Pilot Whales in The Medway

[pks1702]

 

[Gargleblaster]

Wow. I would have thought it was too shallow for them. Although I used to sail in Moreton Bay in Queensland and we often had Pilot Whales there and that is very shallow in places.
When was this? It looks like a winter haze so I assume it is recent.
Just hope they didn't think that if they kept heading west they would get to the Atlantic.

 

[Koeketiene]

Thanks for sharing :encouragement:

 

[Cantata]

That's astonishing! In 20 years of sailing on the Swale and Medway I've never seen such a thing.
My first thought was "nah, they're porpoises", but they're not, are they....

 

[xyachtdave]

Thanks for sharing this, can't wait to show my daughter later!

 

[DavidofMersea]

I wonder where they will go next - Perhaps they will come and see us in the Blackwater

 

[ex-Gladys]

Pilot whales have a bit of a reputation for stranding when in shallow water, getting them back into the Channel/North Sea may not help....

 

[pks1702]

Can't take credit for this but it was on Sunday evidently.

I lived in the area for years messing about in boats and have never seen or heard of them so this many is quite a sight.

 

[Cantata]

Shown on our local Meridian News this evening. Fantastic. Seems they did clear off out of the Medway having been shown the way out, but no further reports.

 

[Leighb]

The pilot whales were on the Look East news this evening, apparently they have moved up to Essex, wildlife experts concerned they might strand themselves and have been trying to "shoo" them further out to sea.

 

[xyachtdave]

More here on the bbc
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-30101307



And I've beaten Sailorman to it!

 

[sailorman]

Must sharpen up
the last one`s in the Orwell 2 of our marina lads swam with them, then the tree huggers moved in & their boat prop hit the whales

 

[ianc1200]

There seems to be reports of them in the Blackwater & off Brightlingsea (on EC old gaffers FB page today)

 

[xyachtdave]

...then the tree huggers moved in & their boat prop hit the whales

I was thinking the 'leading them out to deeper water' was probably a mistake too. I'd have thought it more likely to confuse the whales hacking about in a mobo, waving and chucking dynamite over the side or whatever they do to attract their attention!

A little like the 'safety ribs' yacht clubs are fond of - more harm than good sometimes me thinks .....

 

[Firefly]

Wonderful to see them in our waters, but I wish the "experts" would leave them alone - mind you its good to see that Essex Police still have a marine unit even if it is spending its time herding whales.

 

[Gargleblaster]

The pilot whales were on the Look East news this evening, apparently they have moved up to Essex, .

Maybe they have been watching the Keep Turning Left videos and want to have a look for themselves.

 

[DavidofMersea]

10.00 am Wednesday from the BBC :-

A pod of whales, spotted swimming near the Essex coast, is being encouraged back out to sea as experts fear they could become trapped by the tides.

The 40-strong group was seen about a mile offshore between Jaywick and Brightlingsea on Tuesday but the area where they have been sheltering, near the Blackwater Estuary, has a number of mud and sand flats, which could lead to the whales becoming trapped when the tide goes out.

 

[ex-Gladys]

Pictures on the BBC site are from Stacey who runs the "other" launch service at Mersea. They've been up as far as Thirslet... Bit of a concern