Whales spotted off east Yell

A number of humpbacked whales entertained onlookers as they cavorted east of Yell at the weekend.

Four of the beasts, estimated at 30 to 40 foot long, appeared off the east coast of Yell on Friday coming close into shore. Their tail slapping antics were caught on drone video by Calum Gray off the White Hill of Vatsetter.

The following day two of the animals were still there when a couple of boats took onlookers for a skoit at the marine mammals, which seldom venture so close to land.

Retired council worker Charlie Inkster took several snaps of the whales when he went off with the Strachan brothers’ creel boat Mareel. Mr Inkster did not take a long lens off with him, owing to the motion of the boat, but was still close enough to observe the animals spouting and coming very close to one of the other boats.

“I think when we were there they were mainly feeding, constantly going round and round but not diving in deep. When they were filmed slapping their tails, it was as if they were showing off.

“It was a very enjoyable day to be off. The whales did not seem to think we were a threat at all. The boats just moved into the area the whales were and let the whales come to them.”

Mr Inkster believed that the whales would stick around as long as they were getting feed. He said they were still in the area on Sunday and had been seen further south off Aywick and Gossabrough as well.