Fin Whale Filmed Lunge Feeding Off Pembrokeshire Coast
Drone footage captures a rare sight of a fin whale feeding in coastal waters, an event typically associated with migration.
Videographer Rhys Morgan captured drone footage of a fin whale lunge feeding off the Pembrokeshire coast, an unusual occurrence for the species in such close proximity to land. The fin whale, the world's second-largest whale, was seen engulfing large quantities of water in its characteristic feeding strategy.
Dr. Marianna Chimienti, a lecturer in marine top predator ecology at Bangor University, described the encounter as "rare and fortunate." She explained that while lunge feeding at the surface is normal for fin whales as part of their foraging strategy, their presence in coastal waters is "quite spectacular," as they are generally expected to have migrated away from these areas.
Fin whales are known to inhabit higher latitudes during warmer months and lower latitudes during colder periods, though their migratory patterns are not as well-documented as those of other baleen whales like humpbacks and blues. Morgan noted that while boat operators take precautions to maintain distance, marine wildlife can sometimes approach unexpectedly.