Humpback Whale - Megaptera novaeangliae

Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) are a large whale around 14 - 15m In length, with females typically longer than males (Clapham, 2018). Key identification features include long white flippers (fig. 1), unique black and white patterned tail flukes with a 'serrated' edge (fig. 2), and a characteristic tall 'mushroom-shaped' blow. Their diet largely consists of small fish (e.g. herring and mackerel) and plankton, with humpback whale often feeding by diving into shoals (Couzens et al, 2017). Humpback whales can live to at least 50 years old, and potentially much longer than that (Clapham, 2018).

Range & Distribution:
Humpback whale sightings have increased since the 1990s, becoming an annual visitor to the East Coast on passage or perhaps spending a monthor two feeding before moving on. They are found in every ocean of the world, migrating over huge distances between feeding and calving areas (Clapham, 2018). 
The North East Scotland Bird Reports 2017-2022 (linked below) have detailed a small number of records annually in the following locations along the East Coast:
2022 - Aberdeen, Kinnaird Head, St Cyrus, Inverbervie, Girdle Ness
2021 - Only sighting was in Cullen.   
2020 - Portlethen/Cove
2019 - No records
2018 - Torry Battery
2017 - St Cyrus, Inverallochy
Humpback whale have generally been seen from June to February along the East Coast.

Factors affecting species:
Historic commercial whaling heavily exploited humpback whales for several centuries, until a 1966 global ban on commercial whaling. Since this time humpback whale populations worldwide appear to be recovering, and are increasingly seen in Scottish waters. Humpback whale can also be impacted by entanglement with fishing equipment, particularly static gear such as shellfish creels which can be fatal, alongside collisions with marine vessels (Clapham, 2018; Rya et al, 2016). 

Conservation Status:
UK Biodiversity Action Plan: Priority Marine Species (BRIG, 2007)
Scottish Biodiversity List: Priority Marine Species (NatureScot, 2020)
Humpback whale, like all cetaceans, are a European Protected Species, protected from deliberate and reckless injury or disturbance.

Report any cetacean sightings to the SeaWatch Foundation or NESBReC via the links below.