Minke Whale On Visit To Coast And Waters Around The Outer Hebrides Of Scotland

Tour Scotland wee travel video clip of a Minke whale on visit to the coast and waters around the Outer Hebrides. Minke whales have an almost worldwide distribution and the majority of UK sightings occur in Scotland. They feed mainly in shallower water over the continental shelf and regularly appear around shelf banks and mounds or near fronts where zooplankton and fish are concentrated at the surface. They are also commonly seen in the strong currents around headlands and small islands, where they can come close to land, even entering estuaries, bays and inlets. Minke whales have a varied diet, feeding on smaller fish: sandeels, herring, sprat, haddock, saithe, whiting and small cod, as well as krill and other animals of the plankton. They feed by engulfing prey in their huge open mouths, a feeding strategy known as ‘lunge feeding’. Longitudinal furrows on their throat allow their mouths to expand to engulf huge volumes of seawater. When they close their mouths, the seawater is squeezed out through hanging curtains of baleen, the minke’s own fishing net, while the fish are swallowed. Some minkes dive deep and chase fish towards the surface. The waters around the Hebrides also contain a seasonal abundance of minke whale. The waters around Scotland are among the finest in Europe for seeing dolphins, whales and porpoises, collectively known as cetaceans. All photographs are copyright of Sandy Stevenson, Tour Scotland, and may not be used without permission.

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