Humpback whales make a splash in UK waters – as amazed viewers report sightings along the Sussex coastline
UK wildlife watchers have been treated to an incredible spectacle in the first few weeks of this year as humpback whales make a splash in Britain’s waters.
The once-endangered whales have been spotted along the Sussex coastline, all the way from Eastbourne to Hastings.
Other whales have made an appearance off the coast of Deal in Kent, while two more have been spotted in Cornwall in the last few days.
Stunning videos show the 40-tonne mammals breaching above the waves in majestic leaps before crashing down with a splash.
Whale experts say these sightings in the UK are not unheard of, but that it is very rare for humpbacks to travel up the east coast.
Their sudden appearance has sparked hopes that the numbers of humpback whales could be rising after coming close to extinction in the 1990s.
However, some scientists are concerned that the changing patterns could be a sign that warming waters are pushing whales further afield in search of food.
Danny Groves, head of communications at the Whale and Dolphin Conservation, told MailOnline: ‘Humpback populations, in general, are recovering after their numbers were decimated by hunting, but it could also be that humpbacks are being forced to change their movements due to changes in climate.’
Wildlife fans in Sussex have been treated to an incredible spectacle during the first weeks of the year as humpback whales make a rare appearance along the UK’s East coast. Pictured: A whale breaches near Hastings on January 3
Humpback whales normally appear off the West coast near Cornwall. But this year they have been found travelling down from the Arctic along the Sussex Coast. Pictured: A humpback whale spotted by a member of the public in Hastings
Since the start of the year, humpback whales have been recorded by keen wildlife watchers making an appearance all along the UK’s South East coast.
According to the Sussex Dolphin Project, which has been recording these sightings, whales have now been seen at Rye, Pett Level, Fairlight, Hastings, St Leonards, Bexhill, Pevensey and Eastbourne.
Earlier sightings were also made at Beachy Head in Sussex and Dungeness in Kent.
As well as providing some incredible views for wildlife fans, these sightings also offer valuable insight into whale behaviour.
In one video, recorded just off the coast of Hastings, a whale can be seen breaching several times.
Scientists believe that this signature behaviour is used as a form of communication, allowing whales to send messages over vast distances.
Likewise, a sighting on January 12 in the Birling Gap shows a whale slapping its front pectoral fin into the surface of the water.
In a post on Instagram, the Sussex Dolphin Project wrote: ‘This is a form of non-verbal communication to attract attention and communicate with other whales.’
The sightings reveal some fascinating details of the whales’ behaviour. In this sighting, made on January 12 in the Birling Gap, you can see a whale slapping its pectoral fin on the water. Scientists believe this is a form of long-range communication
These sightings are made all the more exciting by how rare it is to see humpback whales in this part of the UK.
Humpbacks spend the winter up in the Arctic circle feeding on krill and herring before heading southwards at the start of the year.
But their routes typically bring them along the UK’s west coast, past Newquay and the Isles of Scilly where they are often seen.
Dr Carol Sparling, director of the Sea Mammal Research Unit at the University of St Andrews, told MailOnline: ‘While not as common as our more resident whale species, such as minke whales, humpback whale sightings have become increasingly more common around the UK in recent years, with winter being the main time to see them.’
If you are hoping to catch sight of a passing whale, Dr Sparling says a calm sea, a pair of binoculars and plenty of patience are needed.
The best areas are around Scotland where this species can be seen alongside Orcas, minke whales, and bottlenose dolphins.
Yet with sightings continuing, there could still be chances to see these beautiful creatures on their migration towards warmer waters in the South.
The sudden flurry of whale sightings has been taken by many as a promising sign that the species is on its way to recovery.
Whales have also been seen breaching in a number of places including in Cornwall (pictured). Experts believe that humpback whales uses these leaps to send messages over vast distances
Meanwhile, more humpbacks have also been spotted along their usual migratory routes near Cornwall. Experts say this could be due to an encouraging increase in the humpback whale population since the abolition of commercial hunting. Pictured: A humpback seen from a drone at Watergate Bay in Cornwall on January 2
Due to commercialised hunting from the 20th century onwards, whale populations plunged to critical levels by the 1990s.
But as bans on whaling have been enforced, their numbers have gradually recovered.
Currently, it is estimated that there are around 84,000 humpbacks living in the wild with the IUCN, the leading body for conservation status, now listing them as a species of ‘least concern’.
Dr Sparling says: ‘Globally the humpback whale population is growing, as it recovers after the cessation of commercial whaling, so we may continue to see rises in sightings around the UK.
‘We could be seeing a re-occurrence in areas used regularly prior to whaling.’
Humpback whales make some of the longest migrations of any known species, with one individual travelling over 8,000 miles across three oceans from Columbia to Zanzibar.
This means that the whales spotted off the Sussex coast could just be passing through and more studies will be needed to determine if these animals are sticking around.
‘Although this is not proven, whales around the UK in winter may be stopping off on their migration south to feed on shoaling fish around our coasts, or they may be animals not making the full migration south to breed,’ says Dr Sparling.
But a growing number of whales around the UK is not necessarily an entirely good sign for the species.
Global ocean temperatures have risen in recent decades due to human-caused climate change, which has a big knock-on effect on global marine wildlife.
Meanwhile, overfishing has depleted stocks of key species leading to significant changes in the distribution of humpback whales’ feeding grounds.
This has led to concerns that whales might be travelling out of their normal routes to seek out a dwindling food supply.
Lauren O’Brien, a spokesperson for the Marine Conservation Society, told MailOnline: ‘It is possible that this is due to climate change altering the distribution of marine species, including humpback whales.
‘As a result, they may be forced to travel further afield in search of suitable habitats or prey, such as krill and herring.’
However, more observation will be needed to determine whether the number of whales really is increasing and if this has any connection to climate change.
WHALE SONG EXPLAINED
For a long time it was believed that whales sang solely for mating purposes.
But some experts suggest the songs also help the mammals explore their surroundings.
Researchers have recorded humpback whales changing their calls when they move to new pastures in order to match the songs of others around them.
Learning these songs may help whales pinpoint one another and group together better when in unfamiliar waters.
Researchers have recorded humpback whales changing their calls when they move to new pastures in order to match the songs of others around them (file photo)
It is tricky for scientists to study how whales sing, as the shy beasts are notoriously difficult to observe, and each species vocalises differently.
Humpback whales sing using folds in the vocal box that vibrate at low frequencies as air is pushed over them.
It has been suggested they have special air sacs adjoining these vocal chords which connect to the lungs.
These allow the whales to pass air between their lungs, the sacs, and the vocal chords without losing any of their precious air supply.
