Given the overnight weather and the rough forecast I didn't think I'd get to Strumble today but as it turned out it was surprisingly clear.
Before I get into the blog propper I want to highlight an image taken by one of our interns, Emily. We owe so much to our interns for the effort they put in and value they add to Sea Trust every day. Part of what I do is training them and our volunteers to use our camera equipment. So I was delighted today when Emily excitedly showed me a capture of a breaching Porpoise. This is one of the hardest shots to capture and I have to say I am really impressed with how she has taken to using the cameras considering having had no or little experience before joining us. Well done Emily!
On arrival, the wind was strong and from a Southerly direction with the survey area being sheltered by Garn Fawr from the offshore winds. Some thirty or so Gannets were wheeling and diving about two miles out, just too far in the conditions to see what was below them but I suspected Commons. Just before 11am a pod of twenty or so Commons passed by going East toward Newport Bay, with a break then before a few porpoise showed up. They were quite distant but at least they were there. Anna arrived with four of our interns and we were soon seeing good numbers of porps coming to feed in front of us. At one point we had two seperate groups around 200mtrs apart. The largest group of some seven or so animals started group feeding, which is where they organise into a coordinated entity with each animal acting to the benefit of all rather than individually dashing here and there after fish.
With so many porpoise around I was hopeful of catching a marked animal and happily that was the case. Just the one, but one I feel we've had before. They stayed around for well over an hour keeping our shutter fingers busy which always helps to put the chill of the wind out of mind for a short while. Session ended, for me anyway, at 12.30pm and I think for the others shortly afterwards
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: only a member of this blog may post a comment.