|
14-Jan-2012
After three months of waiting, we finally had a chance to get out amongst the huge group of Bottlenose Dolphins that has been in Manx waters since October. With virtually no wind, perfect light and high tide being right in the middle of the day, all the ingredients for a good boat trip were there, we just needed to come across some marine mammals. Luckily, we put a posting on Facebook on Thursday night to ask people to call us if they saw dolphins anywhere and call us they did. We received four phone calls telling us there were dolphins off Onchan Head and so, that is where we motored. When we came across the Bottlenose Dolphins, there were perhaps fifteen individuals, just milling around. As soon as they heard us, they sprung into life and immediately approached the boat. Before long, the group had grown in numbers to around 40 individuals, surrounding the boat and playing in the bow wave of the boat. Yet another group joined us, to take the numbers up to around 60 individuals. We were only moving at 2 or 3 knots but the dolphins seemed quite happy at this speed. There were at least 3 very young calves, probably less than 2 months old and also a number of juveniles. Eventually, some individuals started to behave more actively, with some spectacular leaping being performed (see photo below). After 30 minutes, which is the maximum time our licence allows us to spend with a group, we left the dolphins just by Douglas lighthouse, after an absolutely stunning encounter with these beautiful animals. From the photos taken, we will be able to recognise some individuals, which may turn out to be some of the same animals which reside in Cardigan Bay in the summer. Hopefully, this group of dolphins will remain in Manx waters for another couple of months. Happy spotting!!
Top
23-Dec-2011
Hi everyone, the huge group of Bottlenose dolphins that has been seen in the north east of the island for the last two months or so, are still here. Thanks to Sean Gray, who saw part of the group (around 15 individuals including some younsters) at Port-e-Vullen last week. This massive group of dolphins tends to be split into three pods, one containing between 10 and 20 individuals that tends to be close inshore (that Sean reported), another group of around 50 individuals slightly further offshore and the largest group of perhaps 70 to 100 individuals that tends to be around a mile and half offshore. If you do see the inshore group, get out the bionoculars and see if you can find the other two larger groups, it is an absolutely amazing sight, particularly if the dolphins are in an energetic mood. If possible, please call Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch on 330185 if you see them, thanks in advance. I hope you all have a good festive season and happy spotting!
PS Thanks to Danny Kermeen for this amazing shot of bow-riding bottlenose dolphins off Ramsey
Top
13-Dec-2011
Hi everyone, wow, what a spell of weather we are having at the moment. I think for the last three weeks, at least, we have not had a single day which has not had at least 30mph of wind. Today happens to be even windier than that, with potential wind speeds of up to 60mph, perhaps gusting up to more like 75mph, exciting stuff. Unfortunately, this makes spotting marine mammals nigh on impossible, which is a shame, as the huge group of bottlenose dolphins that has been seen from the north east of the island, is still around. Although I have yet to confirm the exact details, they were certainly seen over the weekend, between Laxey and Maughold and apparently were really close inshore, less than 100 metres from land by all accounts. Hopefully, there will be a calm spell in the near future to allow a few more people to see this phenomenal group of dolphins, it is truly a spectacular sight. Happy spotting!
Top
05-Dec-2011
Since it is nearly Christmas time, I just wanted to remind everyone about our "Adopt a Risso's" scheme that we launched with the Manx Wildlife Trust this year, as we think it makes a really nice, but different Christmas present. Within the adoption pack, you get an adoption certificate, information about Risso's dolphins in general, information about Risso's dolphins in Manx waters, some photos of the individual dolphin you have adopted and some information about the character of the dolphin you have adopted, as well as the world's only cuddly Risso's dolphin. You will also receive updates twice yearly about your dolphin, how many times he/she has been seen, where they were seen, who they were seen with, what they were doing etc. All proceeds from the scheme go towards the conservation of Risso's dolphins by Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch and Manx Wildlife Trust. You can adopt a Risso's through the Manx Wildlife Trust website (manxwt.org.uk) We think it is an amazing scheme and the only one of it's kind in the British Isles and in Europe as a whole. We are incredibly lucky to have this amazing species frequent our waters and we need to try and do as much as possible to try and raise their profile and to protect them. Adopt a Risso's is one of the best ways to help achieve this. Thanks in advance for your support. Happy spotting!
Top
12-Nov-2011
Hi everyone, since the beginning of November, we have received several sightings of a huge group of Bottlenose Dolphins on the east coast of the island, between Marine Drive and Ramsey. I was lucky enough to see the group myself on the 6th of Septmber at Marine Drive and it was enormous, probably numbering at least 120 individuals, possibly as many as 150 or more. As it typical for the species, there was a tremendous amount of high energy activity, leaping, breaching (leaping but landing on their back), porpoising, fast swimming and tail slapping. I managed to follow the group from land all the way up to Laxey over the space of two hours, where their northwards movements seemed to stop, probably due to a feeding opportunity. The majority of sightings of this group have come from around Ramsey and Maughold, an area where there are very few sightings generally, so what is driving this attraction towards the area? The most likely explanation is herring, as these are found off the north east coast at this time of year before they go off to spawn. There are also likely to be salmonids (salmon and sea trout) running up some of the glens at this time of year. Either way, it makes for an amazing spectacle, there are very few things more exciting than watching a group of at least a hundred dolphins, just on your doorstep. The beautiful photo below was taken by Roy Maddrell off the sailing for disabled vessel Pride of Mann 2. Happy spotting!
Top
08-Nov-2011
On Saturday morning, I received an e-mail from Nick Cowell, describing a sighting of an unknown species off Clay Head, Laxey. There were three individuals and the animal was dark in colour. The most unusual aspect of the sighting however was some of the behaviour being exhibited by the species, in particular a behaviour called spy-hopping. This is when an individual faces vertically upwards in the water column, sticks their head out of the sea and has a look around. This is a behaviour that tends to only be performed by one of three species: Risso's dolphins, Orca (Killer Whales) and Pilot Whales. However, none of these species fitted this description of the species, particularly when I found out the species was smaller than a dolphin. Eventually, Nick and I decided that he had seen Harbour Porpoise spy-hopping. I have read much literature about whales, dolphins and porpoises and yet have never read anything suggesting that Harbour Porpoise ever spy-hop. In fact, I have never seen this behaviour being exhibited by porpoise and believe you me, I have seen a lot of Harbour Porpoise. So congratulations Nick on a truly bizarre sighting, for everyone else, here is what a spy-hopping Harbour Porpoise looks like (photo used courtesy of the Sea Watch Foundation)
Top
06-Oct-2011
Hi everyone, just an update on recent cetacean activity in our waters. As the title suggests, we have had our first sightings of winter Bottlenose Dolphins to the website, thanks to Ramsey RNLI, who rang the sighting in. Typically for Bottlenose Dolphin sightings in Manx waters at this time of year, the group seen in Ramsey Bay was huge, numbering probably at least 100 individuals. The RNLI crew described there being dolphins as far as the eye could see and having seen a group of this size a couple of years ago off Douglas, I fully understand what they meant. Bottlenose Dolphins are a Manx winter speciality and will be seen off and on between now and next March. The dolphins we see have been proven to contain at least some individuals that spend the summer in Cardigan Bay in Wales. They are recognisable from Risso's, due to having a beak (nose), whereas Risso's dolphins have a square head with no beak and from Common Dolphins by colouration; Bottlenose are light grey all over, whereas Common Dolphins have a yellow and light brown hourglass pattern on their flanks. The group sizes can be massive, often numbering over 50 individuals. Their most distinguishing feature however is that they frequent Manx waters during the winter, whereas both Risso's and Common's are summertime visitors. If you are lucky enough to see these acrobatic wonders, please remember to report the sighting and if you can get any photos, they would be highly appreciated. Thanks to Eleanor Stone who took the beautiful image below. Happy spotting.....
Top
06-Oct-2011
The
Manx Wildlife Trust is bringing you a new opportunity to help conserve our
island’s wildlife, with its ‘Adopt a Risso’s dolphin’ scheme. Risso’s dolphins
are beautiful, majestic and intelligent animals and we are lucky to find them
right here in Manx waters. Together
with the Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch, we have picked three of our Risso’s
dolphins that are seen most often for you to ‘adopt’. By sponsoring one of our
Risso’s dolphins for just £30 a year, you will help ensure that they can
continue to enjoy living in Manx waters. Your money will go towards helping the
Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch learn more about Risso’s dolphins and help the
Manx Wildlife Trust with our marine conservation work.
Not
only will you be supporting this vital work, but you’ll also be sent a great
adoption pack, including information about your chosen dolphin and a
certificate. To make your pack really unique, you also get a cuddly Risso’s
dolphin, which the Manx Wildlife Trust have had specially made for this scheme.
To find out more or to adopt a dolphin, go to the Manx
Wildlife Trust website – www.manxwt.org.uk
or pop into the Wildlife Shop in Peel.
Top
04-Aug-2011
The day was Wednesday the 27th of July and the weather had given the Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch boat survey team an opportunity to do an all day survey in our waters. Our chosen destination was south west of the Calf of Man, an area containing some of the deepest seas in Manx waters. The journey to our start point was an hour long, even at twenty five knots, but it looked like it was going to be a good trip as we saw 5 groups of Harbour Porpoise on the way to our start point. And what a trip it was! Overall, we saw 44 sightings of four cetacean species during the nine hour trip. The most frequently seen species was Harbour Porpoise, of which we saw 99 individuals contained within 35 groups (including one group of at least 15 individuals). We also saw a group of Common Dolphins, containing around 30 individuals, a group of Risso's Dolphins, containing at least 12 individuals, as well as 7 different Minke whales. We managed to get some nice photos of the animals, including this one of Common Dolphins, taken by Becca Crow, one of the dolphineers. As I mentioned in an earlier news item, it appears that Manx waters have come alive and hopefully we will get some calm weather during August so we can all see some of these beautiful animals first hand. Happy spotting!
Top
04-Aug-2011
Niarbyl Marine BioBlitz
When: Sunday 21st August, 10.00am – 5.00pm, weather permitting Where: Niarbyl beach Whether it lives in the rockpools, swims under the waves or flies above them, we will be logging all the plants and animals we find that rely on the sea. The Manx Wildlife Trust, along with volunteers and experts, will be running watches for whales, dolphins, porpoises, basking sharks and seabirds in front of the café at the ‘base camp’. Down on the shoreline, join in our ‘Seashore Safari’ where we will be looking for all sorts of rockpool creatures, including some ‘Alien Invaders’. In the afternoon, Seasearch divers will be out searching for animals that live in the deeper water. For more information contact Eleanor at eleanor@manxwt.org.uk.
Top
16-Jul-2011
Having written a news item a fortnight ago, posing the question "where are the Risso's?", thankfully these beautiful dolphins appeared to have turned up in our waters. We have had a number of sightings in the last week or two, particularly in the south of the island, between Port St Mary and south of the Calf. Group sizes have varied between 5 to 6 individuals, up to more like twelve individuals. Once again, I urge everyone that if you see a group of Risso's, particularly from land, then please call Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch ie. me and let me know where you are. Thanks in advance. There has also been a couple of sightings of Common Dolphin, again in the south of the island between Port St Mary and south of the Calf. Unfortunately, these amazingly fast dolphins are becoming increasingly rare in the Irish Sea, so it is a real treat to see them in Manx waters. These guys are recognisable, even from a distance, by their incredibly fast swimming speed and therefore the amount of white water they create. It has also become apparent that Minke whales have arrived in Manx waters and possibly in quite some numbers, predominantly on the west coast at this time of year, coinciding with the herring and mackerel stocks in Manx waters. On top of all of this amazing cetacean activity, there have also been a continuous stream of Harbour Porpoise sightings, from all around the island, many of which have contained calves. Some of the group sizes have been impressive, including a couple of sightings of groups numbering 15 plus individuals. Having said all that, unfortunately the weather appears to have taken a turn for the worse this next week, but hopefully that won't put off the wonderful cetaceans that are being seen at the moment. Happy spotting!!!
Top
30-Jun-2011
Hi everyone, just an advertisement really. For anyone who has not seen, it is Marine Weekend this weekend, held around Paddy's market in Port St Mary and I would strongly recommend that everyone comes down for it. There are all sorts of events and demonstrations and talks, including many many touch tanks, containing some of the amazing and colourful marine life that is found in the island's rock-pools and just beyond. There will also be several talks about some of the amazing animals living in Manx waters, including of course basking sharks. The festival also gives people the opportunity to taste some of the wonderful seafood that the island has to offer. It is a really great festival and I hope to see some/all of you there.
Top
30-Jun-2011
As the beginning of July approaches, we are still awaiting the arrival of my favourite Manx cetacean species, Risso's dolphins. In a normal year, we would expect to start having sightings of these amazing dolphins from the middle of March, with a glut of sightings (perhaps 30 sightings a month) between April and July. We would also expect a pattern in terms of distribution, with most sightings in April and May being around Douglas, whereas most sightings in June and July being further south, between Langness and the Calf. Last year, the pattern changed, with very few sightings (less than 10) in April and May and with virtually all sightings being around the Calf. This pattern seems to have been repeated this year, but with far less sightings (less than 5 so far). Hopefully, we will find out where they are, assuming they are here at all, in the next couple of days, as we have a spell of nice calm weather. If anyone spots any of these beautiful animals, please do not hesitate to phone me on 330185. Thanks in advance and happy spotting
Top
18-Apr-2011
Sunday the 17th of April turned out to be a day of multiple sightings of Harbour Porpoise, predominantly in the south of the island. The best of these from my point of view was a sighting of just a single individual just to the south of the little Sound. The individual was first seen only 100 metres in front of me, the closest I have ever seen a porpoise at the Sound. The individual was clearly feeding and was seen doing some very active behaviour, at times moving through the water at such speed that the majority of the body was out of the water, quite unusual for Harbour Porpoise. It was also creating white water when moving, again an indication of the speed that the animal was moving. This animal was the remains of a larger group of 8 to 10 individuals, who were reported to also be behaving very actively for Harbour Porpoise. There were numerous other sightings at Port St Mary, south of the Sound and at Niarbyl. It looks like it will be very calm on Tuesday and Wednesday, perfect conditions for spotting Harbour Porpoise. Happy spotting!!
Top
13-Apr-2011
Sunday 12th June : Beauty and the Beasties - A Festival of Nature
12 - 4pm at Mullen-e-Cloie nurseries, St John's, entrance free An afternoon of wildlife activities with practical projects, displays and lots of hands-on things for children to do.
Sunday 12th - Sunday 19th of June : Close Sartfield Orchid Walks
2.30pm daily, free but donations accepted (sorry no dogs, not suitable for young children) Take in the magnificent view of over 100,000 orchids, their range of light to deep pink blooms mixing with the fine grasses and buttercups in the main meadows just north of Ballaugh.
Sunday 19th June : Annual Gardeners Fair
From 11am at Ballacottier, Andreas Bedding plants, herbs, vegetables and shrubs at bargain prices. Morning coffee and afternoon tea.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 1st, 2nd and 3rd July : Marine Weekend
Friday - Rockpooling at the Sure Beach Party, Port Erin.Weather permitting, 6pm, Cost Free Saturday and Sunday - Enjoy the famous MWT touch-tanks, Port St Mary harbour, 11am to 6pm, Cost £2 for adults, children free
Summer holiday fun : Rockpooling
Thursday 28th July - Scarlett Visitor Centre, 4pm Thursday 4th August - Port Lewaigue, near Ramsey, 9.15am Friday 12th August - Port Erin, 5pm Sunday 21st August - Scarlett Visitor Centre, 10am
Please wear suitable clothing and footware. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Cost Free, suggested donation £1 per adult/child
Wednesday 3rd August : Art on the Ayres
10am to 12pm, Ayres Visitor Centre, booking essential, Cost £2 per child A morning of art with a wildlife theme
Wednesday 10th August : Lizard and Lichens Walk
10am Ayres Visitor Centre, Cost Free, donations welcome Come and look for lizards, lichens and other wildlife
Wednesday 17th August : Dipping Delights
10am Ballanette Nature Reserve, Lonan Old Church Road, Baldrine, Cost Free, donations welcome Discover the delights of the ponds
Top
05-Apr-2011
Hi everyone, as we would expect, in a normal year at least, it is the spring and we have had the first couple of sightings of Risso's dolphins reported to the website. The first sighting was reported by Steve Wright, (congratulations Steve, 2 years in a row you're reported the 1st Risso's!), on the 24th of March, during that beautiful spell of weather we had here that week, at Marine Drive, a normal haunt for Risso's dolphins in the spring months. A second sighting was reported on the 26th of March, by Martin Lampden, this time a few miles off Port St Mary. If you would like to try and see these amazing dolphins, the east coast is where they tend to be seen, keep an eye on the website to see if there are any particular areas that the dolphins are being seen on a regular basis. I again urge that if anyone is lucky enough to see a group of dolphins, to please call me, Tom, as soon as you can (immediately if possible) and let me know where you are and which direction the animals are moving. I ask this because I am in the process of acquiring a piece of kit, called a digiscope, which will allow me to take good photos of dolphins, from land, up to distances of perhaps 750 metres. Most individual dolphins are recognisable from one another, due to different types and sizes of scratches and marks on their fins, so taking photos of their fins allows us to understand more about an individual dolphin's habits, where they are usually seen, which other individuals they tend to be seen with and much more. My number is 330185, so please call me as soon as you can if you see a group of dolphins. Thank-you in advance and happy spotting.
Top
15-Mar-2011
Hi everyone, just to let you all know, I will be away until the March 31st as I have a marine mammal conference to go to in Cadiz, southern Spain. Please continue to report sightings to the website and if I need to verify any of the information, I will do it when I come back. Although I do have an answering machine on my phone, I will not be able to return any calls until I am back on the island. If you see anything particularly interesting, please call Eleanor Stone, Marine Officer for Manx Wildlife Trust on 801895. We are getting near to the start of Risso's dolphin season, so do keep an eye out for these amazing dolphins on the east coast. Again, if you see any Risso's, please report them as soon as possible to Eleanor. Thanks and I will write again once I am back from what is hopefully going to be sunny Spain.
Top
01-Mar-2011
After a frankly awful month of weather in February, this week sees the first signs of spring on the island. It is going to be a particularly beautiful spell of weather this week, with lots of sunshine and virtually no wind. The best days for spotting marine mammals will be Thursday, when the wind speed will be less than five knots all day and Friday, when the wind speed will be around 5 knots all day. This in turn will lead to mirror calm seas, the perfect conditions for spotting cetaceans. Although there are less cetaceans in Manx waters during the winter months, there is still a chance of spotting huge groups of Bottlenose Dolphins and also Harbour Porpoise, almost certainly resident to Manx waters. So get your binoculars and see if you can spot anything. I ask again, if anyone sees any big groups of Bottlenose Dolphins or Risso's dolphins (group size irrelavant), please call me asap on 330185, so I can come and take photographs of them, from which I may be able to identify individual animals. Happy spotting and keep an eye on the website for any recent sightings.
Top
|