22/09/2026
🐋 THE PILOT WHALES — A TALE OF TWO PODS
There are some days when the sea reminds you that, despite everything we've learned about it, there are still plenty of mysteries beneath the waves.
Over the last few days we've seen something particularly extraordinary unfold around Britain.
It started with pilot whales far out in the Atlantic.
Long-finned pilot whales are creatures of the open ocean. They normally favour cooler temperate waters beyond the continental shelf, travelling in close family groups. Sometimes several groups come together to form enormous gatherings known as super-pods.
And then, somehow, a small part of that great Atlantic world found itself in some very unfamiliar waters.
But here's where the story needs a little care...
We don't actually know that the whales involved in the events of the last few days came from the same super-pod.
In fact, BDMLR has confirmed that the whales involved in the Northumberland incident were not the same pod as those seen in the Thames.
And that makes what happened even more remarkable.
🌊 THE SOUTHERN POD
On Thursday 17 September, around 25 long-finned pilot whales appeared in the tidal Thames.
Imagine that for a moment.
Pilot whales... in the Thames.
These are animals built for the open Atlantic, suddenly navigating one of Britain's busiest estuaries.
BDMLR was called in and began monitoring the group. Rescue equipment was prepared, just in case.
As the days passed, the situation became increasingly concerning.
One whale separated from the pod and was showing signs of illness. Another was eventually found dead.
Then, on Saturday, a major operation began.
Boats slowly worked behind the whales, encouraging them back towards the sea.
Six hours.
Around twenty nautical miles.
Eventually the main group reached the outer estuary and headed out towards the North Sea.
But two whales from the wider incident sadly died and will now undergo post-mortem examination to try to understand what happened.
And for a moment, it looked as though that might be the end of the story.
It wasn't.
🌊 THE NORTHERN POD
Because while all eyes were on the Thames, around 300 miles away another group of pilot whales was approaching the Northumberland coast.
Sunday afternoon.
Warkworth.
Around forty pilot whales.
And these whales were behaving very differently.
BDMLR described their behaviour as typical of animals approaching a stranding event.
Local boats went out with Marine Mammal Medics aboard and attempted to encourage them away from the shore.
But the whales weren't moving.
Several remained tightly packed around one of the largest animals in the group, which was lying motionless on its side.
As darkness fell, the rescuers had no choice but to stop.
The sea doesn't care about our clocks.
The tide was still moving.
The light was disappearing.
And the rescuers had to think about their own safety as well as the whales.
Then came Monday morning.
At first, there was nothing.
The whales had vanished.
But then came a report from Coquet Island.
Whales on the rocks.
Five ashore.
One afloat.
Two already dead.
The remaining animals were assessed and attempts were made to refloat them.
But Coquet isn't a sandy beach.
It's rock, cliffs, tide and difficult access.
The window for the rescue team was measured in hours, not days.
Eventually the falling tide and dangerous terrain forced the rescuers to withdraw.
And as I write this, the story isn't finished.
🐋 WHERE ARE THE OTHERS?
That's the question.
Around forty whales were originally seen off Warkworth.
Only six were subsequently located around Coquet Island.
So what happened to the rest?
Are they offshore?
Have they moved away from the Northumberland coast?
Are more animals going to appear on the rocks?
Nobody knows yet.
BDMLR teams remain watching the coastline, ready to respond if other animals are found.
Aircraft have been searching from above.
And the rescuers continue to do what they can.
One thing we do know is that this isn't the same pod that was driven out of the Thames.
Two separate groups.
Two extraordinary appearances.
Two very different parts of Britain's coastline.
And one very powerful reminder that the sea still has plenty of secrets.
For now, all we can do is watch, report sightings to the people who are equipped to deal with them, keep our distance and let the professionals do their work.
Because sometimes the best way to help wildlife...
is simply to give it the space it needs.
Stay safe out there.
And keep your eyes on the sea.
🌊🐋
Scuba Steve
Explore • Discover • Protect
