Sperm whale off Devon

A sperm whale has been spotted off Devon for the second year in a row. Credit Seawatch.

They were aboard the Dart Princess on a sea wildlife safari with Paignton Pleasure Cruises expecting to see sea birds, seals, and possibly bottlenose dolphins. They left from Paignton Harbour and had just passed Sharkham Pioint when skipper Ashley Lane spotted the sperm whale about 100-150 yards away. It then gave a characteristic blow which went 6-7ft in the air.

2010 spotting
He immediately alerted Sea Watch Foundation. This morning's events are strikingly similar to last year's sighting of a sperm whale. In 2010, a sperm whale was spotted in the same area on 28th June and then re-sighted a month later on 21st July. Sea Watch is now appealing for anyone else who sees the whale to contact them on sightings@seawatchfoundation.org.uk or call 01545 561227.

Ashley said: "This was a chance in a lifetime sighting for our passengers, a rare and beautiful sight. They were astounded. The animal was about 9-10 metres long, and was moving ahead of us so we held back and gave way to it."

Sperm whale facts Size: newborn calves are 3 - 4m long. Adult females are 8 -11m and can weigh up to 14 tonnes. Males grow to around 11 -15m and can weigh 35-46 tonnes. Head: The sperm whale has a huge square head (up to one-third total length in male); and under-slung lower jaw. Fin and Markings: No fin but distinct triangular or dorsal hump two-thirds along body, followed by spinal ridge. Corrugations on skin gives the sperm whale a shrivelled appearance. Dark brown or grey in colour. Blow: The bushy blow of a sperm whale is directed forwards and to left - 1.5-5.0m high; the species may lie log-like on the surface; broad, triangular and deeply notched tail flukes thrown into air.

Unusual sighting
Sea Watch Research Director Dr Peter Evans said: "Sighting of sperm whales in coastal waters around UK are rare, the species normally occurring far offshore in waters of 1,-3,000 metres depth. Furthermore, they tend to occur in autumn and winter as unmated adolescent males wander into high latitudes leaving females with their calves on tropical breeding grounds such as around the Canaries. To have a sighting in almost the same location at about the same time two years running is very interesting. We've not seen any photos as yet but the chances are it could be the same individual. If anyone manages to get photographs of it - particularly its tail flukes on diving, then we may be able to confirm this." 

In British waters, sperm whales generally occur along the shelf break north and west of the British Isles, as well as to the south in the Bay of Biscay. They are a deep diving species, feeding mainly upon squid, which can take them below the surface for periods of up to an hour at a time. They are the commonest large whale species in deep waters and the fact that sperm whale are most frequently seen in waters of 1,000+ m makes this sighting all the more interesting.

Things to look for:
• Bushy blow directed forward and to the left
• An animal 20-30 metres long with corrugated skin, "logging" at the surface - between dives, sperm whales float at the surface of the water blowing occasionally
• Lack of dorsal fin - sperm whales have a spinal ridge two-thirds of the way down their back
• A broad, triangular and deeply notched tail fluke.

National Whale and Dolphin Watch
Sea Watch hosts the National Whale and Dolphin Watch which takes place between August 5 - 7. There are a number of land watches planned which are open to the public, including one at Berryhead National Nature Reserve close to where the sperm whale was spotted. For details of how to take part across the UK coast go to www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk