Excitement sparked off the coast of Wales with the sighting of a mysterious whale in the waters. The sighting was captured by a lucky local resident who managed to take photos of the large creature, which are now being analysed by marine experts. The mammal was spotted on a Saturday morning at various points along the Conwy coast, with reports coming in from Old Colwyn, Colwyn Bay, and Llanddulas, where it was seen just 10 metres from the shore. Drivers on the A55 even reported catching a glimpse of the creature.
Ste Garner, the resident who took the pictures, described the experience as amazing and considered himself lucky to have been in the right place at the right time. The images he shared online garnered a wave of amazed reactions. Although many rushed to the scene hoping to see the whale for themselves, the creature didn’t stick around in the area.
Experts have weighed in on the identity of the whale, with most leaning towards it being a Humpback whale. Frankie Hobro, owner and director of Anglesey Sea Zoo, after examining the photos, suggested that it could be a Humpback whale or an Orca, also known as a killer whale. The distinctive white patches on the tail flukes point towards these possibilities.
Humpback whales are known for their large size, growing up to 13-14 metres in length with a tail alone spanning 5-6 metres wide. Their unique behaviours, such as breaching, slapping the surface with fins and tails, and twirling underwater, align with what was observed in the photos. The expert also mentioned that the whale’s behaviour of “tail sailing” or holding its tail flukes out of the water when feeding near the sea floor is typical of Humpback whales.
Despite the initial excitement and speculation surrounding the whale sighting, further observations will be needed to confirm its identity. Whether it was a rare sighting of a Humpback whale or another species, the encounter off the coast of Wales has certainly left a lasting impression on those who were fortunate enough to witness it.