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: No precipitation, Sea state 3-4, Visibility >10km, Wind force 3
Our Living Seas volunteers carried out one boat survey yesterday, with a number of Atlantic Grey Seals seen bottling close to the shore. Towards the end of the survey they were lucky enough to observe a group of 6 bottlenose dolphins foraging including a calf and juvenile. A gannet could also be seen foraging close to the cliffs.
Weather conditions: No precipitation, Sea state 2-3, Visibility >10km, Wind force 2-3
On our boat survey yesterday our Living Seas volunteer was delighted to spot a small group of Harbour porpoise foraging near the boat, including one mother and calf pair. A number of Atlantic grey seals were also sighted, both hauled out on nearby beaches and swimming near the boat.
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: No precipitation, Sea state 2, Visibility >10km, Wind force 2
One boat survey was carried out yesterday, with sightings of large numbers of Bottlenose dolphins, which were observed leaping and foraging close to the boat. Atlantic grey seals were also spotted from the boat, with 2 adults seen logging in the water, along with a very young seal pup hauled out on the nearby beach.
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: 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.
Weather conditions: fair, wind direction N, sea state 3-5
Despite the strong wind and large waves our SeaSeal volunteer spotted three Atlantic grey seals at Birds Rock yesterday!! A female was observed during the first half of the survey, scanning and diving in the same spot. The other two individuals were sighted in the water, swimming through the survey area. A pair of choughs was also seen flying around the cliffs!
Weather Conditions: Overcast with sunny spells, Wind Direction: S/SW/NW/N, Sea state 1-3
Bottlenose dolphins were observed continuously for the first 2 hour survey yesterday, foraging between the headland and the Cardinal Buoy, and approaching close to the harbour wall at times. Three Atlantic grey seals were also sighted in the morning. The sea conditions deteriorated steadily throughout the day with no cetacean or seal activity recorded in the bay between 13:00 and 17:00 but a black-throated diver was spotted on the water.