Killing the Golden Goose?

Hi Cliff,
took two of my daughters and five of my grandchildren out to the sound today.
We were lucky enough to see some porpoise, but it was brief, mainly due to the fact they were running a gauntlet of boats crossing the sound in one direction or the other.
I did not see a single boat adopt any caution in regard to the cautionary area that Pembrokeshire Marine Code Group members agreed (either side of the bitches an hour either side of slack tide).
Of course the operators willl say they are seeing porpoise and there still turning up and so no problem, and indeed porpoise are seemingly coping with the increased boat traffic, but for shore based observers its not much fun with at least 9 or ten nature boats operating throughout the day and into the early evening.
On top of that there are now always two or three small private ribs dashing around too, everybody always seems to be in such a hurry!!.
looking forward to the Autumn,
cheers
Malcolm
P.S. I will be making a formal complaint to Tom about some of what I witnessed today.

There are always conflicts with regards to those who value wildlife for its own sake and those that exploit it for financial advantage.


The Ramsay Sound boat operators were joint authors of the Pembrokeshire Marine Code. It is their code agreed by them but seemingly despite attending WiSE courses paid for by the Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum and multiple other events and meetings, it seems the code is constantly ignored.

Those of us who have a great deal of experience in observing Harbour Porpoises, feel this is unsustainable as an activity in the Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area for Conservation (or anywhere else).

The operators by rushing to fit as many trips in per day as possible, are in danger of seperating calves from mothers, damaging or scaring away the animals that their clients come to see. It is also giving a poor example to private boat owners who are adding to the pressure. In effect they are in danger of killing the "Golden Goose" that provides their income...

First Prize!

Daniel Worth of Razorbill Ribs kindly offered a free trip for the winners of a Sea Trust competition in Welsh Country Magazine...

just a quick note to say that having been blown out a couple of times earlier in the year, Hank and Carol Hancock jojned us for a 2 hour trip (exclusive use of 'Razorbill') today....

The sea state was slightly more than forecast, but we spent a very pleasant couple of hours out of Gwbert....taking in the birds on Cardigan Island, and then over to Mwnt, where we were lucky to have around 6 Dolphins (with a couple of youngsters) who we sat with for a a little while and during which time we also observed a brief feeding frenzy....fantastic!

We then headed back over to Cemaes head where we took in the sea caves and amazing geology before heading back....

I think both Hank and Carol thoroughly enjoyed themselves....it was Hanks first Dolphin encounter, after years of trying (the main aim of the trip)....so he was very pleased they put in an appearance.

How lucky can you get, well done Dan!
Dan is definately one wildlife tour operator who really does care about the wildlife!

Porpfest update...

After Adrian Roger contacted me about the Strumble Porps, I joined up with him yesterday evening. It was a bit more choppy and they were obviously feeding but not really showing much of themselves. Its something I have experienced a bit where the only sign of the porpoise is a fast breaking of the surface showing just a fin tip except when breathing which is a very fast surfacing and over in a flash. They were spread over a couple of miles and with forty odd gannets wheeling above them. I really think trying to accurately count largeish numbers of cetaceans is fraught with danger, but there were several scores of animals, perhaps a hundred or more.
Of course we do not know how many are resident or how far they range but at both Ramsay Sound and Strumble they can be regularly seen all year round and we have proven they breed here, over to you Alison...

Hi Cliff, hope you're ok. Porps in the Sound Sun.25th.July & today Mon.26th.July. Not big numbers but several sightings today of a very small calf tucked in tight to mum. Good to see they are still there despite the high intensity of boat activity at the moment. All the best.....Alison

Porp fest at Strumble

Large numbers of Porpoises feeding in tide race this evening i estimate possibly 40 to 50 different animals.
// posted by wdigbirder @ 7:52 PM


I spoke to Adrian (wdigbirder) and he is giving the conservative estimate that birders tend to give and thinks there may be many more. we will have a look tommorrow and see what we can see!

One man and his Yacht!

Hello Cliff,

On Thursday 22nd I sailed in my small junk rigged sailing boat from Fishguard to Solva, overnighted in Solva. On 23rd I sailed out to Grassholm and back to Solva, overnighted there again, and sailed from Solva back to Fishguard on 24th.Got some good sightings listed below.

22nd July:0630 GMT just E of Strumble Head about 1/2 mile offshore 12 porpoises no accompanying birds calm sea low swell.

1020 GMT in south end of Ramsey Sound 3 porpoises feeding 12 gannets overhead wind NE'ly 4 slight sea moderate W'ly swell

23rd July: 0650 GMT 51 50.2 N 05 15.8 W about 10 common dolphins heading E very fast occ'ly porpoising no birds wind NE'ly 2 slight sea low W'ly swell

0800 GMT 51 50 N 05 16.5 W 2 common dolphins swam round the boat twice before heading S. Other details same as above

0825 GMT 51 48.4 N 05 20.4 W 6 or 8 commons dolphins swam round the boat several times before heading SE. Details as above

0855 GMT 51 47.9 N 05 21.5 W 2 common dolphins heading NE. Details as above

0910 GMT 51 47.6 N 05 22.3 W 2 common dolphins heading S. Details same.

24th July: 0915 GMT just east of Strumble Head again 2 porpoises 4 gannets overhead wind SW'ly 5/6 rough sea and moderate W'ly swell.

0933 GMT North of Carregwastad Point 1 lone porpoise. No birds weather details as above.

I had intended on the 23rd to sail out to the Smalls area but the wind fell light and the tide was setting me south so I turned back for Solva on reaching a position just N of Grassholm. Next time the Smalls, and beyond !

Regards, Ian.

Maybe Minke?

On Sat, Jul 24, 2010 at 11:40 AM, Dave Williams wrote:
hi, whilst out fishing from my boat Cod2 yesterday from Cardiff Bay, i was anchored up opposite Penarth pier in the middle of the channel. My mate and i spotted a large black back rise out of the water about 50yds away from us, its back was Black with a dorsal fin, as we have never seen something like this before in this area we at first presumed it was a seal, but it then rose again about 150yds away and i could see it was either a dolphin/porpoise type species. sorry but we had no pictures to prove are sighting but as a regular fisherman in the area i will be looking out for more in the future.

Hi Dave, thanks for this, The dorsal fin rules out seal, Porpoises are seen occasionally thereabouts but you say it was "large". It sounds a bit like a typical Minke Whale sighting. Minke's are relatively small whales about 8-10 metres and don't blow, just surfacing pretty much as you described in a relatively low key manner. There have been a few sightings of Minke's in the Bristol Channel this year so that would be my initial guess. I have added an image (any excuse) taken by Adrian Shepherd of a mother and calf taken off Skokholm. allthingsgood, cliff

From Malcolm Barradell

There was a group of about 60 Common Dolphins a mile west of St Davids Head about 2pm yesterday afternoon, (20/7/10) they were moving towards the west, there were several small animals,I was on a overnight stint at Ramsey Sound and last evening there was a group of about 20 common dolphin close in to Pen Pedol which then entered the South end of the sound and dashed around a little before making off into towards Skomer.Earlier in the evening saw several porps running the gaunlet of NT boats as they came down the sound seemed to be an end of the day lack of awareness, subsequently sightings were brief, however later in the evening just before dark there were several porps foraging well up to the bitches during the latter stages of ebb tide, not something you see when boats are all ovewr the place, I could clearly here them "puffing". I kayaked into the sound this morning and got a ride out and around St Davids head and saw a small group of Porps just off ST Johns Head which moved of and around St Davids Head, unfortunately I saw no more but did get checked out by several seals on the way to Aberiddy.
Shame the nature tour boats seem to keep ignoring the Marine Code that they helped to devise themselves, Malcolm!

Dolphin Survey Trip

Sea conditions on the Sea Trust Pelagic yesterday were somewhat rougher than expected but we still managed to get out a fair way beyond the Smalls. On the way we called in at Skokholm where there were plenty of Puffins but few Guillemots and Razorbills. We saw 2 Common Dolphins on the way out to Grassholm which was the usual, spectacular, hive of activity with thousands of birds on and over the surrounding waters as well as the huge numbers on the island itself.

Towards the Smalls we picked up a pod of 20 plus Common Dolphins which rode the bow wave for a while before losing interest and dropping away - a wonderful encounter.

Further out there were large groups of Manx Shearwaters and plenty of Puffins, just a couple of Fulmars and one Storm Petrel. A Bonxie put on a great display as it pursued a Herring Gull quite close to the boat.

We headed back against a choppy sea but with the Celtic Wildcat hacking along at 17 knots it was an exhilarating ride with one short pause as a small pod of Dolphins appeared briefly. Click here for photos from the trip.
Click on the Sea Trust Wildcat Boat Trips link on the right for details of forthcoming trips.

Just another day at the office!

from Stacey Wall...
As I was working at Celtic Diving yesterday it was just another normal day, until I saw them. It was early afternoon and I was watching two pods of dolphins right there in Fishguard Harbour. As they came in closer, milling around a guy on a kayak, I got some nice shots of dorsal fins.
The two pods stayed in the harbour for a long time. Further away the group was smaller in number, approximately 6-8 animals. The closer pod was larger, approximately 10-12 animals. I think the larger of the two were definitely feeding as their swimming seemed purposeful.
I thought they were bottlenose dolphins as they were quite large animals and I could not see any light markings. However when Cliff got a closer look he advised me they were common dolphins. The smaller pod had moved further out by this time.
As the afternoon wore on the animals behaviour began to become a concern as their swimming became slightly erratic. The tide had turned and was on its way out but it seemed the commons did not know which way to turn and they continued to swim back and forth, at some points right up to the wall. I also observed some tail slapping, and their swimming had pulses of speed mixed in.
I carried on watching and willing the pod to swim away. I love seeing dolphins but not when there is a chance of a disaster, as the tide in the harbour changes quickly. It was brilliant to see help from the rowing ladies as they tried to direct them out, and with this help and that of another boat they managed to usher the animals into deeper water. This was a relief as the light was fading but it was decided they were safe and they were left to it. Today I was happy to see no dorsal fins in the harbour!

Long Boat Ladies Save Dolphins!

Fishguard Ladies long boat team came to the rescue when a pod of Common Dolphins became trapped in Fishguard Harbour yesterday. I got a report from Stacey Wall one of our volunteers working in the harbour saying there were loads of dolphin there close in, splashing about.

We do get Bottlenose Dolphins in the harbour every now and again so I was not particularly worried but drove down to see them. Quite a crowd had gathered and the dolphins were within a few yards of the shore just muddling about in circles. It was then I realised they were not our usual Bottlenose Dolphins but Common Dolphins, a species that rarely comes inshore

They seemed disorientated and confused but I thought they would go back out as the tide turned. Three hours later they were still there and in danger of getting stranded as the tide dropped. I then got Stacey to contact Rod Penrose (Welsh Marine Mammals Strandings Coordinator)

Just as I was wondering what next to do, the Fishguard Ladies Longboat team hove into sight along with Catherine Davies another Sea Trust Volunteer . I called them over to help, and asked them if they would try and drive the Dolphins out to deeper water.

Several boats were moored between the dolphins and the safer deep water which seemed to act as a barrier.

By rowing hard, and manoeuvring between the dolphins and the shore, the ladies would get them moving in the right direction only for the dolphins to turn back.
It was exhausting work for the girls but eventually they managed to shepherd the dolphins through the boats and out into deeper water.

Ian Hotchin another of our volunteers was waiting with his motor yacht. Between them they herded the animals to safety. It was beginning to get darker by then and so we made the decision to leave them in peace and allow them to find their way out through the deep channel to the sea.

I returned first light this morning and the dolphins had obviously made their way safely out to the open sea!

We do see Common Dolphins from the coast occasionally but more usually offshore from boats, or the ferry.

Apparently there had been a lot of mackerel around which would have attracted them inshore. There were also some witnesses who thought they saw larger more aggressive Bottlenose Dolphins around , which may have panicked the commons and driven them into the shallow water.

Dolphin Survey Boat Trips 2010

Sea Trust is running a number of Boat trips from Neyland in July, August and September this year. These trips are primarily aimed at seeing and surveying  Dolphins and other cetaceans and are also a great opportunity to see a variety of seabirds and the Pembrokeshire Coast and Islands. The next two trips are on Thursday 22 and Thursday 29 July. Full details of all the trips can be seen by clicking on the Sea Trust Wildcat Boat Trips link to the right
Click here for photos from Sea Trust trips.

Ferry good crew!

I was a bit cream crackered after the last ferry survey aboard The "Stena Europe" and forgot to mention that a Pilot Whale was spotted and reported in the mouth of Rosslare Harbour by the bridge crew (Tony Bob and Alan ) last Friday whilst leaving port.

The animal which they described as black, and about five metres long with a big hooked fin, appeared in front of the ship and moved out of the harbour in front of them surfacing several times giving good views. well done guys!

It is a very unusual sighting in the Irish sea as Pilot Whales are generally normally deeep water squid feeders. None the less we had seen Risso's close in as well, maybe there were squid about and the PW had just taken a wrong turn. It occured to me it might have been a sick animal but my Irish Whale and Dolphin Group buddy Mac , had no records of any strandings so far.

Big Bottle Pod, can you help?

IAN HUGHES to me
9:40 AM (1 hour ago)
I know that I was not quite in Wales but I was seawatching from Hilbre Island on 12th when I was thrilled to spot about 30 (almost certainly bottle nosed) dolphins moving South West towards the Point of Ayr and the North Wales coast. It took about half an hour for them all to pass through, from about 12.45 to 1315. I would be interested to know if anyone else saw them later that day. regards, Ian.

Aberystwyth Bottlenoses

From Penri James - There were 2 Bottlenose Dolphins off Aberystwyth South Beach Tuesday morning at high tide, patrolling in the same location. Lone Gannet diving in the same area as well. Image of one dolphin attached taken from Stone Pier. Disappeared after Navy Training Boats entered Aberystwyth Harbour. Reports that circ. 8 were off Tanybwlch Beach on Monday night.

A last minute decision to do a ferry survey due to the arrival of a work experience placement, (Jessica Cross) produced a mixed bag and some near misses cetaceanwise. just out of Fishyguard Harbour we lucked into a small pod of Common Dolphins which got us off to a storming start. A few more porpoises followed and them nothing except a couple of enigmatic splashes and another very distant unidentified pod of Dolphins off the Tusker.

With light nights, we gave it half an hour on the bridge on the 21.15 sailing but gave up and left just before the crew spotted some Risso's and a Minke. The return morning trip was pretty quiet but still produced a couple of small pods of commons. Unfortunately a shower of rain curtailed the survey as we rounded Pen Anglas and we missed the four Bottlenose Dolphins Ian Hotchin had seen from his boat just an hour earlier, halfway along the southern shore of Dinas Island!

Strumble a bit choppy not many porps showing...

I spent half an hour at Strumble this morning with a N Westerly breeze chopping things up in the tide race , got a couple of glimpses of porps but nothing very definate as to numbers . Steve Delyth and Tony Lucas fared not much better in the afternoon... after blanking at Mwnt yesterday, despite excellent conditions
from Stevo...3-4 Harbour porpoises at Strumble Head the time was at 2:30pm and they were fishing.

Manorbier Porpoises

From Dave Perry - Pod of 6+ porpoises at Manorbier Bay on Wednesday this week, playing(?) in the waves just off shore

Pod of 4 Bottlenose cruising past Cardigan Island after Dawn

Out at dawn for a wildlife watching charter....a bit overcast and some drizzle, but fab time to be at sea! Loads of fowl and waders in the river /estuary out of St. Dogmaels, 6 Herons, loads of Curlew, Gannets aplenty at sea and Shearwaters putting on a great show, plenty of Auks. As we sat watching a playful seal cow off Cardigan island, a pod 0f 4 Bottlenose cruised past with a Juvenile in tow. There was other Dolph activity seen from afar during the morning....but here is a short vid of the 4 which I managed to capture...the island is a really noisy place to be in the morning...although camera mic doesn't really do it justice!

Short of 4 Bottlenose Dolphins (with Juvenile) cruising past Cardigan Island on a Dawn Trip

Dan

Risso's from Mr Rogers!

Evening Cliff ,

Just returned from an enjoyable short one & a half hour seawatch at the head made even more spectacular by a sighting of 5+ Risso's Dolphins that moved from west to east into Fishguard Bay at 18.30 , all were of comparable size & quite dark.

Adrian

Common dolphin film from Chantal..

Chantal came to volunteer with us a couple of years ago, a great organiser and also she named me the Walrus of Chaos!

Now I can look back on an amazing student time, highlight is still my internship in Wales at Sea Trust. :)So again: thank you!
And enjoy the short movie I made this weekend:http://www.youtube.com/user/ladinahs#p/a/u/0/6zsntfV8UK4
It's a compilation of my filmshots of Common Dolphins - Irish Sea in 2006. I have started editing some of my film work, to train my editing skills. You can put it on your blog if you want. :)
Love, Chantel Bleumink

Calves continue to show in Ramsay Sound

From Malcolm Barradell

Hi Cliff,
Following on from Alisons evening at the sound I was out first thing this morning (tuesday), again porpoise in the sound (7-9) including a couple of calves.
Some movement up the sound at the turn of the tide but also a group of three with a calf hanging around in the South end well into flood tide.
I had not spotted this calf until I saw my photo's later! the calf being small and well tucked in (you have to enlarge to see it!)

I went over to Penllechwen afterwards and briefly saw, again, a group of three including a (larger) calf.

I have noticed that since the porps in the sound have become a bit more frequent and predictable recently, boats are taking a little more time and care than had been evident before. More relaxing for everybody!
cheers
Malcolm.

I have to say this is all looking encouraging, one positive point of this blog (which is currently being seen by over 100 visitors per day who presumably care about the wellbeing of our marine wildlife), is that we can highlight issues and also pat people on the back when they deserve it! Ramsay Sound is part of a European designated Marine Special Area of Conservation, not a racetrack.

Malcolm, Alison and others are providing evidence on a weekly basis of the fact that it is an important breeding area for Harbour Porpoise, a schedule one legally protected species under the Habitats and Species Directive. Thats what the Pembrokeshire Marine Code Group is all about. Somehow the PMCG has become polarised into boat operators and conservationists. There should be no distinction between boat operators and conservationists, we all need to be conservationists.

The reason is clearly illustrated in Malcolms photo.

Ramsey report from Alison.

I spent a couple of hours up at Ramsey Sound early this evening, Mon.5th.July. Nothing seen in the ebb tide for the first 1/2 hour I was there but then porpoise suddenly appeared, & I had almost continuous sightings from then on. Probably about 8-10 there, maybe more, including several positive sightings of a calf. They were still there when I left. Alison

Here and there, Bottles and amother Minke!

Stevo Lucas on top form with sightings from Mwnt of four adult Bottles foraging and milling around a speed boat (who was behaving sensibly) seen between 1-3 pm Saturday . Also a report from friends staying in Newport : 27th June at 9:30am. 6/7 Bottlenose Dolphins at north end of Newport Bay milling around in the same place for about 20 mintues The weather was Sunny and calm seas.
We also had a report of another Minke from Jamie a friend of Niel Couzens engineer of the Stena Europe who had a Minke hangibng around their boat whilst fishing a wreck aqbout 15 miles off Porthgain/Strumble. the animal was inquisitive and they had superb views of the animal confirmed by the white markings on the flippers

Rough with the smooth?

Stevo Lucas 3:59 PM
July 2nd 1 Harbour Porpoise at half a mile north west of Pen Angles the time was at 12:05 there was no birds at al,l the wind was up to force 5 westerly and the sea was rough.

Lundy Minke (Steve Rosser)

It does seem that June is /was marked by the arrival in our waters of good numbers of Minke Whale with several animals reported in both the Bristol Channel and the Irish sea during the month. Minkes are surprisingly easy to miss, they do not blow and their surfacings tend to be brief and discrete, so those actually seen and reported to us are probably no more than a tip of the proverbial iceberg. This one was photographed from the Shore (Lundy) a rarety as getting a shot even from a boat is no mean feat. Interestingly elsewhere such as Iceland, Minke's seem to be quite inquisitive and approach boats which sadly is not our experience here. Well done Steve!
Some quite exciting news is that we have just received bookings for one of our September Wildcat Boat Trip Surveys from three guys in Belgium. This shows the power of the internet and also of our blog to attract international visitors here, all part of The Sea Trust Service! find the link on the top right hand side of this blog.