Seeing Pi the whale 'more exciting than Christmas'

A humpback whale called Pi is thrilling locals on the Isles of Scilly who see its annual visit as a winter highlight.

For islanders, spotting Pi has become a tradition, and this year photographer Inga Drazniece captured the moment on camera.

"I need to pinch myself sometimes still," said Inga, who works at a jewellers and spends her free time photographing the islands' wildlife.

"Everyone's getting really excited. It's more exciting than Christmas, at least for me."

Pi was spotted off the island of St Martin's

The Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust said Pi had been visiting the islands in winter over several years, including in 2023 and 2024.

Ms Drazniece and her friends set out to find Pi after hearing of sightings near the Daymark, a landmark on St Martin's.

"We sat there with tea in a flask, the girls had binoculars, I had my drone," she said. "It was cold, but it was nice to just watch the seas and waves.

"I started to carefully watch the old waves hitting the rocks, and this one didn't behave like in a pattern.

"So I start to lower my drone, and then I start to see two fins. I could recognise them straight away. It's fantastic, it's amazing to see him, it's lovely."

The humpback was given the name Pi because of a distinctive marking on its fin.

"We call it Pi because by the hump on the right side, there is P sign," said Ms Drazniece.

"Once you know it, you can spot it really well."

She added that other whales had also been seen around the islands, with more appearing every year.

Islanders hope Pi will perform a flip soon, which would reveal its gender, but for now it remains unknown.