Minke in the Clyde

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Spyro

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I've heard tales of there being whales in the Clyde but yesterday was the first time that I have seen one and photographed it. I think it was a Minke but maybe there are some experts here who will confirm it. I would say it was at least 20ft long and a real treat for the kids on board to have been right next to whale.

Whale-1.jpg
 
Spyro said:
I've heard tales of there being whales in the Clyde but yesterday was the first time that I have seen one and photographed it. I think it was a Minke but maybe there are some experts here who will confirm it. I would say it was at least 20ft long and a real treat for the kids on board to have been right next to whale.


I would say it's a Minke as well, I had the same experience South of Lamlash bay a few years ago. I'm told that Minke whales only stay at the surface a short time and then dive (sound) for a long period.

Well done on getting the photo. Somethings you dont forget.

Tom
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LittleShip said:
Well done on getting the photo. Somethings you dont forget.

Tom
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We were sailing at about 5 knots and we'd seen it surfacing about a mile away and blowing huge a water spout about 15 mins before then again about 5 mins later so we had the camera ready it was about another 10 mins and we thought we were not going to see it again then suddenly about 20ft off the starboard beam it surfaced and blew another huge spout we could hardly believe it. It was my son (13) who did well getting the photo I don't know how he manged it as he got quite a fright when it appeared.
 
LittleShip said:
I would say it's a Minke as well, I had the same experience South of Lamlash bay a few years ago. I'm told that Minke whales only stay at the surface a short time and then dive (sound) for a long period.

Well done on getting the photo. Somethings you dont forget.

Tom
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Seconded, I'd agree it's a Minke. This was the one we spotted in Lyme Bay in summer 2006; we took a load of pics and got someone who knows to positively id it as a Minke. Kudos to your son for a great photo.

whale2-1.jpg


Cheers
Jimmy
 
We saw one a couple of years ago near the Keppel pier on Cumbrae. My wife called the Glasgow Uni. marine biology centre on Cumbrae, who confirmed it as a minke. It might be worthwhile reporting your sighting to them, as they seem to plot sightings to keep a track of whale movements in the Clyde.

Coincidnetally, there seemed to be a large pod of dolphins at the North entrance to Lamlash Bay on Saturday. Unfortunately we missed them, but some of the boats that we were allegedly racing did see them. That'll teach me to sail too slowly.
 
Well I had to do an emergency stop on Saturday as a pod of porpoise surfaced right in front of me as I was rounding the southern tip of Bute doing around 30 knots!

Luckily no harm or damage done to anyone/animal; and it was fantastic to see them carry on their merry way.

Cheers
Kenny
 
Hats off to your lad for a fantastic photo!

I was coming back from Largs, heading for Rhu, last Tuesday and heard what I though was a dolphin or porpoise exhaling. I had a good look around but never saw any. At the time I though it must have been close as it was very loud, so now I'm wondering if it was your wondering minke.
 
They seem to like the channels around the Cumbraes.
My sighting was off Kilchattan Bay last year. I was heading North and the whale was on a reciprocal course passing within a boat length. I was single handed and couldn't get to the camera on time.
I wonder if the increased numbers of minkes is related to the paucity now of basking shark sightings.
Great pic.
 
We have never seen a whale on the Clyde, but porpoises are everywhere. It's unlikely you wont see them if you are out and about on a fairly calm day.

I have been boating on the Clyde for about 25 years and I can't really recall seeing porpoises until about 8 years ago. Now they are always around which is great to see. Having said that they are so common that the novelty of spotting them has worn off a bit.

Funnily enough I didn't really know that they breathed so loud until I started sailing. I had a motor boat before and never heard them!
 
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