A HUMPBACK whale was spotted off the coast of East Lothian earlier this month.
The animal was spotted on the evening of Sunday, October 11, in the Firth of Forth off Dunbar, close to the harbour.
News of the sighting was posted on Facebook groups Scottish Humpback ID and Forth Marine Mammals.
The animal is as long as a bus, between 48 and 62.5 feet, and can weigh as much as 40 tons.
The whale was then spotted the following morning heading north to the Isle of May, off the coast of North Berwick.
Humpback whales have been spotted in the Forth over the past three winters (2017, 2018 and 2019) but had not been spotted since.
The animals can usually be seen in the North Sea throughout the year.
It is thought that the high numbers of sprat and herring in the area could be what attracted the whale so close to the East Lothian coastline.
The exciting news was also shared by the Scottish Seabird Centre, which encouraged people to “keep their eyes peeled” and report any sightings.
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