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.

Strumble Diary 22/23rd April 2026

Chilly Easterlies and big tides. Yesterday, Around 30 gannets foraging over a similar number of Common Dolphins, Porpoises also recorded. Today 25 Whimbrel flew by The Sea Trust Photo ID volunteer team who also recorded Common Dolphins and Porpoises.

Sunday 19th April!

Strumble 11am-1pm, sunny, cold NNE breeze Peregrine fly by as i approached Strumble, Whimbrel heard as i got out of the car. Circa 30-40 Common Dolphin passed left to right with at least two very small calves. Later, Ken arrived, Porpoises showed well in strong dropping tide. A steady fly-by of Hirundines House / Sand Martins and Swallows. Several big groups 15-20 of Gannetts heading west perhaps displaced by previous strong southerlies. Star of the day was a male Adder, warming itself on the path up to the car park !

Strumble Diary 19/04/2026

 When I arrived Cliff was already there with eyes firmly focused on the building tide race. I'd just missed some dolphins but the porpoise were starting to show. With a big tide running I knew the window of action could be short so it was time to concentrate and get as many shots as I could before they moved West with the tide to beyond the lighthouse. Shortly after, Fran arrived and with three sets of eyes on the water we had a good number of sightings. Some close in, some distant, but steady. True to form and as expected the action lasted an hour or so before easing as the tide pushed them West. I gave it another half hour or so in case any stragglers came through (which they didn't)  then made my way home.

One marked Porpoise, which could have been the same one I saw at Pen Anglas yesterday but a bit too distant to be totally sure. 

 

Pen Anglas & Crincoed 18/04/2026

A slightly chilly NW wind greeted me there today as well as two porpoise busy foraging off Crincoed point. I set up and managed to get one of them before they moved off. As the tide dropped away there were short sightings of another six or so Porpoise over a two hour period. I had no sightings of dolphins there today but the highlight was a marked Porpoise which we've seen a few times before but I'm not sure what it's name is. Emily will no doubt let me know when the monthly images are assessed. I had a nice Cormorant pass in full breeding plumage as well as a few nice bird shots on my walk back. Added just for interest at the bottom of the page.

 

Strumble Diary 16/04/2026

 An overcast morning on the dropping tide with the wind moderate from the SW. A good amount of swell pushing against the tide made for quite lumpy conditions out in the tide race. I saw five Porpoise in total all distant and within the first twenty minutes or so of my survey. I think they were keeping well out due to the numbers of Common Dolphin that were feeding closer in. I surveyed from 10.15 until 12.30pm and for all that time there were Commons visible over the area from the Lighthouse to Pen Caer point. Mostly well scattered but at one time a very tight pod passed East to West consisting of twenty or so animals. I would guess at between 120-140 commons in total for the session. The action was still going on as I left but not so many animals at that point.