Cameraman Spots Rare Humpback Whale Off Welsh Coast — SkimNews
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- Dan Abbot, a wildlife cinematographer known online as "Sharkman Dan," spotted the humpback whale on 25 September during a scheduled blue-shark snorkelling trip 25-30 miles offshore in the Celtic Deep
- Abbot initially suspected a minke or fin whale but identified the animal as a humpback after spotting white pectoral fins, tail-lifting behavior, and barnacles on its head — features fin whales lack
- Lloyd Nelmes of Sea Trust Wales said the sighting was unusual even for someone who works these waters daily, noting humpback whales are spotted in Welsh waters roughly once every two to three years
- Nelmes said humpback sightings appear to be becoming more common, attributing the trend to abundant food in the area
- The day before Abbot's discovery, Nelmes saw six fin whales, tuna balling up, and over 1,000 dolphins in the same Celtic Deep waters — evidence of an unusually rich feeding zone
Why it matters: For Welsh marine observers, a confirmed humpback sighting — stacked with the previous day's six fin whales and 1,000-plus dolphins in the same Celtic Deep waters — points to a feeding surge that may be pulling larger cetaceans into the area more often. Nelmes frames the trend as humpbacks "becoming more common," suggesting a shift from rare vagrant to recurring visitor off Wales.
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