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Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas: a new species for Essex
JOHN DOBSON
16 Westerings, Bicknacre, Danbury, Essex CM3 4ND
During early October 1999, several anecdotal reports of a whale in the Thames Estuary culminated
in a brief report in the Evening Echo - the local paper. On 9th October, two birdwatchers observing
seabirds from Shoebury East Beach reported the presence of two Pilot Whales in the Estuary. The
following weekend, strong easterly winds drew more birdwatchers to the area and a single Pilot
Whale was seen from Southend Pier on 15th October. On 18th October, a single animal was observed
swimming upstream from Canvey Point with the final sighting occurring at 0800 on 24th October,
again from Canvey Point.
The Pilot Whale is a medium-sized species, reaching a length of around six metres. The dorsal fin is
distinctive, being sickle-shaped in females and flag-shaped in males. The Essex individual was
considered to be a female. In Britain, the Pilot Whale is the most frequently observed species of
whale and is most common in northern waters, including the northern North Sea. Evidence from
sightings and strandings suggests that the species increased during the 1970s and early 1980s, followed
by a recent decline. Sightings are reported in all months of the year with a peak between September
and January perhaps associated with the onshore movement of prey, which includes squid and a
variety of fish. The Pilot Whale is a gregarious species, often found in herds of 20-40 animals. Mass
strandings of this cetacean occasionally occur and their herding makes them vulnerable to coastal
drive whaling which still takes place in the Faeroe Islands.
Acknowledgements
This report was compiled with the help of Graham Ekins, Jeff Saward and Bob Tomlinson.
References
EVANS, P.G.H. (1991) The Long-finned Pilot Whale. In: Corbet, GB. & Harris, S. (eds), The Handbook of
British Mammals (3rd edition). Blackwell Scientific Publications.
Essex Naturalist (New Series) 17 (2000)