>Scotsman.com News – Scotland – Edinburgh – Rare whale causes a stir in the Forth: “The sighting of the humpback follows that of a fin whale, the world’s second largest creature, near North Berwick last month. That was followed by reports of an unidentified large whale off the coast at Dunbar last week.

The sightings are attracting extra visitors to North Berwick and the Seabird Centre in the hope of catching a glimpse of a whale.

The summer’s warm weather is said to be attracting creatures such as sand eels to the Firth of Forth and whales are following to feed.

Wildlife experts said spotting a humpback whale in the Forth was extremely unusual. Only one other sighting has been reported in recent years.

Linda Dalgleish, marketing manager of the Scottish Seabird Centre, said: ‘We often see minke whales in the Forth, but this is the first year in a long time that we have seen creatures like the fin whale or the Humpback. It is very exciting that these creatures are coming to the Forth.

‘There is very little doubt that it was a humpback whale. They are very easy to identify because of their long, white flippers.

‘The last time we saw a humpback in the Forth was about three years ago – but that was the first anyone could remember in a long time. I was told by a whale expert that you are more likely to see a lion walking down Princes Street than to see a humpback whale in the Forth.

‘We have had a lot of inquiries at the centre from people who have come hoping to see one of the rarer whales. It is fantastic people are taking such an interest.’

The rescue operation on Tuesday involved a dozen volunteers with more on stand-by.

Sue White, who monitors whale sightings for the British Divers Marine Life Rescue, said: ‘The whale may have been there feeding and come in a little too close to the shore for its size. There has been a lot of whale activity in the area this year, which must be because there is a lot of food stocks in the Forth at the momen”