There have been multiple sightings recently of humpback whales of the Cornish coast.

The Cornwall Wildlife Trust said: “Winter is the time that humpback whales are most likely to visit our Cornish waters.

“More and more individuals are being seen in UK seas every year and sightings have increased significantly in the last five years in Cornwall, with at least 30 sightings recorded so far this winter.

“Reaching up to 18-metres long, these incredible animals are found throughout the world’s oceans and perform some of the longest migrations of any mammal, with journeys up to 16,000 km recorded. Their population is believed to be 140,000 worldwide.

“Humpbacks feast on fish and krill in productive cooler waters and then travel to tropical seas to give birth. They have a lifespan of between 50-75 years. 

“In UK seas, they are normally spotted alone or in pairs. It is believed they come into the shallow seas around Cornwall to feed. One theory is that the whales that stop off here over the winter are juveniles or non-breeding adults, feeding-up on shoals of fish.”

The Cornwall Wildlife Trust recommend going spotting in a group - the more people watching the better, as you can cover different areas. 

They say in ideal conditions the blow is the best sign to look out for, released as they exhale at the surface.

Humpback whales are unmistakable, thanks to their unique knobbly head and the five meter long wing-like pectoral fins that they often raise and slap on the surface. Their body is black or dark grey with a white underside.