MORE killer whales are being spotted are being spotted near a UK tourist hotspot – but scientists are baffled as to why.
Marine wildlife is frequently spotted in the area, but killer whales are a rare find.
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The Farne Islands, off the coast of Northumberland, is attracting even more killer whales Credit: Getty
The orcas captured above where pictured off the coast of Shetland in Scotland Credit: Alamy
The Farne Islands, off the coast of Northumberland, is seeing more regular orca sightings.
In recent years, the killer whales are swimming closer and closer to shore, making spotting the creatures for easier.
They have previously been spotted occasionally off the coastline, but have been seen far more often in recent years.
Last year, the North East Cetacean Project recorded five verified sightings off the Northumberland coast in 2025, compared to only one in 2024, 2023, and 2021.
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In April this year, a group of fishermen captured footage of a pod of around eight to ten orcas about three miles off the Northumberland coastline.
Andrew Douglas, from Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours, thinks that after years of coming to the area, the killer whales are getting closer to shore.
He told the BBC: “You used to get the odd fisherman say he’d seen one, but like 20 miles away, but there’s not so much fishing these days so I think more fish are attracting them back in a bit more.”
Sightings of orcas are incredibly rare in the UK, despite the creatures being found in every ocean on the planet, from the Antarctic to the US coastline, typically preferring colder water.
Four male and four female orcas, known as the West Coast Community, have been recorded in UK and Irish waters since 1992, recognisable for their unique shape of dorsal fin and sloping eye patch.
Many suggestions have been made as to why the sightings are becoming more frequent, but it is primarily down to the water quality getting better in the area.
The improved ecosystem, with plenty plants, animals and organisms, create plenty of food resources for top predators such as orcas.
Ellie Adams, from the charity Orca, told the BBC that the recent surge came from the mothers and grandmothers “passing on the best places to feed.
Puffins, dolphins, seals, and marine birds are frequently spotted on the Farne Islands Credit: Alamy
Over 40,000 pairs of puffins nest on the island Credit: Getty Images
“Orcas have matriarchal societies and if they’ve been somewhere and successfully hunted, they could be choosing to take the pod back to the same place again.
“Once they’ve found a particular food supply, there’s no reason whatsoever that they won’t keep coming back to it.”
The Farne Islands is renowned for its marine wildlife, especially its birds, with around 40,000 pairs of puffins nestling there.
In July, Atlantic grey seals can be spotted on the island, alongside kittiwakes, guillemots, razorbills and terns.
The ideal time to spot orcas and dolphins off the coast is said to be between late spring and early summer, with many sightings happening in April.
July is also a popular choice, as the pods begin to migrate towards Scotland and Iceland for the late summer.
