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Watching from a boat tips
Systematic Watches.
Although recorded casual sightings of cetaceans can provide useful information, their value is greatly enhanced if the amount of time spent observing is recorded properly and watches are conducted systematically on a regular basis. This ensures that the data is not biased towards any particular time.

Choosing a Site.
The Moray Firth contains a wide variety of sites, with the emphasis on headlands or coastline overlooking bays. The height above sea level is important since it affects the distance over which one can observe, particularly when the sea is rippled.
If you can watch from a cliff top from your car or a sheltered building then that makes watching more comfortable; but in the summer months it can be very agreeable to observe in the open air, at the same time enjoying the surrounding countryside and wildlife.

Conducting a Watch.
When scanning the sea, either with the naked eye or with binoculars, look for any disturbance on the surface. Most of the time this will be waves breaking, but it is also the first sign of a cetacean as it surfaces. Once you have spotted something, concentrate your binoculars on it for a minute or two; if it is a cetacean it may take a while to show itself again - indeed it may stay beneath the surface for some time, and have travelled some distance, so it is best to methodically scan from side to side. Any particular behaviour such as breeching or tail slapping is worth noting. (Please refer to the instructions with the 'Sighting Record Sheet'.

If an animal is feeding close to shore, you may even see the fish leaping from the water in their attempts to escape, and there are often seabirds overhead. (It is useful to note species and number). As a matter of routine, please record the environmental and weather conditions.

What to Wear and Take.
Choosing a site is important. Can you take a car? Is there any shelter? you could be there for an hour or two. Something to sit on and a spare jumper is useful. Binoculars are a must, but not a big heavy pair. Start watching with the naked eye and confirm any sighting with your binoculars.
Remember something to eat and drink, but please remember to take your rubbish home with you. Take a notepad and pen for jottings and sketches. When looking out to sea, watch the behaviour of the seabirds, this can often be a pointer.
If you have a camera or video camcorder, it would be great for capturing the moment, and it could help in the ID work.