A PHOTOGRAPHER managed to capture the moment two killer whales swam past the North Wales coast last week.

Holly Page managed to take a picture of a pair of orcas near South Stack in Holyhead on the afternoon of Saturday, June 9.

Killer whales, or orcas, are the largest of the dolphin family and are considered to be one of the world's most powerful predators.

Holly seized the opportunity to capture the moment one of the orcas poked its dorsal fin above the water.

"I was amazed to see them at somewhere that I've been visiting regularly for the past 25 years," she said.

"It was a case of being in the right place at the right time and I'm still pretty stunned to be honest."

In her Facebook post regarding the pictures she took, Holly explained that one of the creatures was a "known individual called John Coe".

"The information I've been given on Twitter (by @orcaten10) is that he is the dominant bull in the west coast pod which is normally seen round Mull, Skye and the small isles," she added.

"He's previously been seen from Cornwall right up to St Kilda."

Orcas can measure up to 32ft in length, weigh around six tonnes and usually have a life span of 50-80 years when living in the wild.

RSPB North Wales staff say they also spotted the "surprise visitors" to the coast.

"They could be seen for a few hours from the range moving around to north stack," a spokesperson for the group said.

"You never know what you will spot out to sea on a calm day.”