Watch out for killer whales as John O’Groats set to be base of Orca Watch 2024
Wildlife watchers are gearing up to look out for orcas and other marine creatures around the Caithness coast at a special event.
Orca Watch 2024 will be based at the library at the John O’Groats Inn for 10 days from May 25, with watches taking places around the coastline.
The event also covers the coast of north Sutherland, Orkney and Shetland, with sightings being fed into a citizen science project.
Organised by Sea Watch Foundation, last year’s Orca Watch saw 56 recorded orca sightings, with a total of 260 marine mammals noted including orcas, harbour porpoises, Risso's dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, minke whales, grey seals, and harbour seals.
Volunteers, tourists and citizen scientists gather in the far north during the event to conduct land-watches, ,take boat trips, attend local events and try to catch a glimpse of the biggest member of the dolphin family, the orca.
Orca Watch 2024 kicks off formally on Saturday, May 25, which is followed by an evening of talks at the Lyth Arts Centre on the Monday 27th.
During the week, land-watches will be taking place from Thurso to Wick and beyond.
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Some of the organised events will be livestreamed to allow people who cannot attend in person to experience the excitement of the events.
Members of the public are invited to join the hundreds of people expected to take part in Orca Watch to witness the passage of orcas and other cetaceans through the Pentland Firth.
The team can be visited at the base in John O’Groats to find out more about when and where watches are taking place, and browse the information and merchandise available.
Sea Watch Foundation has partnered up with a number of local organisations and businesses to put together what promises to be a successful return up to John O’Groats. These include: Northlink Ferry, Caithness SeaCoast, RSPB, Mammal Society, HWDT, CNSF, High Life Highland, Cabin at John O’Groats, Together Travel, Seaview Hotel, John O’Groats Campsite, Apartment 65B, Ferry View Camping, Windhaven B&B and Camping, Highland Haven and Pentland Lodge House.
Orca Watch began in 2012 and was founded by Colin Bird, a former regional coordinator at Sea Watch Foundation. Following a bid to introduce underwater turbines in the Pentland Firth, Colin, in collaboration with Sea Watch Foundation, made the decision to establish an annual survey week to gather information on how orca, and other cetaceans use the area and therefore what the consequences of the turbine installation would be.
The event has grown into an annual gathering which aims to raise awareness of the importance of conserving the diverse ecosystems of the Pentland Firth.
