A Stunning Day on the High Seas

 Yesterday I had the pleasure, in Cliff's absence, of leading the latest trip out to the deeps on the Cartlet Lady under the charge of skipper Andy Rickards. We left port in glorious sunshine with ardent Sea Trust supporters John Rees, Tony and Stevo Lucas, Racheal Mullet and several first timers all excited at the prospect of what we might see. We started the survey as we cleared the haven under St Anns Hd lighthouse and headed North to Skomer for a quick view of the thousands of puffins still around there. As we rounded the headland to the west of North Haven we had our first cetacean, a porpoise milling in the tide flow. 

Off to Grassholm next to the Gannet colony with the intention then to head SW toward the deeps. About two miles short of the island we spotted the unmistakable tall fins of Rissos Dolphins. First a group of five then another of seven with a further group of four to five off toward the NW. What a start that was. 

Off then toward the deeps and some 15 miles out we hit what I call the Dolphin Belt. Some 3-5 miles wide and stretching around the SW-W  Pembs coast we hit pod after pod. Pods varied in size from 20's up to over 100 and nearly all had large numbers of calves which bodes well for the overall population. We passed through the belt and had a quiet watch over the next few miles. We used a distant trawler as a return mark and after reaching it headed south before turning toward home. 

Next it was Bottlenose as we came accross a pod of around 20 or so of mixed adult, juvenile and calves. As we watched them playing around the shout came out for Minke Whale and as the bottlenose were starting to move off anyway we headed off in search of the Minkies. Three at first and as we tried to get some decent shots the cry came out "There's more". Indeed over the next 30 minutes or so it was ten more. I didn't know where to point my lens next as they seemed to be all around us. The excitement on the boat at this stage was infectious and we couldn't believe our luck. 

With other sightings of Blue Shark, Sunfish, feeding seals and several varieties of jellyfish, a variety of sea birds inc' storm petrel, it truly was a day to remember.

Our Big Five. (More to follow)