Whales

humper · 03 August 2005, 11:40

I have been told that there have been Whales and Basking sharks seen from Cardigan Bay upto the North Wales coast.The coastguard apparantly put out a maritime info braodcast to look out for them recently.Has anyone else heard anything about this or seen them?
We have noticed more Porpoise and Dolphin around Anglesey recently.Does anyone know why this is?

hannah · 03 August 2005, 16:13

wheres anglesy ? i really want to see a dolphin !!!

Tight Fart · 03 August 2005, 16:40

North west Wales.

hannah · 04 August 2005, 08:24

what a shame , anyone seen any dolphins around IOW or portsmoth,Southampton that sort of area

Nauti Buoy · 04 August 2005, 08:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannah

what a shame , anyone seen any dolphins around IOW or portsmoth,Southampton that sort of area

No but we saw the weekend before last a seal in Chichester Marina, as we were coming through the lock at free flow it ducked down and swam right under my Rib. We stopped once we got through and it apparently was eating the fish that were swimming throught the current. Quite a sight, wish we had the camera as we were no more than 20ft if that away from it for about 1/2 an hour.

Nemo · 04 August 2005, 09:51

There was or possibly still is a dolphin/porpois down off Selsea bill which likes chasing boats by the street bouy.

May be still worth a look

Graham

humper · 04 August 2005, 11:23

It sounds like you don`t have much wildlife down there! Around Anglesey we get lots of Seals there is several colonies and they often come close to the boats when you are stationary.On Sunday we had a number of porpoise in close proximity to the boats,they are shy creatures and you don`t normally get to see more than one or two at a time and they always swim away from you.The Dolphins are different they come upto the boats and generally entertain.I have not seen any yet this season but some of our friends have spent over an hour with them recently and have even been followed back.Last August we came across a large pod off the llyn peninsula it was fantastic to watch their antics,they don`t seem to be in the least bit afraid or concerned about your presence.

Andy Gee · 04 August 2005, 14:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannah

what a shame , anyone seen any dolphins around IOW or portsmoth,Southampton that sort of area

We sat and watched a pod of aboud 30 or so last week at Crinnan on the Sound of Jura

jumping out the water a generally being mental, never saw any Basking sharks though

Andy

DGR · 05 August 2005, 16:08

I've seen quite a few dolphins in the last couple of months in Cardigan Bay - but no whales, and no basking sharks. The local fishermen and lobstermen (or whatever they are collectively called!!) say that there are fewer Dolphins around this year, and they think it's because of the reduced number of mackeral - which is mainly what they eat, apparently.

We probably see Dolphins one trip in 10 or 12 - so at least 2 or 3 times a week so far.

My biggest problem is that Sammy the One Eyed Seal doesn't seem to want to come near the RIB anymore - he has taken offence at my wash waking him up last week when he was dozing off Llanaber.........

Having said that - there have been LOADS of jellyfish this year - which attracts the Leatherback Turtles - they eat them (yuk).

D...

Stuart M · 05 August 2005, 17:36

I saw many seals two weeks ago off St Davids in Pembrokshire, (South West Wales) went on a round the island trip in a 10mtr Humber - Excellent Rib and superb guide - well recommended.

jyasaki · 05 August 2005, 19:16

Last fall, I got my first view of a whale from my boat. Boating out of Monterey, California. In the following three weeks, we saw four more whales (including a very young grey who lazed around inside the harbor for a while), several pods of Risso dolphins (I'd say six or eight, but some were undoubtedly repeats), a small pod of some other type of dolphin, and a couple of Mola molas.

Since then, absolutely nothing.

I'm hoping this fall will be more productive than the past few months.

jky

MonoMicky · 14 August 2006, 20:53

Saw a shark in the Swell at South Stack this weekend. Not 100% sure what type it was but presumed it to be a basking shark. A friend of mine also reported in excess of 20 Dolphins between Bull Bay and Porth Wren (Brickworks) with Lots of young Dolphins no bigger than 2 feet in Length.
A recent article on divernet.com also reports sightings of Basking Sharks just outside Porthdafarch.
I have also seen a documentary on television reporting that Turtles are very common in the summer on the Menai Straights, coming up in the gulf stream to feed on the abundance of Jelly Fish but never seen any myself ...... would be interested to hear of any sightings!!!

jgrace · 14 August 2006, 21:18

...apparently there are even whales off Anglesea:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/5236300.stm

Hit at 40 knots, I bet the whale had some headache afterwards.

alystra · 14 August 2006, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Gee

We sat and watched a pod of aboud 30 or so last week at Crinnan on the Sound of Jura

jumping out the water a generally being mental, never saw any Basking sharks though

Andy

Heard they were about around Crinan Andy, but haven't managed to be there when they are yet. However, took advantage of the first high pressure and settled weather of the season and cruised out to Erraid - Tinkers Hole and 'David Balfour's Bay'.

'D B Bay' was as clear blue and turquoise as ever - and all the time I was there (about 3 hours) a basking shark swam round and round the bay. Still there when I left. Quite small relative to ones I have seen in the past off SE Ireland so I guess it was quite young.

Came back through Corryvreckan and saw many seabirds and a few porpoises in the Great Race area, but no dolphins. Seen many Minke and Orca whales there in the past, but not that time.

I think I saw you from my window skirting the moorings at Ardfern not too long ago. 'Rathmor' looked a super boat. My son blagged a few trips on either 'Castor' or 'Pollux' (I can't remember which) a few years ago and came back starry eyed at being given the chance to helm one of these Redbays ( he was only 15 at the time).

Cheers, Tony

matt h · 15 August 2006, 08:07

saw a large pod of dolphins on the outskirts of the river Dart, 20 +

MeMe · 15 August 2006, 08:37

......a few weeks ago.

Picture attached...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/north_west/5224746.stm

floater · 15 August 2006, 15:06

Apperently a big dolup of it was washed up on one of Shell Islands beaches last week and a girl found it and claimed it as its worth around £3500.00 and is used in purfumes ?

came from a sperm whale

got be a gag in that some were !

Andy

Pinto · 15 August 2006, 15:17

Hi

Read an article in the Apr/May 2006 edition of the RIB Internation Mag about Basking Sharks - they apparently arrive in Devon/Cornwall every year in early May and migrate up the west coast to Scotland. My daughter is a windsurfer and there are lots of reports of them around Millport later in the year.

Viv

codprawn · 15 August 2006, 16:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by floater

Apperently a big dolup of it was washed up on one of Shell Islands beaches last week and a girl found it and claimed it as its worth around £3500.00 and is used in purfumes ?

came from a sperm whale

got be a gag in that some were !

Andy

Yes it's called Ambergris - worth more than heroin apparently!!! Prob more chance of finding that washed ashore......

SDGANDER · 15 August 2006, 16:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by hannah

wheres anglesy ? i really want to see a dolphin !!!

No need to go that far - we spotted 2 today of coast of West Sussex, both less than a mile offshore.

SDG