THE arrival of a huge pod of dolphins in the Moray Firth could be evidence that climate change is forcing the creatures to move further north in search of food, according to scientists.
More than 400 short-beaked common dolphins have been spotted about ten miles off the Banffshire coast.
The species is rarely seen in the firth, which is home to a colony of about 150 bottlenose dolphins, and the international environmental charity
Earthwatch believes the "mass migration" northwards is highly significant.
Dr Kevin Robinson, director and co-founder of the Cetacean Research and Rescue Unit (CRRU), who headed an Earthwatch team researching the dolphins, said: "The sheer number of dolphins was astounding - there were common dolphins everywhere around us over a two-mile radius.
"Furthermore, this was only the second sighting in the past few years of such a 'super-pod' of this species in these waters. The first sighting in ten years was recorded here in July 2007, when we were joined by more than 300 animals in the outer Moray Firth.
"Since then we have not seen them, although smaller groups have been identified by co-workers from the Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society on opportunistic boat surveys."
Dr Robinson said super-pods of common dolphins are known to exist in other parts of the UK, and there have been sightings in the Western Isles, but few in the Moray Firth to date.
"This is further scientific evidence that populations of dolphins are moving further north because of climate change," he added.
He said the common dolphins' arrival confirms that local sea temperatures are rising, as the species was typically found in warmer temperate waters.
He added: "I am convinced that changing sea temperatures will result in a redistribution of marine mammals, but I am confident of their survival. Whales and dolphins are opportunistic animals that will take advantage of their surroundings and relocate if necessary."
The short-beaked common dolphin, a striped animal that grows to about 8ft, is known for its fast swimming and energetic acrobatics. Earthwatch volunteers had been monitoring dolphin and whale populations in the Moray Firth for eight days. The team included volunteers from the UK, United States and Scandinavia.
Christina Gore, 61, a retired speech and language therapist from Shropshire, said: "The water was boiling with animals. It was incredible."
A spokesman for Scottish Natural Heritage said yesterday: "This is an exciting and interesting observation. The impact of climate change in marine mammals is far from clear at the moment and it is probably too early to say that this is further scientific evidence that the population are moving further north."
MASS SAND EEL BEACHINGTHOUSANDS of sand eels have stranded on a Sutherland beach.
In an event described by Scottish Natural Heritage as "highly unusual", it is believed the sand eels were hunted into shallow water by a shoal of mackerel. Later, thousands were washed up dead at Kinlochbervie. Suggested causes range from algal blooms to the sand eels suffering oxygen depletion in the shallow water.
"This is a very unusual event. Maybe this mass beaching was a result of this predation event, but we cannot say with any certainty. What is certain is that this is a highly unusual event," said an NHS spokesman. "It might be prudent to carry out water samples in incidences like this, as that might give us an indication of what has happened. James Barlow, who witnessed the event, said: "At high tide, a shoal of mackerel balled up a shoal of sand eels in the shallows. This morning, thousands lay dead."
