Cumbrians are being asked to watch for whales and dolphins this week.
Sea Watch Foundation is asking people to go out and sea watch as part of national whale and dolphin watch, which is taking place between Saturday July 29 and August 6.
The week-long event asks people to log their sightings on the free SeaWatcher App to help create a UK-wide snapshot of the country’s coastal waters.
Cumbria co-ordinator for the charity, marine biologist Sarah Neill, will also be hosting public sea watches between 10.30am to 1pm on Saturday at Sea Fest in St Bees with Cumbria Wildlife Trust.
Data collected during the week gives the charity the chance to develop an idea of the distribution of whales, dolphins and porpoises found around out shores as well as being able to involve the public in scientific research.
Cumbria’s coastline is home to a range of dolphins and whales including harbour porpoise, bottlenose dolphins and common dolphins.
Minke whales, sei whales and fin whales have also been reported in the county’s waters – and more rarely northern bottlenose whales, pilot whales and risso dolphins have also been spotted.
One rare northern bottlenose whale has previously been identified beached in Ulverston coast road.
Sightings are unpredictable but Sarah said the more time people spend watching the water, the more likely it is to spot a whale or dolphin.
One special bottlenose dolphin identified by Sarah’s team includes Kevin Costner who has previously been spotted feeding in the River Eden at Rockcliffe.
The dolphin is known to Irish Whale and Dolphin Group and is one of the first animals they added to their ID catalogue in 1993.
He was given his name due to his habit of regularly acting as a ‘bodyguard’ for females and their calves.
Sightings of marine animals are also welcome outside of the week on the Cumbria Whale and Dolphin Watch Facebook group.
