Click enter data to start recording your whale and dolphin sightings or log on to enter Shorewatch effort and sightings!

Watching whales, dolphins and porpoises in the wild is a privileged experience and everyone has their own unique encounters with these amazing creatures. WDC collates sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises, collectively known as cetaceans, from all around the UK. Sightings are becoming more frequent as awareness of UK whales and dolphins increases and it remains important to maintain a record of every sighting. These records help us build an archive of their movements and give an indication of the where whales and dolphins choose to make their homes within UK waters.
 
It is only by increasing our understanding of these creatures that we can effectively protect them. Our network of trained volunteers are watching out for whales and dolphins from specific Shorewatch sites around the Scottish coastline.
 
If you are a Shorewatcher, please login to enter or view your Shorewatch effort and sightings. We welcome sightings information from professional surveyors and the public as well. Please choose 'Record data' from the menu to enter your casual sightings of whales, dolphins and porpoises around the UK.

Shorewatch news

Updated data sheet: circle to confirm when no vessels have been seen

Alice Walters's picture

We have added an option to circle 'no vessels seen' to the data sheet in order to confirm that there were no vessels present during a Shorewatch (rather than that the watcher did not look for vessels) and to make the data more directly comparable to the in depth vessel surveys being carried out with Emily Hague and Heriot Watt University. You can now download the most current version of the data sheet directly from the database; under the 'Record Data' menu you will find a direct link to the most up-to-date version.
 

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Capturing Marine Vessel Data Around Scotland

Alice Walters's picture
Vessel density around Scotland in 2019. Credit: Marine Traffic

WDC Shorewatch is teaming up with Emily Hague at Heriot Watt University on a collaboartive project working together to understand the potential risks marine mammals face in Scotland from boats. You can do extended vessel watches and gather more detailed observations from your Shorewatch site.

 
 

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