Humpback whale spotted off Cornish coast

  • Watch the moment the whale surfaced near Polzeath.

This magnificent creature was spotted by John Garthwaite at Rumps Point on the Pentire headland near Polzeath, on Monday 19 June.

It's not the only time a humpback whale has been seen off the coast of Cornwall this month.

According to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, to date there have been seven sightings of humpback whales entered into the Environmental Records Centre for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (ERCCIS) this June - including one spotted in Falmouth Bay by sailors Linda and Ryan Cassidy.

While each sighting does not necessarily represent a different whale, Cornwall Wildlife Trust has been using a catalogue to try to identify individuals.

Since January 2023, they have recorded sightings of twenty different whales off the coast of Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

The whale spotted off the coast of Cornwall. Credit: John Garthwaite

Abby Crosby, marine officer at Cornwall Wildlife Trust said: “It’s fantastic to see these animals appearing off the coast of Cornwall at what seems like all times of the year, especially as these creatures are usually only seen in the winter months.

“On a local scale, we believe the humpback whales are present in Cornish waters due to the rich feeding grounds we have here, and the high quantities of baitfish.

“On a larger scale, it is thought that the increase in the number of sightings represents a population increase as a result of better management of the species in our oceans.”

People hoping to catch a glimpse of a humpback whale should look out for the creature’s 5m long pectoral fins and knobbly head.

The first sign of a whale is often the 'blow' or spout as they exhale at the surface, which is around 3m high.

Cornwall Wildlife Trust is encouraging the public to record any whale sightings using the ORKS app.