Huge Fin Whale Filmed Lunge Feeding Off Welsh Coast by Drone
Rhys Morgan's drone footage, published by BBC Science on 20 October 2026, shows the world's second-largest whale species feeding close to shore
By AXY Science Desk ·
Key points
- Rhys Morgan used a drone to film a fin whale lunge feeding off the Welsh coast, and BBC Science published the 29-second video on 20 October 2026.
- The BBC describes the fin whale as the world's second-largest whale species, after the blue whale.
- Lunge feeding involves a whale surging through prey, opening its mouth wide and filtering food from a large volume of water.
- Fin whales are listed as endangered by the IUCN, and they face threats from ship strikes, fishing gear entanglement and underwater noise.
- Wildlife experts advise keeping a safe distance from whales, and drone operators must follow aviation rules.
Drone footage of a fin whale lunge feeding off the Welsh coast has been published by BBC Science, giving viewers a rare aerial look at one of the largest animals on Earth. The video was captured by Rhys Morgan, who filmed the whale from his drone. The BBC's clip runs about 29 seconds and was published on 20 October 2026. The broadcaster describes the fin whale as the world's second-largest whale species, and the footage shows the animal feeding in a single powerful surge.
The BBC's report is brief, but the behaviour it shows is one that few people ever see up close. Lunge feeding is a way of eating used by some baleen whales, the group of whales that filter food from seawater rather than chewing it with teeth. Filming from the air allows the viewer to see the whale's body and movement as a whole, rather than the brief glimpses of a back or blow that are usually visible from a cliff, a beach or a boat.
What the Footage Shows
The BBC report says Morgan captured the whale lunge feeding. In general terms, lunge feeding works like this. The whale accelerates through a patch of dense prey, such as krill (small shrimp-like animals) or small fish, opens its mouth very wide and takes in a large volume of seawater. It then pushes the water out through its baleen, which are long, comb-like plates hanging from the upper jaw, and the food is trapped inside. Scientists generally describe lunge feeding as energetically demanding, because the animal must build up considerable speed and then manage a very large mouthful in a short time.
From above, the sequence allows viewers to follow how the animal's body changes during the feed, including the opening of the mouth and the expansion of the throat region as it takes in water. Such details are hard to observe from a ship, where a whale is often visible only when it breaks the surface and may then disappear for long periods underwater.
Why Fin Whales Are So Large
Fin whales are among the largest animals ever to have lived. Only the blue whale is bigger, which is why fin whales are commonly described as the second-largest whale species. Adults often reach lengths of around 20 metres, and some grow longer. They have a long, streamlined body that is built for sustained swimming, and they are known for a distinctive colour pattern in which the lower jaw and the right side of the head are paler than the rest of the body. This asymmetry is one of the features that helps researchers tell individual animals apart.
Fin whales live in oceans around the world, from polar waters to temperate seas. They often travel long distances between feeding grounds, where they gorge on prey, and breeding areas. Their size means they need a large and reliable food supply, which is one reason their movements are closely linked to where prey gathers in the ocean.
How the Species Came to Be at Risk
Fin whales were heavily hunted during the twentieth century. Commercial whaling on a large scale reduced many populations sharply, and the species is now classified as endangered on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List. The IUCN Red List is the best-known global assessment of the conservation status of plants and animals, and an endangered category means that a species faces a very high risk of extinction in the wild.
International protections were introduced in the latter half of the twentieth century, including a moratorium on commercial whaling agreed under the International Whaling Commission in 1986. Since then, some fin whale populations have shown signs of recovery in certain regions, but the species as a whole is still considered at risk. Recovery in large whales is slow, because they mature late and have relatively few offspring, so changes in population numbers can take decades to show.
Why Sightings Off the UK Matter
Sightings of large whales in British waters are valuable to researchers because they help build a picture of where animals feed and travel. Each confirmed record can add to scientific understanding of how fin whales use coastal and offshore areas around Britain. Public photographs and video can support this work, particularly when they are shared with research bodies and include details such as location, date and what the animal was doing.
The footage also highlights how much of the marine environment people rarely see. Many large marine animals spend most of their lives underwater and out of view. For that reason, aerial pictures and sightings from the surface are an important source of information for conservation groups and scientists trying to understand where animals go and when.
Drones, Distance and Wildlife Rules
Drones have become a common tool for filming wildlife, offering perspectives that are difficult to achieve from a boat or the shore. However, wildlife experts generally advise that any observation should avoid disturbing animals. Close approaches by aircraft, including small drones, can change an animal's behaviour. This is especially important during feeding, because a whale that is disturbed may have to expend more energy, change direction or abandon its meal.
Drone operators are also normally required to follow aviation rules that govern where and how their aircraft can be flown. The BBC report does not say how far the drone was from the whale or what precautions were taken during filming. Anyone interested in filming marine wildlife should check current official guidance before flying a drone near animals, because rules and recommended distances can change.
Threats Facing Fin Whales
Fin whales face several pressures in the modern ocean. Collisions with ships are one of the most serious risks for large whales, particularly in busy shipping routes, because vessels moving at speed may not spot an animal in time. Entanglement in fishing gear is another major threat. Whales can become caught in ropes and nets, which can cause injuries, exhaustion or death. Underwater noise from shipping, construction and other human activity can also interfere with whale communication and feeding.
Changes in the availability of prey, linked to shifts in ocean temperature and currents, may also affect where fin whales can find food. Scientists studying the species generally consider these pressures together, because an animal under stress from one threat may be less able to cope with another.
What to Watch Next
The BBC video is a single short clip, and on its own it does not show whether this sighting reflects a wider pattern of fin whales in Welsh waters. Analysts who follow marine wildlife would typically look for further confirmed sightings, photographs and records from researchers and volunteer observers before drawing broader conclusions. Such data can show whether animals are returning to particular areas, staying for longer periods or simply passing through.
For the public, the footage offers a close look at a large animal feeding in its natural environment. It also underlines the value of reporting sightings responsibly and keeping a safe distance from marine mammals. Whether this encounter becomes part of a longer-term pattern will depend on future monitoring, and that is likely to be the key question for researchers in the months and years ahead.
Questions and answers
Who filmed the fin whale off the Welsh coast?
The footage was captured by Rhys Morgan, who used a drone to film the whale. BBC Science published the video on 20 October 2026.
What is a fin whale?
The BBC describes the fin whale as the world's second-largest whale species, after the blue whale. It is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List.
What is lunge feeding?
Lunge feeding is a method in which a baleen whale surges through prey, opens its mouth wide and takes in a large volume of water, then filters out food. The BBC footage shows a fin whale doing this.
Why does a fin whale sighting off the UK matter?
Confirmed sightings help researchers understand where whales feed and travel. Fin whales face threats such as ship strikes, entanglement and underwater noise, so monitoring their presence supports conservation.
Topics: Fin whale, Welsh coast, Rhys Morgan, BBC Science, Lunge feeding, Marine wildlife, Whale conservation, Drone wildlife filming
Sources: BBC Science
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