01 September 2023 , 22:56
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An awe-inspiring video has captured the moment giant whales, dolphins, and sharks congregated for a feeding frenzy off the UK coast. This extraordinary spectacle, seldom witnessed in British waters, unfolded off our coastline.
The predatory ensemble, led by the colossal fin whales, orchestrated fish into massive "prey balls" in the Celtic Deep, a conservation area off the Pembrokeshire coast, before initiating their attacks, reports North Wales Live.
Fin whales, capable of growing up to 80ft and renowned as the fastest and second-largest of all whales, were observed diving deep to "herd" fish and propel them towards the surface. They subsequently surfaced to swallow hundreds of fish in one gulp with their cavernous mouths.
Meanwhile, smaller predators such as Common Dolphins, Atlantic bluefin Tuna, and streamlined Blue sharks, darted into the enormous ball of fish to snatch away stragglers.
The incredible footage was captured off the Pembrokeshire coast (Dan Abbott)Capturing this breathtaking spectacle was wildlife cameraman Dan Abbott, who described it as a truly incredible sight. "It was the kind of thing you expect to see off the coast of South Africa, not in the Celtic Deep," he remarked.
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He added, "Five or six years ago, Fin whales were filmed feeding in this area but not like this: this time all the different predators were in one place. It was incredible."
Dan, 37, tracked the action from a boat operated by Pembrokeshire Boat Charters. Although he typically works for the charter as a shark guide, on this occasion, no public day-trippers were on board, just a handful of marine specialists.
They were approximately 35 miles out from Milford Haven when they spotted the predators gathering. In rare footage, at least two Fin whales, possibly part of a family group including a calf, were spotted in UK waters.
Dolphins were seen following whales in the water (Dan Abbott)Dan, from Pembrokeshire, expressed his delight at the sighting. "The conditions were the best we've seen so far, and were probably the best we'll get all year," he said, emphasizing that calm seas are crucial for spotting the blows of dolphins and whales. He added, "When there's a swell, it's much more difficult."
The boat's crew was able to observe the majestic creatures for a good half an hour. Dan not only deployed his drone for an aerial view but also swam over to the fish ball for close-ups of the feeding action.
Given the rarity of such footage in UK waters, Dan has shared just two clips, both showcasing Fin whales at the surface preparing to dive again. "Dolphins were following the whales," Dan noted. Like other predators, they conserved their energy by waiting at the surface for the whales to dive down.
Using his drone, Dan captured a large black mass of fish in the sea, then suddenly a dark shape emerged from the depths to engulf the fish with its enormous open mouth. "Visibility was good down to 10 metres and from the drone high above - you could start seeing the whales lunging from about 15 metres. But only for two or three seconds fin whales are the fastest whales on the planet."
The fin whale, known as the world's second-largest mammal after the blue whale, is unique in its method of feeding, straining food from the water through baleen plates.
In a fascinating display of marine life, it's believed that fin whales strategically scare schools of fish into tighter clusters by encircling them, their white undersides ominously facing the prey.
Dan, an observer of this spectacle, explained the process: "After the whales dived, they needed a short recovery period," he said. "You can imagine the amount of water they swallow. All that has to be pushed back out with their tongues, leaving the fish behind."
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He continued, "Then they take a couple of deep breaths a bit like us sucking in oxygen before diving again. It means you can get a pretty good idea of when they're about to dive again."
With a stroke of luck, all the mesmerising footage captured by Dan might soon grace our television screens on network TV - at least, that's his hope.
Regardless of whether his footage makes it to the small screen, Dan considers himself fortunate to have witnessed such an extraordinary event. "It was really fascinating to watch them all," he shared.
While Fin whales are not an uncommon sight in the Irish Sea - Dan spotted one just a month ago - witnessing so many predators feeding simultaneously is a rare treat. "The week before I saw an orca they are the ultimate predator. They'll attack dolphins, tuna and Minke whales, and you wouldn't put it past them to take on Fin whales too," he added.
Even if Orcas are merely passing through, their presence signals an abundance of food in the area. According to Dan, all this activity is a positive sign of a thriving marine ecosystem.
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]