Thursday 26 July 2012

Lyme Bay - Dorset

White-beaked Dolphin

White-beaked Dolphin

Fulmar

Manx Shearwater
I finally managed to get on one of the Naturetrek boat trips into Lyme Bay to look for White-beaked Dolphin. A dolphin I have very much wanted to see for the past few years. So an early start was in order as the boat departed from West Bay, Bridport at 8.30am. We headed off slightly late as there was a hold up with fuel but were soon chugging off southwards until we reached water of about 50m deep. This was the favoured area of the White-beaks. On the way we had hundreds of Manx Shearwaters, 3 Storm Petrel, Gannet, Kittiwake, Common Tern and Common Scoter as well as a single Puffin.

We also had 4 Harbour Porpoise soon after we left the harbour which are always nice to see but as always, very difficult to get good views or any pictures of. At about 3pm everyone on the boat was waning a little until one of the MARINElife guides shouted he had just seen a big dorsal fin...this meant one thing...WHITE-BEAKED DOLPHIN!!!!! What happened for the next 1.5hrs was amazing...up to 20/30 White-beaks fishing, interacting and bow-riding. AMAZING

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