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First Seabird & Whale Boat Trips - 2026 Season
Sun 19th Jul, 2026
Dazzling sunshine, glorious blue skies and a perfectly calm sea were perfect conditions to start our first Yorkshire Seabird & Whale Adventures of the season.
Starting from the picture postcard backdrop of Staithes harbour and the distinctive cries of Black-legged Kittiwakes calling from their nest sites up above on the cliffs, within minutes you are out on the North Sea. Razorbills and Guillemots were seen quickly, small groups flying past or resting on the water. Then we came across several adult male Guillemots with their single young by their side, and we could hear their high-pitched contact calls on the calm sea. A few adult Atlantic Puffins were seen by my group and a couple of Manx shearwaters were added to the ever-growing list of seabirds along with Northern Gannets, Common Scoter, Northern Fulmar and Great Cormorant.
Travelling south we came upon a Harbour Porpoise and calf, this the smallest of the cetaceans. Staying at a distance we were able to see the family pair several times before they headed north, but it wasn’t long before we spotted another individual, great sightings of these shy animals.
Heading into Runswick Bay we delighted in observing Sandwich Terns feeding near the boat, giving close views as they passed overhead, screeching as they did so. Whilst watching them a Great Skua flew at great speed along the coastline, heading south. As we headed out of the bay we spotted our first small group, of approximately four Bottlenose Dolphins, steadily moving ahead of us, breaching in the waves giving everyone great views.
Bottlenose Dolphins - Yorkshire Coast Nature Seabird & Whale trip 10 July 2026 © Margaret Boyd
Turning behind us we realised that another group of Bottlenose Dolphins were heading straight towards the boat. This group, of six individuals, came to “play” alongside us, heading in front of the boat, going underneath and travelling by our side. Experiencing these animals in such close proximity is incredible and all our clients were in awe of their agility, leaving them with unforgettable memories.
Bottlenose Dolphins on a Seabird & Whale trip 2025 © Richard Baines
The following day, calm seas again but perhaps not so much sunshine, we soon came across all the regular seabirds, noticing some very large flocks of Common Scoters, mostly flying northwards consisting of all male birds, having left the females to bring up their young. We counted one flock at just short of 200 birds. A couple of Northern Fulmars followed the boat for a while allowing some great photo opportunities. Then out of nowhere a Manx Shearwater came to join them!
Happy guests on our Seabird & Whale trip © Margaret Boyd
Minke Whale on a Seabird & Whale trip 2025 © Richard Baines
Adding to the sightings from yesterday we saw another couple of Harbour Porpoise but as we turned the boat to get closer to an Arctic Skua, which had alighted on the water the shout went up “WHALE!!”. Turning the boat in the direction of the sighting everyone saw our first Minke Whale break the surface, then within a couple of minutes we all saw it lunge out of the water, a technique that baleen whales use to capture a huge amount of food in one attempt. Totally amazing! Brief moments embedded in all our memories.
A fantastic start to our boat season.
Yorkshire Coast Nature Wildlife Guide