We seem to have had a busy summer with Orcas & not very much else….

3rd June - 4 Orcas Sandside Bay, Mull Head

6th June - Approx 8 Orcas feeding off Hoxa Head

7th June - Pod of 6 Orcas feeding in Birsay Bay

12th June - 2 Bottlenose Dolphins very rare , Deerness

16th June - Orcas Barrier No.4 heading North

26th June - Orcas in Birsay Bay, Otter at Skipi Geo hunting from the rocks

11th July - Orcas at point of Ness Stromness

15th July - 4 Orcas at Burwick, South Ronaldsay

21st July - Pod of Orcas Breckness heading south into the Flow & a pod of Orcas at Marwick heading North

15th August - Minke Whale off the Brough of Birsay

 

 

 

Well here we go the Orcas are here…

18th May - A pod of Orcas in Scapa Flow

19th May - x6 Orcas seen from the John o’groats ferry 1 half miles south of Lother rock

25th May - A pod of Orcas in Scapa Flow

3oth May - A pod of Orcas off the Brough of Birsay to the north side around 2pm. We didn’t see them!!

5th June - x2 Orcas seen coming across from Gills Bay to St Margarets Hope from the Pentalina Ferry

7th June - X6+ pod of Risso s Dolphins & x2 Porpoise seen by us & customers in the Bay of Birsay from 2.30-4pm! A great way to enjoy a few hours in the sun & a calm day..

14th June - x10 White Beaked Dolphins & x2 Rissos Dolphins in Birsay Bay.

10th/11th July - a pod of Orcas seen off Noup head, Westray

What joy it is to see our first swallows of the year (29th April this year) especially if we see them around our farm buildings, as we always hope they will come back to nest. The same day I was guided up our driveway by Wheatears.

Later that day Roger went fishing & saw his first Arctic terns & some swallows at Sandwick. On 4th May I was kept company by a swallow enjoying the evening sun whilst sitting on our washing line…

Here are the first sightings of the year!

May 2010

Monday 10th - There was a pod of five Orcas consisting possibly of; 1 bull, 3 females & 1 immature. They were seen to  kill & play with 2 seals over in Eynhallow sound, Evie. There have been several sightings of Orcas off Rousay, Shapinsay, Kirkwall recently.

Wednesday 12th - A pod of approx 4-5 Orcas seen working as a group & playing with 2 seals between 6pm-7pm off the Brough of Birsay.

Thursday 13th - a pod of at least 8 Orcas off Rerwick Head.

Wednesday 19th - a minke whale heading north towards highest point of Brough of Birsay, not far out of the Bay ( seen by Jo!)

Roger actually went over to the Broch & was able to enjoy them for a while.

Thursday 27^th May – 9 Orcas seen between Hoy & mainland during the evening, within sight of shore – reported by a customer of ours.

Thursday 27^th May – 5 Orcas seen in the flow near The lash at the end of Waulkmill Bay – thanks to Chris Booth

Saturday 29^th May – 2 Orcas seen near Seal Skerry, North Ronaldsay during the evening for about 50 minutes, took a seal – reported by a visitor at the NRBO to Alison

 

 Orcas in Eynhallow Sound taken by Kevin Mccullen 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are the latest sightings from the summer. We have had some amazing, flat calm seas, perfect for whale watching ….

June 2009

4th June - 5 big dolphins (possibly Rissos) coming out of water in Bay of Ireland 6am. Heading towards Hoy sound.

8th June - X2 porpoise going to & from Rousay, west of Wyre

9th June - Fin Whale was seen in the Pentland Firth, a massive blow, 1 animal with possibly 2 others. travelling east. Harbour porpoise seen off Grimness Head

10th June - 1 Minke whale, groups of 3+2+2 Harbour porpoise off Grimness Head. During the evening a pod of Risso’s dolphins & 2 Harbour porpoise.

16th June - Possible x2 Minke whales seen close to Noup head, Westray

27th June - x2 Basking Sharks seen off Burwick, South Ronaldsay

27th-29th June - School of dolphins in the Holm & scapa Flow area. Some were Rissos’s dolphins

July/August

1st July - Basking shark seen off Saviskaill Head, Rousay

15th July - Basking Shark seen in Birsay Bay & we didn’t see it!!

3rd August - Minke Whale & Harbour Porpoise seen at in Eynhallow sound, Costa.

6th August - Basking Shark seen in Eynhallow sound, Costa during the evening.

7th August - X12 Rissos Dolphins & Harbour Porpoise seen in Eynhallow sound, Costa at 8AM!

An exciting & unusual sight was seen on 15th January 2009, a pod of 3 Orca’s! The group consisted of a bull & two females. They were seen about noon at Manse bay, South Ronaldsay.

So keep your eyes peeled, you never know when you might be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of these sometimes elusive mammals! 

We wonder when our first sighting of 2009 will be??