Ahoy there! Have a whale of a time at sea

KATY WHEELER ENJOYED A TRIP TO AMSTERDAM TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE DIVERSE RANGE OF SPECIES WHO CALL THE NORTH SEA HOME

“A humpback whale? In the North Sea?!” - it may sound fishy, but this majestic species is just one of the cetaceans spotted in waters off the North East coast.

Though whale and dolphins are more commonly associated with the azure waters of warmer climes, beneath the surface of the steely grey North Sea there’s a veritable Noah’s Arc of animals who either call it home or are passing through.

Logging the movements of these creatures is the task of wildlife officers from the ORCA charity who spend their summer seasons aboard DFDS’ King Seaways ferry.

Whilst most passengers spend their time on board enjoying the ship’s restaurants, nightclub and cinema on the daily route from North Shields to Ijmuiden, just outside Amsterdam, what they may not realise is that the route can prove educational too.

As well as their work to log sightings of marine and mammal life - research which helps determine where species live, what threats they face and how to protect them - the officers are also on hand to highlight the wealth of aquatic neigh- bours to passengers.

Daily deck watches are held where common sightings include harbour porpoises, minke whales and white beaked dolphins, making the North Sea home to one of the most diverse range of species in European waters surveyed by ORCA.

For fans of our feathered friends you can also expect to spy gannets, great skua, fulmar and kittiwakes.

As well as deck watches, the wildlife watching experience, which is free of charge to DFDS passengers, features talks and displays in the on board Wildlife Centre which gives a fascinating insight into the vital work of this charity.

I was invited on board just ahead of the summer wildlife watching season, which runs from April until September.

As I set my alarm, wrapped up warm and braved the early morning elements for a deck watch, I was hopeful of a sighting. Standing on the observation deck at the bow of the ship, we watched for breaks in the water to see sealife.

Those hankering for a Humpback sighting may be disappointed: that whale has only been recorded once in 2008, with its stubby dorsal fin making it difficult to spot unless it puts on one of its spectacular dive displays showing off its distinctive fluke.

However, there’s no need to get the hump, smaller cetaceans are a more likely spot. In 2014 ORCA recorded 201 harbour porpoises and 26 white-beaked dolphins in the North Sea, while whale watchers spotted 16 Minke whales in 2013.

Statistics from a ten year research report published by ORCA, titled The State of European Cetaceanss, recently showed that harbour porpoises were predominantly observed off the coast of Ijmuiden whereas the white-beaked dolphin was most frequently observed off the coast of North Shields.

Highlights on this route also include the rare sighting of a striped dolphin close to Ijmuiden, a Risso’s dolphin outside of North Shields and a fin whale south-east of North Shields.

Despite our eagerness to see a whale, our sightings, which were slightly out of season, were limited to turns and other birdlife on our visit. But, that’s the nature of spotting wildlife in the wild: they’re not there for our entertainment.

Indeed, conservation and enjoying wildlife in its natural habitat is at the heart of the ORCA charity and even if you don’t find a fin whale, the Wildlife Centre offers expert talks for children and adults on h part in keep e

For the i es Lecture, we from the and took ou talk by wild i McLeod.

As well a ings she’s en North Sea, s lighted the whale hun i other threa s cluding pl s the sea w i cetaceans through en a ingestion.

Educatio ing a bright species an the chances in our wate

•Two-ni es start fr son retur people sha i cabin. DFD of theme througho t cluding M mini crui dam.

Marine Cruises i clude: two suite cabi dolphins, poises, ed c return coa Amsterda hours in A more inf www.dfds.