Islands

THE Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) has reported record breaking sightings between January and March this year.

There were 118 sightings, totaling more than 431 individual animals, recorded between January 1 and March 31.

Bottlenose dolphins were reported 12 times over the three months, with encounters in Barra, as well as the Inner Hebrides and around Mallaig.

HWDT also tracks and records individual killer whales and Risso’s dolphins using photo identification. During this period, both species were reported five times across the Hebrides.

Sightings of killer whales were noted around Skye, Mull and the Small Isles.

HWDT relies on members of the public to report sightings of whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks through its website www.hwdt.org.

A spokesperson from the group said: ‘We are very keen for people to join in with our community sightings network. By reporting sightings, people contribute directly to a better understanding of the local marine environment. It is really useful citizen science in action.’