Bottlenose dolphin – photos and facts

 

These photos were taken at Chanonry Point, between Fortrose and Rosemarkie, on the Black Isle in Scotland. Chanonry Point in the Moray Firth is one of the best land-based watching points in the world as the largest resident population in Scotland is found in this area and from June to August the dolphins fish amazingly close to the shore nearly every day. This population of approximately 190 animals has a range extending from the Moray Firth south along the Aberdeenshire coast to the Tay Estuary and St Andrews Bay.

Due to the cold water off Scotland these dolphins are the largest Bottlenose dolphins in the world. They are bigger and darker than their counterparts in warmer southerly seas.

Bottlenose dolphin

Family: Delphinidae
Size: 1.9-3.9 m
Weight: max 650 kg
Group size: Usually in small groups (2-12)

Find out more on the WDCS website and also how to get to Chanonry Point.