PICTURES: Stunning images as two orca pods make their way up east coast of Sutherland and Caithness
Killer whale enthusiasts have been treated to multiple sightings on the east coast of Caithness over the past week – including a glimpse of nature in the raw as a group of orcas hunted a porpoise off Noss Head.
Sea-watcher Karen Munro captured a stunning set of photographs showing two orca pods, known as the 27s and the 12s. In the case of the latter, it was the first time they had been recorded in Caithness waters in a decade.
Pods are named after the matriarch's ID number.
The first sighting was on the morning of Sunday, April 30, when Lorna Jappy observed a pod from her home at Gartymore, near Helmsdale. Although the pod was still miles from the coast, avid orca-watcher Lorna relayed the news while keeping an eye on the whales.
An hour or so later they were much closer to the shore, by which time others were watching the pod. It became clear they were the 27s, one of the more well-known pods that featured recently in the BBC's Wild Isles series.
Karen said: "Once the animals were near the rocks at Navidale they continued to stay close in to the shore as they made their way northwards, giving great views to the many people who had come out to the coast in the hope of getting a glimpse.
"By late afternoon the pod had reached the Trinkie, near Wick, where they stayed close in to the shore to the delight of all those waiting. The pod then continued their journey north where watchers at Noss Head witnessed the pod catching and eating a porpoise, after which the pod moved further offshore and were not seen again.
"As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one week, Lorna Jappy’s neighbour Sam Harrison was driving south at Loth on Tuesday [May 2] when he spotted a pod close into the rocks. He phoned Lorna and she then alerted others.
"Lorna was able to see them straight away and follow them up the coast where they were identified as the 12s. This was especially exciting as the pod hadn’t been recorded in Caithness waters since 2013, when Colin Bird photographed them passing Duncansby Head – although they have been recorded in other areas of Scotland over the years, most recently in February, off the Western Isles, and are also known to travel to Iceland.
"They continued northwards up the east coast, giving some very close views along the way, before moving offshore at Sarclet when they continued moving north."
