Never in my wildest dreams did I think I’d witness it — a pod of orcas, not just in the wild, but right here, off the coast of Seahouses, my home, my stomping ground.

It started like any other day, until I got a call from my good friend Glen, who was out on his fishing boat. His words were simple:
“They’re here.”
And that was it. No hesitation. The engine roared to life, and within minutes we were flying across the sea, hearts pounding, hoping we weren’t too late. I’ve spent most of my life on these waters, and I thought I’d seen it all. But this… this was something else entirely.

My crewman Andy has worked with me for 14 years now. Together, we’ve witnessed the raw beauty of the Farne Islands — puffins, seals, dolphins, diving gannets, even minke whales and that unforgettable fin whale. But nothing could prepare us for what we were about to see.

As we approached the area, I was praying under my breath. And then… there they were.

Eight orcas.

They rose from the water like ghosts — powerful, graceful, surreal. The adults were colossal, with dorsal fins slicing through the sea like black sails. The younger ones were bursting out of the water with joyful ease, so full of life. Watching them glide through the waves so effortlessly, knowing they weren’t even moving at full speed, was humbling. We were silent. Awestruck. Just two lads floating in a boat, completely overwhelmed.

Andy looked at me like he’d seen a ghost, his eyes nearly popping out of his head — and he’s not usually short of words! My hands were shaking so much I could barely hold the camera. It was like time had stopped.

We weren’t the only lucky ones. Thanks to Glen’s call, a few of our mates caught a glimpse too — Chris, Nathan and their guests, and Jimmy and Aaron on another boat. It meant we were all a little late for our trips that day, but let me tell you — it was absolutely worth it.

Andy and I managed a few photos (even if they weren’t the sharpest!), and we’re incredibly grateful to the experts who’ve helped identify these magnificent animals: Steve Truluck, Karen Munro, Hugh Harrop, Saana Balfour and Karen Hall — true legends. They’ve spent days poring over our pictures and confirmed that the large male — a real beast of a bull — is known as ID72, part of the 27s pod. He’s regularly seen in Scottish waters and is thought to be in his early 20s. Last year, his older brother (ID34) was confirmed off Northumberland too.

But the surprises didn’t end there.

Another ID came back — a female called “Ossa”, part of the 65s pod. She’s about 20 years old and has been a tricky one to pin down, which is why she has two IDs: 67 and 221. What’s absolutely staggering is that none of the 65s have ever been recorded off Northumberland. Until now. That’s history being made right before our eyes.

Even more incredible, one of the orcas in the group couldn’t be identified at all — meaning there were three different groups represented in that pod of eight. A coming together of families, right here in our waters.

Two more were identified on the 5th May as IDs: 65 “Razor” and 199. So that’s a total of 4 matches which is amazing.

I’m no expert in orcas — not yet — but I’m absolutely hooked now. I’ve got so many questions, and I’ve definitely found a few new people whose ears I’ll be chewing off in the weeks ahead! If you’re as fascinated as I am, check out the Scottish Killer Whale ID Catalogue — it’s a treasure trove of knowledge. https://drive.google.com/file/d/17tlazLV6uQVG-rlboQm9-SfwEZBODlZy/view

As we headed back to harbour that day, the sun shimmering over the sea, I couldn’t stop smiling. I kept thinking:
I have the best job in the world.
Sailing around the Farne Islands. Sharing these waters with the incredible wildlife that calls it home. Showing visitors the magic of Northumberland, day after day.

And just when I think I’ve seen it all — the sea delivers something extraordinary. Again.

What a gift it is to live and work here. To call Seahouses home. To be part of this wild, beautiful corner of the world, steeped in nature and wonder. I’m so proud of this place, and moments like this just make that pride overflow.

“OSSA”

ID 72