‘Ghostly’ creature spotted in Scotland waters is a rare Arctic visitor. See video

Moira Ritter
·3 min read
9

“Report of a BELUGA WHALE off West Ayre (Hillswick) this morning at 0945.”

The Shetland Orca Sightings Facebook group is home to dozens of posts like this as users post updates on whale sightings, usually orcas, from the Scotland islands. But the Jan. 17 post announcing a beluga whale was different.

The sighting marked only the sixth time a beluga has been seen in Shetland, according to Rebecca Nason, who owns and operates Shetland Seabird Tours.

Other sightings were reported in 1976, 1996, 1997, 2021 and 2023, Hugh Harrop, founder of Shetland Wildlife, wrote in the Shetland Orca Sightings Facebook group.

After learning about the sighting, Nason, Phil Harris and their daughter, Ayda, made a mad dash to try and catch a glimpse of the “iconic Arctic species,” Nason said in a Jan. 18 blog post.

“The weather with pure arctic conditions, thick snow & drift made our plans impossible & we turned back,” she wrote.

Later in the day though, the weather improved and the trio tried again, according to Nason. This time they headed out in their 4x4 and picked up their friend and photographer, Richard Shucksmith, on the way.

They made it to West Ayre, Hillswick, about an hour before sunset. Just in time to catch a glimpse of the “stunning ivory white” creature.

The creature looked “active” and “healthy,” witnesses said.
The creature looked “active” and “healthy,” witnesses said.

“The sea was very dark & skies ominous as we scanned the bay, & almost immediately picked up the incredible sight of a ghostly ivory white large beluga, regularly surfacing & clearly visible at distance contrasting against the dark water,” Nason said. “The large, active animal appeared healthy, feeding & regularly diving for a few minutes at a time, we could even follow (its) white shape below the surface.”

Nason shared a video of the white creature plunging in and out of the dark water on Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Rebecca Nason (@puffinpassion)

Shucksmith also captured drone footage of the creature.

“Amazing to see this Beluga in Shetland today. Beluga whales are more Arctic and sub-Arctic whales and are rarely seen in Shetland, very few records of these whales in Shetland,” he wrote in a Jan. 17 Facebook post.

Belugas are typically found in Arctic and subarctic waters, experts said.
Belugas are typically found in Arctic and subarctic waters, experts said.

Beluga whales are “small, white whales that live in the cold waters throughout the Arctic and some subarctic locations,” according to experts at the Georgia Aquarium. They are recognizable by their “melon” — the rounded structure on top of their heads that allows the whales to focus and project echolocation signals.

Beluga whales have a “melon” on their heads above their blowholes, according to experts.
Beluga whales have a “melon” on their heads above their blowholes, according to experts.

The sea creatures typically grow to be between 11 feet and 15 feet, and adults typically weigh between 1,100 pounds and 2,500 pounds, the aquarium said.

“To get to the site was hard enough, but worth every freezing moment for a once in a lifetime wildlife sighting,” Nason said.

Other social media users shared their excitement about the visitor.

“Amazing, I am totally in awe of these wonderful creatures,” one person commented. “It’s my dream to see them.”

“What a privilege to see this gorgeous sight,” another commenter said.

“Wonderful experience,” a third person wrote.

The Shetland Islands are north of mainland Scotland.

Boaters spot incredibly rare all-white sea creature — possibly first in world. See it

Officials search for dead sea creature in CA — but find ‘gorgeous animals’ instead

Boaters witness ‘one-of-a-kind’ moment when predators attack whale mom and baby in CA