Ecologist originally from Lincoln captures beluga whale footage off coast of Shetland

An ecologist and wildlife photographer used a drone to capture amazing footage of a beluga whale swimming off the coast of Shetland.

The whale can be seen dipping in and out of the icy water - blowing water out of its blowhole.

Richard Shucksmith, 50, who is originally from Lincoln said: "Someone had spotted something in the water and described it. I suspected it to be a beluga.

"So I contacted my colleagues Phil Harris and Rebecca Nason at Shetland Seabird Tours who picked me up in their 4x4 as I was actually snowed in at my house.

"The area where we needed to be to see the whale was only accessible by 4x4 as the weather conditions were so bad."

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Richard, who currently lives in South Nesting in the Shetland Isles, said that the experience was a first for him as a wildlife photographer.

He said: "This was the first time I've ever seen and filmed a beluga whale.

"I was very excited when I caught the footage, it was brilliant to see, I loved it."