Whales in Wales: Cartlett Lady survey 19/9/19....

It was incredibly frustrating having to cancel our weekend Cartlett Lady survey trip due to the weather forecast deteriorating from almost no wind to a steady blow. I spotted another possible weather window the following week for Wednesday/Thursday (yesterday) and began the somewhat tedious process of arranging the boat and advertising the dates in the hope we could get enough people to make it possible. Our surveys depend on getting enough people to share the cost of the boat! Thursday's forecast looked perfect so again I chanced my arm with setting things in motion.

On the day, having recruited our crew and gathered at the Neyland Marina Cafe, we joined ace Skipper Andy and First Mate Cassie! All seemed set fair as we motored out through the Milford Haven although a south easterly breeze was rippling the water and strangely one of the several wind turbines was rotating.

As we cleared the heads into the open sea, veteran Sea Trust volunteer Steve Rosser joined me to help with the recording sheets and we set off on a SW course towards the Celtic Deep. Sat up on the Flying Bridge it was obvious that the south easterly, had strengthened a bit pushing against the tide and creating a choppy sea state three, my heart sank a little, this was going to be harder work than I had hoped!

Another of our long-time supporters Janette Humphreys, eager eyes spotted a Porpoise in the chop, just ahead, opening the score! we motored on for about forty five minutes before my straining eyes latched onto a splash,in among the whitecap waves at least half a mile away. I was beginning to doubt myself when Andy latched on to them and soon a big maternal group of Common Dolphins came in towards the boat, each adult seeming to have a small calf at her side as they raced in towards us giving some spectacular views! We estimated the group size at 100+ all aboard were delighted, Phew! its always a bit of pressure when you have an expectant crew aboard waiting for us to deliver.

Everyone got some tremendous views and we got a really nice entry on our recording sheet. I went to the bow and got a few pic's for the record. We were missing Ken's photographic genius, who could not make this trip so it was up to me to try and get something to illustrate the trip report. I apologize for the poor quality and wonkyness!

Some seabirds feeding in the distance caught my eye and some strange splashing. Getting closer I was delighted to see a couple of hundred of feeding Manxies (Manx Shearwaters) along with a few Gannets!

The surface was being ripped by some big disturbance I rekoned Minke whale , Andy though tuna!

Hate to say told you so Andy! For the next half hour or so we were thrilled by at least two Mink Whales and the attendant shearwaters partaking of a feeding frenzy. To top it off , one of the whales came over to take a look at us, you don't get better views than that, if only my pic's had been a bit better but the boat rolling in the swell was my excuse!

A Minke just passing by!

This of course was the highlight of the day, the choppy sea not really helping as we made our way over 30 miles out into the edge of the Celtic Sea with little to add although the sunshine and the memory of our whale encounter kept our spirits high! We added around another hundred or so Common Dolphins to the tally on the way back in as well as a nice Sooty Shearwater among another large group of Manxies along with a Sabine's Gull and a probable Pom Skua to put some icing on the cake!
Huge thanks to Andy and Cassie for an enormously enjoyable outing and also to our supporters who made it possible!
Some more shots from © Steve Rosser!