Rare footage shows extraordinary whales off Scotland's west coast
This behaviour, known as "lunge feeding", is one of the most dramatic feeding strategies in the natural world, with whales gulping down huge amounts of water and prey in just seconds.
The footage was recorded in The Minch, a marine corridor between the Outer Hebrides and mainland Scotland, with strong tidal flows and mixing currents.
Five fast facts about minke whales in Scotland
Minke whales are the second smallest of the baleen whales, which have throat grooves that distend when feeding.
Adults reach 6.9m (males) to 8m (females) in length, with calves born each year and nursed for 4-6 months. Many small whales seen in Scottish waters are thought to be less than a year old.
Calves are often the most curious, sometimes staying close to vessels as if mistaking them for their mothers.
They feed on small fish and plankton by filtering water through baleen combs.
Minke whales migrate between tropical breeding grounds in winter and colder feeding grounds in summer. In the Hebrides, they are typically seen from April to October.
Hebrides Cruises has spotted minke whales on most of its cruises this season and reports all sightings to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) via the Whale Watch app.
James Fairbairns, skipper at Hebrides Cruises, said: 'While minke whales are one of the most regularly seen baleen whale species in The Minch during the summer months, witnessing lunge feeding behaviour is relatively rare. We might encounter feeding whales a handful of times in a season, but seeing a clear, sustained lunge feeding event, as in this footage, is a real highlight. This year, there have been a few isolated sightings, but this was one of the most dramatic displays we've witnessed.
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"Guests were absolutely thrilled – for many, it was their first time seeing a whale in the wild, let alone such close-up feeding behaviour. The excitement on deck was palpable, with cameras clicking, binoculars scanning, and numerous 'did you see that!' moments. Encounters like this are unforgettable and a reminder of the incredible wildlife right on our doorstep in Scotland.'
Earlier this summer, Hebrides Cruises guests were also treated to a sighting of John Coe, the UK's most famous killer whale, near the Isle of Mull.
Later this month, Hebrides Cruises' second 'In Search of Giants' expedition cruise departs from Oban. This pioneering 10-night voyage to the former whaling grounds west and north of Scotland sold out within hours for both 2025 and 2026, with bookings now being taken for 2027.
The cruise ventures beyond the Outer Hebrides to the continental shelf-edge west and north of St Kilda.
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The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Footage captures whale feeding behaviour off Scotland's west coast
This behaviour, known as 'lunge feeding', is one of the most dramatic feeding strategies in the natural world, with whales gulping down huge amounts of water and prey in just seconds. Hebrides Cruises has spotted minke whales on most of its cruises this season and reports all sightings to the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust (HWDT) via the Whale Watch app. Every summer, minke whales migrate to feed in the waters off Scotland's west coast, and Hebrides Cruises' Wildlife Guides and Skippers are expert at reading the sea to locate them. A large gathering of seabirds is often the first sign of a fish feeding frenzy, which attracts minke whales to lunge feed at the surface. READ MORE: The footage was recorded in The Minch, a rich marine corridor between the Outer Hebrides and mainland Scotland, with strong tidal flows and mixing currents. This combination brings nutrient-rich waters to the surface, which fuels the growth of plankton and supports large shoals of small fish, such as sand eels, sprats, and herring - exactly the prey species that minke whales are looking for. Lunge feeding is a hunting technique used by baleen whales. The whale accelerates towards a dense patch of prey with its mouth wide open, engulfing a huge volume of water and fish. Pleated grooves along the whale's throat expand, allowing it to take in more food. The whale then closes its mouth and uses its tongue to push the water back out through its baleen plates, trapping the fish inside. In the footage, you can see the whale surging through the water, surfacing with its jaw extended, a classic lunge. Feeding events like this suggest that prey stocks in the area are currently healthy enough to support large marine predators. The presence of feeding whales can also be an encouraging sign that The Minch is continuing to serve as an important seasonal feeding ground for minke whales. James Fairbairns, Skipper, Hebrides Cruises, said: 'While minke whales are one of the most regularly seen baleen whale species in The Minch during the summer months, witnessing lunge feeding behaviour is relatively rare. We might encounter feeding whales a handful of times in a season, but seeing a clear, sustained lunge feeding event, as in this footage, is a real highlight. This year, there have been a few isolated sightings, but this was one of the most dramatic displays we've witnessed. Hebridean Cruises (Image: unknown) Guests were absolutely thrilled – for many, it was their first time seeing a whale in the wild, let alone such close-up feeding behaviour. The excitement on deck was palpable, with cameras clicking, binoculars scanning, and numerous 'did you see that!' moments. Encounters like this are unforgettable and a reminder of the incredible wildlife right on our doorstep in Scotland.' Minke whales are also highly curious animals and will often approach vessels, sometimes circling around or passing under the hull, much to the delight of crew and guests. Occasionally, a whale will flash its white underside at the boat or even swim upside down. Earlier this summer, Hebrides Cruises guests were also treated to a sighting of John Coe, the UK's most famous killer whale, near the Isle of Mull, highlighting the extraordinary diversity of marine life to be found in these waters. Later this month, Hebrides Cruises' second 'In Search of Giants' expedition cruise departs from Oban. This pioneering 10-night voyage to the former whaling grounds west and north of Scotland sold out within hours for both 2025 and 2026, with bookings now being taken for 2027. The cruise ventures beyond the Outer Hebrides to the continental shelf-edge west and north of St Kilda, one of the most remote and dramatic marine environments in the UK. This area, known as the Rockall Trough, serves as a crucial migratory corridor for large baleen whales and sperm whales. Although acoustic research has shown the presence of whales in the corridor, a dedicated search and documentation of sightings has never been carried out. Specialist guide Dr Conor Ryan, a leading expert in whale ecology and the history of whaling in Scotland, will join the voyage aboard the ocean-going vessel Elizabeth G. Guests will search for fin, humpback, and possibly even blue whales, with all sightings logged in collaboration with the Hebridean Whale and Dolphin Trust. Shore visits include historic whaling sites such as Bunavoneader, offering a poignant link between Scotland's whaling past and the conservation-focused future.
BBC News
3 hours ago
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The National
6 hours ago
- The National
I went to Glenfinnan to see Harry Potter tourism chaos
The first is the population of the Lochaber hamlet. The second is the number of people that now visit every year to see the viaduct, made famous over the last quarter of a century by a combination of the Warner Bros Harry Potter films and the catalyst of social media. I recently visited Glenfinnan to see how the community struggles daily with this increasingly difficult equation, and what I witnessed was anything but magical. Cars were parked anywhere and everywhere. A hillside turning into a muddy monstrosity. National Trust staff forced to wear bodycams due to the behaviour of some tourists. This is a village at breaking point, and even just being there for one day left me feeling frazzled. The 11am crossing Glenfinnan is full of impossible equations, and here's another – how do you deal with so many tourists when most of them come at the same time of day? I arrived in the village in time for the madness of the 11am viaduct crossing of The Jacobite steam train. I began making my way up to the hillside viewpoint just after 10 to avoid being caught up in a hoard of stragglers that start running down the A830 trunk road when they realise they might miss the key moment. READ MORE: Scottish spot named one of Europe's best for stargazing What I saw as I approached was a sight to behold. There must have been around 1000 people up there, waiting to watch the moment they all remember fondly from the Harry Potter films, when the 'Hogwarts Express' crosses the 21-arched viaduct at the foot of Loch Shiel. (Image: Network Rail) West Coast Railways supplied the engine and carriages used for the filming, and it has subsequently created that rare moment where you can witness the scene from the film almost exactly as it happened – bar the flying Ford Anglia, of course. The problem is not so much that they come to see the train, but the fact that they all come for the same crossing. A lot of tourists who are trying to tick off the big bucket list of locations in Scotland will come to Glenfinnan in the morning for the first crossing and then move on to catch the ferry to Skye. It creates this pressure cooker moment every day for the village. (Image: NQ) Hege Hernes, who is the curator of the Glenfinnan Station Museum, said: 'Lots of people want to come to Glenfinnan, but they are all coming at the same time. There is not enough space. 'It's because that's the itinerary recommended online. For the 11am [crossing], then you can continue with your car to Skye, and you can do this and that in a day. 'If everyone comes by car or comes on the same train, there's not going to be room. If we spread it a bit, then things will get easier.' A new weekend bus service has been launched in recent weeks between Fort William and Glenfinnan to encourage more people to leave their cars behind and travel more sustainably. It will run four times a day and should go some way to helping break up crowds of tourists, easing the strain on the village roads, landscape and resources. Watching the train go over was truly an impressive sight, and, as a 32-year-old who grew up with the hype of Harry Potter, it was a magical sight I was glad I was able to see. But getting into a spot to see the train was hazardous. You could see the toll the footsteps of tourists had taken on the hillside, which was extremely muddy and slippery, even more so when there were so many people to manoeuvre around. (Image: NQ) People I spoke to on the hillside were shocked by the number of tourists they encountered when they got up there. Michelle and Annika were visiting from Germany after being in Edinburgh for the Oasis concert. Asked if she was surprised by the number of people gathering for the train, Michelle said: 'Yes. We were kind of naive. 'We were very surprised [by the number of people] and we were very late, so we had to run.' The pair of friends also had to be dropped off as there was nowhere to park, yet another tricky equation Glenfinnan faces. Glenfinnan's soundtrack – horns, alarms and traffic Driving to Glenfinnan by car is something I strongly suggest you do at your own risk. I arrived in my car at 9am and had made advance arrangements for a parking space, given I had been informed of the chaos I would face on arrival. At that time, I drove past the National Trust Visitor Centre car park which was nearly full. It was originally designed for people to visit the Glenfinnan Monument – which commemorates the Jacobite rising of 1745 that started in the village – but like everything else has fallen victim to the Harry Potter craze. That site, and a slightly larger community car park next door, are the only significant parking facilities in the village, with only a limited number of spaces available at the station. It means tourists – who more often than not choose to arrive in hire cars – get stuck looking for a space and abandon their cars in laybys and verges next to a 40mph trunk road. Some of the scenes I witnessed included a tourist blocking an access road, drivers turning around in the road at what locals like to call the 'magic roundabout' by the Glenfinnan House Hotel, drivers parking half in the road at already full laybys, and tourists wandering up the trunk road where there is no path after leaving their cars. (Image: NQ)And I was told I had come on a quieter day. Everywhere you look, the parking situation is having a huge impact on the community. READ MORE: See inside the 'forgotten' stunning 'fairytale' castle in Scotland Jennifer Northcote, visitor experience manager at the National Trust, told me staff are now having to wear bodycams because of being driven at when turning people away from the car park. Asked what the biggest problems staff face are, she said: 'It's not being able to accommodate everybody and having to say we can't get you in. '[Abuse] does happen. In the past we've had people being driven at. We've had verbal abuse. That's why we've got bodycams now. 'We also do public management training. It's been less chaotic this year than last year because we've had that management, but it's still been quite intense.' Ally Entwistle is a member of the community council and runs two accommodation sites in the village – one of which is at Glenfinnan station. She explained the strain the situation is placing on staff at the station and on her own life. 'People driving through the village are now heading to the station to try and park there,' she said. 'So Hege and the Glenfinnan station museum team have had to hire extra bodies to mind the car park at the bottom and direct people because it's become busier than it has been in previous years. They've had to pay for more folk to marshal that, otherwise the station would become gridlocked.' She went on: 'I have to get around between two sites, and it's very difficult. 'I really feel for people who have been here a long time and have had to see this huge change. People adjust their days from April to October when the train runs. They try not to be on the road.' Entwistle also told me of an incident recently where an ambulance making its way between Mallaig and Fort William with a casualty had to call for police assistance because of the hold up in Glenfinnan. Thankfully, no damage was done, but scenes like these are becoming all too common for villagers who feel as if they are living by the seat of their pants. The problem is too big Gradual improvements have been made to the village, such as double yellow lines and bollards being installed along the eastern entrance, but residents feel they are being left to solve a problem that is beyond them. The yellow lines at one end of the village may have stopped verge parking on the Fort William side, but this has simply displaced the issue, with people now parking unsafely at the Mallaig end. Residents are trying to put out fires, only to watch other ones pop up. The issue is not helped by inadequate public transport. One member of car park staff at the National Trust told me there are not enough ScotRail trains coming to Glenfinnan, while Entwistle explained the ones that do come do not have sufficient capacity – with Sunday trains only having two carriages. ScotRail has been approached for comment by The National on this. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, who represents the area as an MSP, hopes the new bus will be 'transformational', but it will only operate at weekends. I travelled to Glenfinnan on a Wednesday and left scratching my head as to how the community gets to the bottom of this. Where a pot of money or a helping hand comes from is of little relevance to Glenfinnan residents. It just has to come from somewhere, for it is no exaggeration to say this beautiful wee place is bursting at the seams. Mark Ilderton, ScotRail service delivery director, said: 'ScotRail is absolutely committed to supporting leisure travel across the country, and we recognise the West Highland Line as one of the most popular with customers. "Investment in recent years by ScotRail and Network Rail – in refurbished trains, dedicated cycle carriages, upgraded signalling equipment, and the provision of a footpath and viewing areas for the viaduct – shows our commitment to the route. 'And earlier this year, the introduction of longer trains on the route has provided additional space and comfort, particularly for those travelling with bikes and outdoor equipment. 'In the years to come, we'll continue to work to support tourism, sustainability, and bring wider economic benefits along Scotland's most scenic railways by replacing all our diesel trains with a low carbon alternative.'
