Strumble Diary 09/03/2026

 The morning started off a bit dreary but thankfully it brightened up early afternoon as I went out for my survey. On the road to Strumble I met Fran and Chris who had been doing the Monday volunteer survey 11am-1pm. There's was a quiet session really over the top of the tide mostly with just a few Porpoise seen and no Commons. By the time I set up it was getting on for 1.30pm just as the tide race was forming on the ebb tide. There were two or three porps off the point to start with and over the next hour and a half I sighted twelve or so animals in the tide race and off the point. I ended my session at 14.45 having not seen any action for the previous twenty minutes or so with the Porpoise having dropped back beyond the lighthouse.

 

Strumble Diary 07/03/2026

 Another excellent session today. The weather was bright this morning but clouded over toward lunchtime, but not so much as to affect the light. The wind was SE'ly 3-4 off the land so quite calm close in. I had a good mix of Commons and porps with the porps in first followed by about twenty or so Commons really dashing through at speed and passing within two minutes. A small break then before several more Porpoise came up the tide race. The Porpoise with the pointed tip on it's fin seems to have taken a shine to Strumble as it was there again today. That's three for three on sightings of it for me recently. An Oyster Catcher and a very colourfull Shag provided welcome distractions between cetacean sightings.

 

Strumble Diary 05/03/2026

 What a difference in two days. Bright and warm yesterday and today the dullest, greyest day I've had at strumble for a long while. The light was very flat and made focusing on the contrastless water very difficult indeed. I did manage to get some shots though, although some of the Porpoise were being very stealthy. With the strong flow the action soon moved downtide beyond the lighthouse so my session was shorter than usual. No Commons today sadly but that's the way it goes. We can't complain though as this winter has been the best for Commons in my experience. Bonus for me was the capture on camera of a few marked porps which I'm sure will please all back at the Ocean Lab.