CL trip catch up

 Monday 11th sold out, still a couple of places on Sunday!

Strumble Diary 06/08/2025

 I've been busy with family lately so not out as often as usual. Today was my chance to get out again and during my favoured dropping tide. An early morning start on the North breakwater by 07.40 hoping for some Bottlenose action before heading to Strumble. Sadly it was dead quiet there with no sign of any action at all apart from some very noisy Oyster catches passing by. I moved to Strumble then and was there by 08.30ish, where the outer tide race was well under way. Very quiet at first then 45 minutes in I spotted a lone porpoise moving East to West with the tide. A while later again and  a group of three consisting of a mother and calf and presumably a juvenile as well. The same little group as I captured last week. I was by this time talking with a couple from the South Wales Valleys who were up for the day when we spotted a pod of around twenty or so Commons really going for it moving East to West accross in front of us. They slowed as they passed but didn't stop, then carried on turning to the NW and out of sight. Another closer view of the mother/calf pair and that was it. With more family activity planned for the late morning I left just shortly before 10.30 happy to have seen the Commons lively passing.

               Bonus sighting was this lovely Kestrel resting some 100Mtrs or so from the lookout.

 

Cartlett Lady Trips Sunday 10th Monday 11th.

 

We have been surveying our Pembrokeshire waters for more than two decades.As far away as the smalls and beyond to the Celtic Deep  and out into the outer Bristol Channel up to Lundy, recording cetaceans and also seabirds.

We do not go out in weather that is marginal, as that would defeat the ultimate purpose of being able to spot ceatceans at distance and record them.Which is why i spend most of the summer looking for weather windows that will allow us to complete our surveys. It also works for our paying passengers who finance the trips 

It has been increasingly difficult in recent years as the weather has become so much more volatile, and despite all the forecasters tech and skills things change within hours. As such I am looking at widening our possibilities by making the Cartlett Lady potentially availale on Sunday 10th and Monday11th if the current forecasts are correct. If you are available for either day or both, please email me (seatrustwales@gmail.com) with your contacts email + mobile + mobile for next of kin. I will confirm sailings on the previous day. These are 8+ hour trips, we have not raised our prices this year to try and keep them affordable as possible.

C L survey trip info

Sea Trust survey trips are not just wildlife watching jollies. The data we have

collected from these trips since 2003 have contributed over 90% of the verified

offshore records of cetaceans (and other marine creatures) for West Wales which we

have submitted to the West Wales Biodiversity Records Centre and also the National

Biodiversity Network. Basically, it’s conservation being funded by the public. Local

people helping us to look after our marine wildlife!

We could not have done this without all the hundreds of people, (probably

thousands) who over the years who have paid to come along on our research trips.

Sadly, fuel cost increases, marina charges etc, we are having to charge £125 pp this

year. To avoid complication and booking fees, please bring cash (£125 pp)

The Cartlett Lady is a privately owned sport fishing vessel (Lochin 42) skippered by

Andrew Rickard. Both skipper and vessel are fully licenced for private charter. She

has toilet facilities, indoor seating and is fully kitted out with safety equipment. Her

powerful engines allow us to cruise out up to 30 nautical miles offshore and if

necessary, get back home quickly.

We meet at Neyland Marina normally at 09.30 for a 10.00 departure. If you are

running late call me on the number below. We differ our routes but normally in the

early season we will visit one or two of the islands to see the seabirds, Puffins etc.

then go out in search of Cetaceans. Later on, our main focus will be the Celtic Deep

on the lookout for things such as Whales and other cetaceans Leatherback Turtles,

Sharks and Bluefin Tuna. Nothing is guaranteed, no two trips are alike, but most are

pretty amazing!

We only go out when the forecast is for calm weather as this gives the best spotting

conditions. You need to bring food, drink and sun protection, as well as appropriate

clothing. It can get chilly!  if you want to book space /spaces please add mobile No to

your reply and full names and address

allthingsgood, cliff

We are also looking at offering some shorter trips this year for more info:

seatrustwales@gmail.com.

Allthingsgood, cliff. Mob no: 07516454581

BAN Jet skis!

Today FOUR jet skis were chasing Common Dolphin's around Ramsey Sound seen by Fran Eggby, but sadly no phone!Please let us know if anyone did film it!!!

from Lorna and Bertram...We ve just seen your blog post on the jet skis and wanted to say that we saw them too on our coast path walk from St Justinian's to Porthclais. It was awful enough to see/hear them and that was without knowing they were chasing dolphins. Unfortunately we didn't record any of it so have no footage to send, but will do if were unfortunate enough to see them again.

Lorna & Bertram 

from Lloyd Rees-Jones.

Yeah we dived The Bishops and they were driving like t**ts cutting everyone up.They were doing laps through the sound and powering down to Porthclais

The Legend...

 that is Ken Barnett...

Breakwater Bottles 29/07/2025

 Although there were more dolphins here today, they were a lot quieter than yesterday's visitors. At one time I counted ten spread over a wide area of the bay but only four came close in to the breakwater, so I was thankful of the long lens to get some of the others. All of those I did manage to get were the same bunch that have been around for a while except for one with a large scar marking on it's left side close to it's dorsal fin. Just another day at the breakwater. It looks like they've made themselves quite at home here now, for the time being at least.

 

Playfull Bottlenose off the Breakwater 28/07/2025

 Another lovely time with the Bottlenose off the breakwater today. They arrived just before high water and stayed for a couple of hours. As usual at this state of the tide there were several small boats about plus the ferry arrival as well. Naturally I kept a close eye on the small boats around the dolphins, but I needn't have worried. One or two went straight past and carried on their way not noticing the dolphins, but two approached with extreme caution and once off the lighthouse cut engines and just enjoyed the dolphins playing around and socialising. Their reward was seeing the dolphins at close quarters seemingly oblivious of their presence. Once they were done and the dolphins had moved away from them they quietly moved off into the bay toward the slipway and moorings. Soon it was time for me to leave as well and on my way home I stopped in at the old slipway and thanked one of the boat owners for showing respect to our precious bottlenose. 

 

Although close, no interference at all. As it should be.