Strumble Diary 29/08/25: Fiona the early bird catches the Risso's!

Fiona Day reported five adult Risso's and two calves from an early watch this morning! Fran and her Sea Trust photo ID team will be out this morning, hopefully the Risso's will hang about for some ID shots!

Rissos & Porps 28/08/2025

 Not the best of days weather wise and with today's survey cancelled due to the forecast I decided to give Strumble a try later in the day. As I arrived in the car park I spotted a group of Rissos about a half mile out in front of the lookout. Once I'd set up I was straight on them and watched as they moved to and fro in the ebbing tide. I don't know how long they had been there but I had a good forty minutes before they turned and headed West and away with the tide. By this time the tide race had formed and the Porpoise started to move in. Several poor sightings at first then a short period of reasonable to good showings. As the sky became ever more overcast the light deteriorated and as the Porp action had died away I called it a day and left for home.

 

arrived in the car park I spotted a group of Rissos about a half mile out in front of the lookout. Once I'd set up I was straight on them and watched as they moved to and fro in the ebbing tide. I don't klnow how long they had been there but I had a good forty minutes before they turned and headed West andaway with the tide. By this time the tide race had frmed and the Porpoise started to move in. Several poor sightings at first then a short period of reasonable to good showings. As the sky became ever more overcast the light deteriorated and as the Porp action had died away I called it a day and left for home.

  

Very Active Bottlenose 27/08/2025

 The Bottlenose were very active today and even driving down from Fishguard I could see them splashing away off the outer breakwater. When I arrived there it was evident that there were a good number of Bottlenose feeding well and by my estimate there were 12-14 all together. Some were moving in groups and others doing their own thing. On the menu were Bass, Mullet and Gar Fish, with lots of fish tossing going on. Watching them chasing the Gar fish was lots of fun as they powered their way along throwing up lots of spray. There were a good number of full breaches most of which I missed sadly. The action lasted for most of the dropping tide and there were still a few feeding more distantly when I left for home.

 

Public porpoise watch. Strumble Hd, 26/08/2025

 Today Sea Trust held a public porpoise watch at Strumble from 12.00pm until 13.30. The event drew a good number of people from all over and with a good number of binoculars shared out all had the chance to spot whatever passed. Distant Rissos seen earlier started moving in a bit closer so most I suspect got at least one or two sightings as they surfaced. Later in the session porpoise started to move up the tide race but were a lot harder for people to see as they were moving very quickly and not showing very well.

All in all a very good excercise, allowing people to come and see what we do and for us to show off our wonderful marine wildlife. 

Carrie's son Jaxon, our youngest (4Yr old) and most enthusiastic volunteer