Strumble Diary 29/04/2026

 Well Strumble may have looked summery this morning but it felt more like winter with a strong NE'ly wind giving no shelter inside or outside the lookout. Despite the wind running with the tide, the swells were still substantial making for messy seas. When I arrived there were many Ganets wheeling over small groups of Commons out beyond the tide race. The feeding lasted all through my session but eventually pushed back West with the tide. I saw seven Porpoise dispersed through the session but all but two were "One breath and gone" sightings. 

 

A Cold Pen Anglas 27/04/2026

 Any signs of summer coming were firmly dispelled this morning, and as it turned out the weather was completely the opposite to what was forecast, but that's Pembrokeshire for you. The promised sunny morning was instead a mixture of fog and low cloud which did open out for a short period but left me hunched up with hands firmly in pockets waiting for any cetaceans that may come along. First to arrive was a single porpoise slowly working it's way against the tide allowing for some decent images. A shallow notch on the dorsal fin make it identifiable but perhaps not at distance. However, it's another for the catalogue if not in already. This one stuck around for a good 40 mins or so and it was a half hour or so later that a second porpoise showed briefly and just passed through going West with the tide. After that a couple of single Commons foraging before a few more arrived but only stayed a short while before moving on. At this point the sea mist started rolling in again and now feeling even colder I decided to make my way home for a warm up and a hot cuppa.

 

At one point I got buzzed by these three Malard six foot overhead before they turned and gave me these shots. 

 

Strumble Diary 26/04/2026

 A really early start today and I was sat at the lookout before 7am.  The tide race was just forming off the point with the sea being calm except for the disturbance caused by the tide. Sadly the light was quite flat under the cloudy sky but at least there was enough light to get some images. As the time went on there were Commons all over the view in front of me. Some close, most distant, with Porpoise spread in amongst them. I'd say the ratio was 10-1 in favour of the Commons but they were so well spread it didn't seem to bother the porps.

 

A flypast by a pair of Whimbrel

They're Back!!! ( Bottlenose) 25/04/2026

 Is it late spring? Not for me. When the Bottlenose come back to the bay for me it's the start of my summer. It brightens up even the brighter days like today. The first sighting of the year is always a special day and I've been wondering lately when they would arrive. A shout out on the WhatsApp group by Holly sent me scurrying to the breakwater but sadly by the time I got there (within ten minutes) they were already on their way north at quite some distance away. So although I did manage some shots they are more proof of them being there than anything else, but let's hope this is only the start and we get another bumper summer with them as we did last year.

 

Pen Anglas 24/04/2026

 I decided to try Pen Anglas again today on the rising tide. Given the NE'ly wind and a small tide I wasn't confident of seeing much. As it happened I was right. Not a single Porpoise sighted but there were a small pod of Commons that passed, stopping to feed briefly much to the delight of the accompanying Gannets. They were quite distant but what was pleasing was getting a line up shot as they used the waves to their advantage like joyful surfers catching a wave.

 

Just a rather nice Gannet.