Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch

5 days ago

Hi all, we would like to share with you some incredible footage of a newborn dolphin in Gansey bay 16th September 2019 (see link in comments as I can't upload it to FB)
A family of at least 3 adult Bottlenose dolphins plus one calf has been spotted 26 times since Mid-September, predominantly in Peel bay, but the first report of this group was back on 16th September in Gansey bay. This sighting was actually documented via video, where, at 1:08 you can see an extremely tiny animal jumping out just behind its mother. At first view you may think it is a fish as it is so tiny, but what we are actually watching is a newborn Bottlenose dolphin. The erratic behaviour by all members of the pod as well as their extraordinary close proximity to shore suggests this calf could have been born a matter of minutes before the video was taken.
The footage was captured by Phoebe Amy Robertson who was 18 at the time.

The photos were taken by Brian Liggins off Peel Castle on 21st October and 1st November. By then, the calf was a little over a month old and has visible lines on its body, known as foetal folds. These folds of skin occur when the dolphin is curled up in the womb, and they typically disappear after three months.
Although we can't positively identify the adults with those in the video, the pod size and age estimation of the calf suggests that it is indeed the same dolphins.
This is the first time a newborn Bottlenose dolphin has been documented in Manx waters and it's great to be able to follow its progress. If anyone has any recent photos or video please get in touch.

A separate large pod of Bottlenose dolphins totalling 30 individuals (including juveniles) have been spotted 19 times since the start of September, almost exclusively on the East coast. The most recent sighting was today, 3rd December off Port Mooar ... See MoreSee Less

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