The sei whale in Firths Voe - Photo: Austin TaylorA LARGE whale seen in Firths Voe, near Mossbank, earlier this month has been identified as a sei whale (Balaenoptera borealis).
Initially reported as being a minke whale, local whale expert Neil Anderson had queried this identification because of the cetacean’s head shape and the feeding method.
Now, an acknowledged world cetacean specialist from the USA has confirmed that the mammal had been a sei whale, after having been contacted by local photographer Austin Taylor.
Dr Tom Jefferson, a visiting scientist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries in the USA, said the most telling feature for identification was the rostrum shape.
“This whale has a rostrum with a downturned tip, which is very characteristic of seis, and I have never seen it on minkes. I would say I’m 100 per cent sure (this) one is a sei whale,” he said.
Sei whales are uncommon in Scottish waters as it is a deep water species. The last previous confirmed Shetland sighting was on 27 August 1993.
The sei whale feeding - Photo: George GrahamThe whale, feeding in Firths Voe, was first seen by local man George Graham on 1 September. Mr Graham also noticed that the whale had the remains of a harpoon stuck in his head.
Mr Taylor said: “The whale was feeding and, as it swam through the 
The harpoon in the whale's head looks like a home made spear - Photo: George Graham water it created quite a series of waves that rolled up against the rocky shore; there were three or four seals anxiously watching from a safe distance - though they were never in any danger from this animal.
“It fed in two ways, firstly in an upright form, powering forward at quite a good speed with its mouth open and just the pointed top of its head and front part of its baleen out of the water.
“It would then dive just below the surface and repeat that before arching its back, showing its dorsal fin and then going beneath the surface.
“The other way it fed was far more dramatic because the whale was on its side and showed its huge mouth, much of its baleen, its eye, throat grooves and pectoral fins - in this mode it became clear just how much the throat expands as it ploughs through the water scooping up water and whatever it was feeding on.”
More images can be found here:
www.austintaylorphotography.com/galleries/wildlife/2911-09-01-sei-whale/index.html
