Strumble Diary 29/10/2025

 Well here we are at the end of another month. The year seems to be flying by and the days are getting shorter now as Autumn casts her blanket over our little corner of the globe. What with the weather and other commitments I haven't been out as many times as I would have liked this month but that's the way it is this time of year. 

Today was an early start to make the most of the light and to catch the latter part of the rising tide, so I was on station by 08.30. As expected on the small tide things were quiet and it was 09.05 before I saw my first fin. A lone porpoise moving up the now formed but weak tide race. Another hour passed  before the next sighting of very distant Commons moving East to West. Volunteer Steve Hyam joined me shortly after 10am and we continued to watch over the sea untill the Wednesday survey team joined us at 11am, only seeing a couple more Commons being very stealthy in that hour period. 

It was a quiet survey porpoise wise and including the porpoise I saw earlier the count was just four animals. We did get another few groups of Commons though which pleased everyone and kept our spirits up on an otherwise rather cold survey.

A surprise sighting right at the end though was of a rare Lisbon Angler Fish, ( Anglosae Goncalos). A striking blue fish with large eyes, a huge mouth and a well illuminated lure. (see final image)

 

Strumble Diary 15/10/2025

 Following on from Carrie's tuna exploits yesterday I was hopeful of some action of my own today. I arrived at 10.30am as did volunteer Steve and we set up our gear and sat in hope. There was a lot of haze over the water but we could see out about a mile or so. I spotted a tuna breach just off the lighthouse so then knew the area to concentrate on. I missed another couple of splashes and then saw a breach to the right of where I was looking. I swung the camera around and as I did so it breached again in the oppoisete direction. I rattled of a volley of shots but with my camera and the tuna's movement in opposite directions it resulted in a slightly blurred shot. So I'll have to try again to get the quality of shot I want.

 

What do they eat? You may well ask. It's Garfish. Now when you're a Garfish and your day is ruined by the presence of a 700lb Blue Fin Tuna you may well look for an escape route. Realistically there isnt one but somewhere above the surface seems like a good option. So with great zest they launch themselves into the air in a vain hope of escape.

In the gaps between tuna sightings there were good numbers of Commons moving around and we had a group of 9-10 porpoise moving NE with the tide and I think it may have been the same group moving SW against the tide later in the session.

 

                                           A passing Chough pair were the best of the bird life.

 

Carrie Catches a Big One.

 For the past month I've been waiting for the arrival of the Tuna at Strumble. Believe it or not the water off our coast is at it's warmest in October. A few days ago the first sightings were reported so the challenge is on to get some images of these magnificent visitors to our waters. First to meet the challenge and to beat me I might add was Sea Trust volunteer Carrie who heads the Tuesday surveys. Given that Carrie is newly into photography and that capturing Tuna breaching is very difficult I think she has done remarkably well with this capture. I believe she entered a trans like state 😁, ignoring all around her and the finger cramps to dedicate herself to the task. Well done Carrie. I'm not jealous 😡.

 

Strumble Diary 13/10/2025

 Another day shrouded in cloud but at least the winds were light and the seas calm. Word from the survey team was there were Tuna showing at Strumble. Ever hopeful then, I set out mid afternoon for the dropping tide. With the daylight shortening now I didn't know how long I'd have to be able to take photos.

I got a sight of three porpoise quite far out moving East and managed a few shots before they went out of range. When I got home I saw one was a marked animal so that was a bonus. Slightly later a group of Commons came down from the North into the distant early turbulence of the outer tide race. They circled there for a few minutes before heading SW past the lighthouse. They were very active and spent as much time above the water as in it. Lovely to see so many breaches. I did see Tuna, one surface turn over with large splash and another which was a full breach, but sadly too sporadic to capture in camera. Around 3.30pm the light faded away under the heavy cloud cover so I called it a day and left for home.

Cartlet Lady trip 11/10/2025

 Yesterday Saturday 11th October, we set sail from Neyland Marina moving down the Haven for a day on the high seas counting dolphin and hoping for much bigger things. 

 The wind was light and the seas calm although the forecast was for the wind to increase later in the day. The sky was overcast but that didn't dampen the spirits on board at all. We cleared the heads around 10am and headed to the SW. We were only three or so miles out when we encountered our first group of Commons which happily came into the boat to the delight of those that wanted a close up view from the bow. 

 

                       

 

 

                          Intern Ruth in particular was really enjoying watching them bow riding 

 As we made our way further out toward the Celtic Deep we encountered many more small groups of Commons and in contrast to the rather quiet groups of the previous outings, these were realatively active both around the boat and further out.

 

Of course there were some that were not bothered by the boat at all and showed no interest in any interaction.

                        While some were just happy to play in the wake then carry on their way.

 

As expected the numbers of bird sightings were down as the Autumn migration is now well underway. Just mostly Auks and small numbers of Gannets but a lovely close pass from a Fulmar brightened my day and thanks to Andy Wise for spotting and putting me onto it.

 

And finally. A happy accident at the wrong shutter speed produced an image full of movement and vitality which I love and hope you do too.

 That just leaves me to thank our skipper Andy and crew Rob for yet another amazing trip out to the deeps and a safe return, and also our supporters who join us and help finance the work we do in dolphin research off the Pembrokeshire coast.We couldn't do it without you. Diolch!