Cartlet Lady trip 30/08/2018

Thank you Steve in the previous post for the overview and intro to our latest foray out to the deeps. As Steve mentioned we made our way down the haven under leaden skies which looked quite ominous to most but to me it presented an opportunity too good to miss. Skies have played a large part in my landscape work over the years and I explained to Steve and Ben how much I looked forward to bringing out the detail that most of us simply do not see because we're too busy looking where we're going to bother looking up to see the incredible dynamic skyscapes we have in Pembrokeshire. So forgive my indulgence as for them both I put my money where my mouth is as they say and present a sample of what was above us seen through my eyes.

We motored out for several miles still under a cloud (excuse the pun) but there was lighter skies further out. It was quite choppy at this stage and at one point a concentrated local squall was lifting water in a weak vortex akin to a dust devil on the African plains. Up above the swirling was also evident as we witnessed a few funnel clouds of which this was the most developed.

And so to the main reason for our trip. Sightings were slow to start and the action was well down on that produced during our previous surveys. The groups of dolphin were relatively small with a good number of calves and juveniles present. Sadly most showed little or no interest in the boat and quickly moved off after giving us the once over. Consequently there were not as many images either compared to previous trips but I did manage a few quality breach shots amongst others.

There was other wildlife in the water though in the form of Lloyd and James. We had hoped for some great opportunities for a few on board to enter the world of the dolphins but with the dolphins moving off quickly and the heavy swells there was only time for one or two dips. It was lovely to hear the sheer joyfull noises coming out of Lloyd's snorkel as several commons gave him a first and I'm sure memorable experience that will stay with him for ever..

As the wind dropped it presented us with a chance to net some of the small compass Jellyfish that were in abundance out there for the aquarium.

We all enjoyed the trip and here in a lighter moment we were having a chuckle at Holly modeling the latest thing in marine costume design. She said the orange showed off the colour of her eyes. How could I possibly dissagree.

Alas for some the sea air and rocking motion took it's toll and for these two (Holly and Lee) it all became too much and they were soon dreaming of Whales and Dolphins as we made our way back into the haven.

Another lovely trip had to come to an end sadly and so it's many thanks once again to skipper Andy and crew Ken for yet again taking us out and back safely and let's hope there are a few more chances before the Autumnal weather sees the close of the boating season.

A Sea Trust Family Outing

Well Sea Trust is one big family and yesterday we went on an outing. Back in the day families went for their outings in char a banc to the seaside. Well we substituted the char a banc for the Cartlett Lady and the seaside for the Celtic Deep and a good time was had by all. To keep the similarities going as with all trips to the seaside some went swimming while others were sick! We assembled at the cafe at 9.30 to the news that the cafe is to close, the staff made redundant and the site redeveloped. While the weather forecast was good and getting better we motored down the Haven under thick cloud and quite chilly conditions. When we cleared St Annes Head we were met with choppy conditions and we threw up a spray to dampen the spirits of those on the stern. We pushed on out in a SW direction and the light drizzle soon turned to rain driving those on the flying bridge to seek shelter. We could clearly see the end of the rain cloud and clear blue sky beyond and eventually we got there. Things had been very quiet, few birds and no cetaceans but then the first of the dolphins appeared. Two of the lads had come equipped with wet suits, masks, snorkels and fins so they got changed and entered the water. Surprisingly the dolphins were not interested in these intruders despite a number of attempts with different pods. The boys enjoyed it heard the dolphins clearly and had some views of them but not the full on investigation than I had expected. We had a brief view of tuna and an even briefer view of a minke. While we loafed about waiting for the minke to reappear we collected a few jelly fish for the Ocean Lab aquarium. We then fitted an underwater camera to a pole to film the dolphins as they played around the boat. I attach a few images and as Ken B was on board he will treat us to more. If the underwater footage comes out it will be posted.

Gower dolphins

Nine hardy souls turned up at Swansea Marina at 08.30 on Wednesday the 22nd to do a cetacean survey on the Mumbles Motor Boat and Fishing Club Boat Oystercat together with the skipper Dean and 2 crew. The forecast had been iffy for days and the final forecast before sailing was just about doable. We sailed through Tawe Lock at 09.00 in heavy drizzle and within metres encountered 2 porpoise. Fortunately Dean was alert as we were not prepared for such early bounty. ' Where is the on off switch for our GPS?' When we cleared Mumbles Head we steamed due south into the Bristol Chanel and got to West Scarweather Buoy before turning west. As we headed into the wind, a NW about force 4, that we began to take in spray. We kept going at a good pace but sea conditions were far from ideal for surveying. Once sea conditions get above Sea State 4 I loose track of how to differentiate between 5, 6 or 7. Basically it is too rough for constant effort surveying. We got off Worms Head to an area where we have been successful in the past but nothing to be seen. An RAF Hercules C130 was training in the area and used us as a marker to turn and with low cloud holding down the engine noise it was quite deafening. We pushed on to well into the middle of Carmarthen Bay in freshening breeze which was by now a good force 5 gusting 6. As we approached a fishing mark we did get brief views of 2 common dolphins, the one breached well clear of the water to make sure it was spotted. We then did a spot of fishing. A grand total of 5 mackerel were landed (the absence of mackerel this summer off Gower and Pembrokeshire is concerning). We headed back with the wind behind us making for an easier ride and stopped at another fishing mark only a couple of miles out from Gower. Plenty of fish said Dean and true to his word the area was alive with bass. As we steamed up for a second drift over the shoal we were joined by a lively pod of about 10 common dolphins. As there is a total ban on bass for leisure anglers they were all returned but the total was about 40 mostly small fish. Perhaps the conservation measures are now working. We had one more single common dolphin while bass fishing and then headed for home spotting one more porpoise off Oxwich Bay. Conditions were such that none of us unpacked our cameras for fear of damage and the difficulty of photography on a wet pitching deck.

A Fine Feast

Time to get out has been scarce of late but I did manage a trip to the north breakwater on Tuesday last. Sadly no sign of the bottlenose but as I waited this Grey Seal popped up in front of me with a Pollack that would make any angler jealous. Easily 4-5lb in weight and probably more but what followed just made me laugh. As you can see in the images he had his eyes firmly fixed on me and the camera. Then like something out of a cartoon he slowly just sank under the surface. I waited and sure enough a few minutes later he slowly surfaced again and still with is prize in his mouth stared me in the eye and sank again. This continued for around fifteen minutes or so and each time he would slowly rise and then sink back down again. In image 4 I think he was showing me his prize as if to say "look what I've caught". I think by then the urge to eat it got the better of him and he started skinning it and then tearing into the flesh enjoying his bounty all the while keeping his eye on me up on the breakwater. A really comical but memorable encounter which will stay with me for a long time.

Passage from Fishguard to Milford 22 August 2018

Stephen Davies
 10:39 (12 hours ago)
  
to me



Hi Cliff



Not a lot of cetacean activity that I spotted though the sea state wasn’t conducive
to seeing fins in the water at distance. Maybe sea state 3 or touching 4 off
St David’s Head.



07:40 one porpoise 100 meters off the Northern breakwater



09:15 two common dolphin joined us for a minute or two , about 2km west of Penbwchdy 2 km
      north of Ynys Deullyn  (Abercastle)



11:00 six to eight porpoise feeding in the turbulent water on the south and to the west
      side of Ramey Sound



After entering St Brides Bay through Jack Sound  on to St Anne’s Head and to Milford no
sightings at all



A lot of bird activity, auks, shearwaters and gannets feeding to the north of Porthgain and down to the North of St David’s Head,  though was too far away for any cetacean sightings.
After Ramsey Sound very little in terms of bird activity/feeding. All the action was to the North.



All the best



Stephen

Skokholm Dolphins

30 plus Common Dolphins close into Skokholm yesterday. See the Skokholm blog for details and photos.

Bottles smashing Sewin!

On Sunday our wonderful ex-intern Cristina visited us with her family from Spain, and they joined us with Gaynor McMorrin's family and  what is presumably the same pair, and another adult gave distant but for Cristina's Sister Lucia, thrilling views as they were her first!

James and I arrived on the breakwater at about 3.15 and saw three Gannets feeding off the end of the breakwater. True to form they were accompanying a Mother and calf Bottlenose Dolphin and possibly another. The recent rains have attracted migratory Sea Trout and Salmon into the Harbour at Fishguard and yesterday we got a nice view of one thanks to the Dolphins.

From blowing up the pic', It is obviously a salmonid, thanks to the tell tail rear adipose fin behind the dorsal fin, My Game fishing Guru Brian Collins reckons its a sewin (Sea Trout) rather than one of the small summer salmon known as grilse.

A gannet also caught a fish nearby, which it failed to swallow but it was not a Salmonid as it clearly lacked the adipose fin, more likely a pollack from general shape and what I can see of its tail!

This demonstrates that just because you see a gannet catch a fish near feeding cetaceans its not necessarily the same species! which puts a bit of a spanner in the works as we have always thought it probably would be!

Close up on Porp's from Steve Roberts, WOW!

Stephen Roberts	12 Aug 2018, 22:41 (11 hours ago)
to me

Good evening  cliff , sorry a bit slow getting the photos  to you  but i needed a small chiid to do the technical stuff from camera to my phone for forwarding ! the side on shot does not do justice  to seeing it in the flesh  , it was so clear ,  a real trill to see this animal so close, I like  to think it went on its side to look at us when it passed ,the girls reckoned it winked at us !  I hope the fin shots might add to your data base or even identify it , all the best  Steve Roberts .

Good one Stevo!

Stephen Lucas	18:50 (2 hours ago)
to me

Sunday 12th August

Ian Hotchin, Dad and I saw splashes in the sea as we walked along the
marine walk. There were 2 Bottlenose Dolphins we watched them for
about 5 minutes on the otherside of the fort enjoying the evening
sunshine. The sea condition was flat calm.

Cheers

Stevo

We had some off the breakwater this afternoon around 4.30 Stevo! will put a better report in later!