Breakwater Bottles 29/07/2025

 Although there were more dolphins here today, they were a lot quieter than yesterday's visitors. At one time I counted ten spread over a wide area of the bay but only four came close in to the breakwater, so I was thankful of the long lens to get some of the others. All of those I did manage to get were the same bunch that have been around for a while except for one with a large scar marking on it's left side close to it's dorsal fin. Just another day at the breakwater. It looks like they've made themselves quite at home here now, for the time being at least.

 

Playfull Bottlenose off the Breakwater 28/07/2025

 Another lovely time with the Bottlenose off the breakwater today. They arrived just before high water and stayed for a couple of hours. As usual at this state of the tide there were several small boats about plus the ferry arrival as well. Naturally I kept a close eye on the small boats around the dolphins, but I needn't have worried. One or two went straight past and carried on their way not noticing the dolphins, but two approached with extreme caution and once off the lighthouse cut engines and just enjoyed the dolphins playing around and socialising. Their reward was seeing the dolphins at close quarters seemingly oblivious of their presence. Once they were done and the dolphins had moved away from them they quietly moved off into the bay toward the slipway and moorings. Soon it was time for me to leave as well and on my way home I stopped in at the old slipway and thanked one of the boat owners for showing respect to our precious bottlenose. 

 

Although close, no interference at all. As it should be.

 

Bottles/Commons & Porps 25/07/2025

They say variety is the spice of life. If so I've had a spicy day today. It was Bottlenose this morning at the breakwater about 3/4hr after high water. First two then a further two half an hour later and these I haven't seen before, so that's more using the bay for hunting prey, and the bay gave up the goods with another very large fish providing a lot of calories for one lucky dolphin. There were several boat movements in the time I was there and I have to say all that came close behaved with the utmost respect for the feeding Bottlenose. I suppose if me being there almost daily pointing a very large lens around has an effect on boaters behaviour then that can only be a good thing. Whether it does or not I can but applaud them today.

After they moved off around half tide, I still had time to catch the tide at Strumble, so that's where I headed next. Gone was the North wind of the past few days and instead a moderate South Westerly breeze with a touch of warmth moved the air. When I got to the lookout a family from Worcester were eagerly scanning the sea for activity. I immediately engaged with them (as I do) and explained what I was doing there and what they might see. On my first scan around I spotted a single porpoise and beyond the point a small pod of Common Dolphin which they had missed. As a bonus some ten minutes later the Commons came right accross in front of us giving them the perfect view. They stayed with me for an hour or so and I was very happy to pass on my knowledge of all things Strumble and cetacean related. To them I say "Thank you for your company and I hope it made your day that bit more interesting".

Just when I thought that would be it, a small family group of Porpoise appeared in the tide race in front of me. One adult and a mother and calf. The mother is a marked returning animal which I've seen several times before, so that's another tick for the ID catalogue + we now know this one is female. 

Well I enjoyed my day. I hope you all have too.

 

Not a sharp image sadly but I wanted to show you the size of the fish it was about to devour.

 

 

                                   The three images below are the calf. Smaller than it looks here.                                 

                        Thank you to these boaters who behaved so well around the dolphins.