The Northumberland coast has turned into a hotspot for wildlife watchers today.
A 30m, 50 tonne whale has been spotted around the Newbiggin-by-the-Sea area on several occasions over the last 24 hours.
The huge sperm whale was briefly stranded about 200m off the coast but has now been able to start swimming again.
There have been concerns about the whale's health and its proximity to the coast but it looks like the creature has been able to make it to deeper water.
Marine scientist Ivor Clark, who runs the North East Wild Dolphin Monitoring Project, has been watching the animal closely.
He told ChronicleLive: "It all started yesterday lunchtime when two whales appeared around Church Point from the north.
"One carried on traveling south but the other end up logging - literally just floating still like a log - around Newbiggin Bay.
"It ended up reappearing in Cambois and spent the night and then it returned to Newbiggin Bay.
"There were concerns raised that there may have been something wrong with the whale because you don't usually get them that close to the shore.
"We've been monitoring since - it got stuck on a sandbank earlier today but a high tide came in and it was able to float again."
It's likely the whale was experiencing some sort of health or navigation complication which led it so close to the shore but it wasn't showing visible signs of injury.
But, while it's impossible to say if the whale is back to full strength now, it appeared to be able to swim off without issue.
Mr Clark added: "It's extraordinary to have a whale that size visible from the coast.
"We get Minke whales quite regularly and even Humpbacks but it's the first time I've ever seen a sperm whale down here, it's incredibly rare.
"It's a very unique situation."
Did you get any videos or pictures of the whale?
We'd love to see them - send to ec.news@ncjmedia.co.uk
