Hundreds of sea life enthusiasts have been treated to a bonanza of sightings off the Moray coastline.

A “big watch” was organised during the weekend in Burghead for locals and tourists to learn more about the myriad mammals who are living under the water.

And the whales and dolphins in the region obliged by putting on an incredible display in the Moray Firth to showcase the diverse species who are thriving in the area.

Organisers have hailed the significant amount of sightings during the last week as being among the best in living memory.

Excitement was already building after orca and sperm whales were spotted before the weekend even commenced.

And yesterday, more than 300 people got to enjoy further sightings of minke whale and dolphins as well as a porbeagle shark on Saturday.

Enthusiasts had binoculars and telescopes trained on the sea life from Burghead while boat tours were organised into the Moray Firth. Visitors also got to appreciate the size of the massive mammals from an inflatable whale.

The “Big Watch at the Broch” was organised as part of a national shorewatch event that records sightings and movements of sea life spotted off the UK coastline.

Expert talks also shone a light on how the whales and dolphins live under the waves in addition to giving advice on how best to spot them.

Organiser Steve Truluck, trustee at the Burghead Headland Trust, was thrilled so many visitors to the village were able to take home memories of their own sightings.

He said: “The last week has been unbelievable. It’s one of the best weeks that I can remember.

“From the orca on Friday through to regular minke whale sightings on Sunday, it’s been brilliant. There’s been an excellent response from visitors too.

“The humpback whale sightings in January raised a lot of awareness. People are quite clued up on the dolphins, but not whales – it’s brilliant for them to see them.

“It has been a fairly difficult sea quite far out but people were still able to spot them.”