Big Blow at Strumble 15/11/2025

 Today we had an extra survey at Strumble where we were joined by a travel author who is researching for a publication he is doing on the National Parks of the UK. Volunteers Steve, Andy, Fran, Zoe and myself with Sea Trust Wales general manager Nadia attended, with the author interviewing myself and Nadia on different aspects of the porpoise ID project and the wider work of Sea Trust. The highlight was seeing a blow from a Fin Whale roughly 2 miles out to the NW. It was a very brief sighting with two blows with body sighting before it disappeared below the surface never to be seen again ( by us anyway). Good numbers of Commons once again which seems to be a trend these days. A few porpoise showed up briefly but I didn't see them myself.

 

Strumble Diary 13/11/2025

 What with the weather and various commitments it's been two weeks since I was out at Strumble and with the break in the weather today I was delighted to get back out there. I joined the Thursday survey team of Fran, Andy, Dawn, Ben, Maddie, with interns Rose and Ruth. So lots of eyes on the water as the tide was rising. All was quiet at first then Andy spotted some action off to the NW but was unsure of what was causing the splashes. As they came closer it was easier to see that they were Common Dolphins. That set the tone for the session with Commons showing all over the survey area and by the time the survey finished we estimated 150+ animals in total. In the last 15mins of the survey porpoise were spotted off to the NE and the count for these was 5-7 but I didn't get any pics of them. Thankfully Ben did, so well done Ben.

 

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.