大象传媒 Scotland - 大象传媒 Scotland - Is something fishy going on? 5 times rare wildlife and unusual behaviour were spotted around Scotland鈥檚 shores this summer

Is something fishy going on? 5 times rare wildlife and unusual behaviour were spotted around Scotland鈥檚 shores this summer

8 August 2018

Birds and mammals have been behaving rather unusually in and around Scottish waters this year. And while this has delighted nature-lovers, some of us may never go in the water again…

Around 60 seals were spotted fleeing to a rock in the Pentland Firth in a desperate bid to escape approaching orcas.

The seals piled on to the rock as an adult and juvenile orca slowly circled the group, before swimming off.

Killer whales (also known as orcas) are often found near the isle of Arran in the Firth of Clyde, but this year a pod ventured much further inland and into the upper Clyde.

The pod which appeared to be teaching a calf to eat, was spotted off the Dunoon coastline.

An Arctic walrus nicknamed Wally enjoyed a short summer break in the Highlands and islands. He was first spotted in Orkney, before taking in the sights of Sutherland, then travelling over to Harris in the Western Isles and back to Sutherland to see Kinlochbervie.

Wally then swam on to Shetland, and enjoyed a final quick trip south to Wick. It’s rare to spot a walrus outside of the Arctic, and Wally who was perhaps finally making the long trip home, was last seen off Norway’s west coast.

One – or possibly two – chicks were spotted in a nest nestled high on a cliff face on the island of Hoy. It’s five years since the species was last seen in Orkney, and this was the first time white tailed eagles, also known as sea eagles, had nested there since 1873

Nature lovers from the Highland capital were treated to a rare sighting of two fin whales, which are only second in size to the blue whale. The adult and juvenile whales were spotted in the Kessock Channel, having last been seen in the areas in 2006. They were seen heading for open water soon after.

One of Scotland’s regularly spotted sea creatures has been seen far from his normal hunting ground.

An orca known as John Coe – often spotted around the Isle of Mull – made his way to the Anglesey coast where he caused much excitement.

Perhaps you prefer the idea of paddling in warmer waters than those surrounding Scotland? The Mediterranean’s usually a good option but this year it also played host to an uncommon visitor.

For the first time in more than 40 years a great white shark was spotted swimming off Majorca.

Suddenly those cold Scottish waters don’t seem so bad…