Weather Conditions: Sunny/Fair, Wind Direction: S/W, Sea state 1
Bottlenose dolphins were seen during three out of four surveys yesterday. The groups of dolphins were foraging across the bay and some were seen leaping and lunging out of the water. Atlantic grey seals were spotted swimming close to the harbour wall by our Living Seas volunteers during every survey. A red breasted merganser was also seen flying across New Quay Bay during the morning survey.
Weather Conditions: Sunny, Wind Direction: E/NE/N, Sea state 1-2
A glorious sunny day in New Quay yesterday for our #LivingSeas volunteers carrying out surveys on the harbour wall. Bottlenose dolphins were spotted in 2 of our morning surveys, they were first recorded travelling across the bay towards the cardinal buoy and then seen foraging along the reef in a loose group. Atlantic grey seals were recorded in our first and last survey of the day, both times they were spotted between the fish factory and the harbour wall scanning and swimming.
Weather Conditions: Overcast/Fair, Wind Direction: SW/N/NW, Sea state 0-3
Bottlenose dolphins were in the bay in the morning and in the afternoon, with groups seen towards the edges of the bay leaping, foraging and milling. A number of mother and calf pairs were amongst the groups. Atlantic grey seals were seen close to the harbour wall foraging and scanning for long periods of time, with one individual observed staying near the wall for around an hour and a half. Notable bird sightings include a group of migrating skylarks, turnstones, gannets and a guillemot.
Weather Conditions: Overcast/Sunny, Wind Direction: S/SE/SW, Sea state 0-2
Bottlenose dolphins were observed in all four land surveys today, an increase in sightings after the low numbers following storm Callum. The largest group of 10 individuals was seen in the morning travelling towards the headland and some individuals, including Vader (pictured), came to forage close to the harbour wall. Five Atlantic grey seals were seen over the day and a group of common scoters was spotted flying west.
Weather Conditions: Fair/Sunny, Wind Direction: N/NE, Sea state 2-3
It was a quiet day for our Living Seas volunteers on the harbour wall in New Quay with nothing being seen throughout the first two surveys. In the afternoon two Atlantic Grey Seals were observed swimming. There was also a lone bottlenose dolphin seen briefly foraging close to the Cardinal Buoy.
Weather Conditions: Overcast with sunny spells, Wind Direction: N/NW/W, Sea state 2-3
Harbour porpoise were spotted throughout the day yesterday by our Living Seas volunteers, with single individuals spotted foraging, travelling, and logging on the surface for long periods. A number of Atlantic grey seals were also spotted, with males and females swimming and scanning close to the harbour wall.
Weather Conditions: Rainy, Wind Direction: S/SE, Sea state 1
Two of our land surveys were sadly cancelled yesterday due to the bad weather and visibility, however a total of 18 bottlenose dolphins were sighted by our Living Seas Volunteers between 9am and 1pm, as well as 2 Atlantic grey seals. Two small groups of dolphins were observed actively foraging just off the harbour wall, with others feeding around the Cardinal Buoy.
Weather Conditions: Sunny, Wind Direction: S/SE, Sea state 1-3
Bottlenose dolphins were sighted throughout the day yesterday, with very large groups seen for the entire morning, leaping, foraging and socialising. A number of mother and calf pairs were amongst the groups, including regular visitors Jacky & Jay (pictured). Atlantic grey seals were spotted from the harbour wall swimming close to the wall in the morning and the afternoon. 6 Whooper swans were also spotted flying past the harbour wall at around midday.
Weather Conditions: Sunny spells, Wind Direction: S/SW, Sea state 1-2
Great weather conditions and visibility meant that our Living Seas volunteers were able to easily spot wildlife yesterday. Bottlenose dolphins were sighted in the bay continuously throughout every survey yesterday, with groups observed leaping, chasing prey at the surface, and milling. A number of young juvenile dolphins were also seen, swimming amongst larger groups of adult dolphins. Guillemots were also observed diving amongst dolphin groups, and a number of guillemots in their winter plumage were seen foraging near the harbour wall.
Weather Conditions: Variable, Wind Direction: S/SW/SE, Sea state 1-2
Our volunteers sighted the Cardigan Bay big 3 yesterday; with Bottlenose dolphins seen in 3 out of 4 surveys, Harbour porpoise in both afternoon surveys, and Atlantic grey seals seen in both the morning and afternoon. Bottlenose dolphins were observed surfing the waves, chasing prey at the surface, as well as milling and socialising. The #LivingSeas volunteers were delighted to record our first sighting of Harbour porpoise in the harbour for a while, with a small group foraging and milling in the bay for around an hour. Atlantic grey seals were also spotted close to the harbour wall swimming and bottling throughout the day.
Weather Conditions: Sunny spells, Wind Direction: S/SW, Sea state 1-2
Bottlenose dolphins were sighted in the first and final surveys yesterday. Mother and calf pairs Snowcap & Mushroom and Jacky & Jay came close to the harbour wall whilst foraging in the morning. Later in the afternoon, small groups of dolphins were seen travelling across the harbour. Two female Atlantic grey seals were also seen, one in the morning and one towards the end of the final survey. Large numbers of gannets were sighted throughout the day, circling and diving on the horizon.
Weather Conditions: Overcast with sunny spells, Wind Direction: NW/N/NE, Sea state 3-4
Our Living Seas volunteers observed bottlenose dolphins in the morning surveys, including a mother and calf pair, foraging around the Cardinal marker for two hours before swimming offshore. A small grey seal was spotted in the late morning near the harbour wall and swam away from the harbour, towards the fish factory and around the headland. There were three more grey seal sightings throughout the afternoon that were seen swimming a similar route. Other notable sightings include turn stone, guillemots in their winter plumage, Mediterranean gulls, and a large number of gannets feeding offshore.