The Azores, Alaska or Antarctica may well be the first destinations that spring to mind for the ultimate whale- and dolphin-watching experience. However, the UK and Ireland’s seriously impressive marine mammal list can put our small collection of islands, on a good day, almost on a par with these more established, exotic locations.
While unpredictable weather conditions close to home can make cetacean-spotting tricky at best, we now have a better understanding of the annual movements and behaviour of whales and dolphins in our waters. There have been increased sightings of certain whale species around Britain and Ireland – a positive sign of their recovery from historical commercial whaling.
When is the best time to see whales and dolphins in the UK?
All the collated data of observations suggests that the best time to search for marine mammals here is in late summer, when the seas are at their warmest and food at its most abundant. And while the most rewarding opportunities will inevitably come from organised boat trips, a number of promontories and peninsulas can also offer spotting opportunities without needing to test the sturdiness of your sea legs.
To successfully locate cetaceans at sea, binoculars and patience are essential prerequisites. Constant scanning of the waters is required to notice either a ‘blow’ (moist air expelled through the blowhole) or anything breaking the surface. Also, gulls and gannets will be drawn to any feeding cetaceans across the vast watery expanse (hoping to take their share of shoals of fish and other prey), inadvertently giving you advanced warning of the imminent appearance of anything potentially lurking just below the surface.
How to identify whales and dolphins
Spotting something out at sea will of course only be half the battle, as identifying cetaceans, while undoubtedly rewarding, can be very challenging. Views may only be brief, with the vast majority of sightings offering little more than tantalising glimpses of body parts. Research beforehand will help narrow down the list of possible species at each location and the identifying features to look for.
Estimating a cetacean’s size at sea is notoriously difficult, but noticing the shape of the body, dorsal fin, pectoral flippers, tail fluke and beak will narrow down what you’re looking at. While the shape of the blow can help distinguish some larger whales, noticing whether a species is solitary or gregarious, and how it presents at the surface and dives below will provide vital extra clues.
By far the most common whale in our coastal waters is the minke whale, supposedly taking its name from a Norwegian whaler called Miencke, who mistook them for blue whales. The minke can reach about 10m in length, with a narrow, pointed snout. Its small, curved dorsal fin is set well back on its body, but its most striking feature is a broad, white band, which appears like a paint splash across each pectoral flipper.
Humpback whales are now increasingly reported in our deeper offshore waters, with the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group using photo identification to log close to 100 different individuals since 1999. Distinguished by its low, bushy blow and huge flippers, which can reach a third of its body length, this extrovert species is known for its flamboyant breaching as it explodes from the water
and the way that it reveals its fluke before a deep dive.
In the colder North Atlantic waters, long-finned pilot whales are also being spotted. These sociable whales are not much larger than bottlenose dolphins, but when seen clearly, their bulbous, rounded heads and broad-based dorsal fins are defining features.
And finally, don’t rule out the planet’s second-largest whale species, which is now known to migrate through British and Irish waters in small numbers each summer. If you see a tall, columnar blow; a body almost reaching the same length as your local swimming pool; and a dive that reveals a small dorsal fin but no fluke, you may have been lucky enough to hit the cetacean jackpot – the sleek, fast-swimming and mighty fin whale.
Top 5 UK and Ireland places to see whales and dolphins
The Minch
This Atlantic sea channel between the Outer Hebrides and the north-west Scottish Highlands is considered a prime location for spotting some of our rarer whales, such as humpback, fin, sei and pilot whales.
South west Ireland
A number of responsible operators along the south-west coast offer trips to see dolphins and, with luck, Ireland’s star species – the humpback whale.
Cornwall
Day trips from Padstow, Penzance and Falmouth all report regular sightings of dolphins, with calm conditions best for spotting minke and even humpback whales.
West coast of Mull
Day trips from Tobermory, on Mull, travel out into the Sea of the Hebrides and provide an opportunity to see orcas and basking sharks, in addition to plenty of minkes, three species of dolphin, and harbour porpoises.
Whitby
Considered the capital of Britain’s thriving whaling industry in the 18th century, the town offers trips to see the burgeoning population of minkes in the North Sea, with only cameras pointed at the whales these days.