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.
Weather Conditions: Fair to overcast, Wind Direction: S/SW, Sea state 0-1
It was the return of the Eurasian Otter during yesterday’s land surveys; it was seen travelling from the harbour wall towards the Cardinal Buoy in the morning. There were also a number of Bottlenose Dolphins seen in the early morning and again late afternoon, including Corky and calf close to the harbour wall in the afternoon. 2 Atlantic Grey seals were observed close to the harbour wall swimming and scanning.
Weather conditions: No precipitation, Sea State 1-3, Visibility >10km, Wind force 1-4
Our Living Seas volunteers carried out one boat survey yesterday with a number of bottlenose dolphin and Atlantic Grey Seal sightings. A group were seen at the start of the survey foraging close to the fish factory, with around 5 gannets circling overhead. Whilst later on in the survey a female Atlantic Grey Seal was observed scanning in the water, with its pup hauled out.
Weather Conditions: Overcast, Wind Direction: W, Sea state 1-3
Our Living Seas volunteers observed bottlenose dolphins throughout the land surveys yesterday. They were mainly observed foraging and chasing after fish around the Cardinal Buoy, with some seen leaping later in the day. There was also large number of Atlantic Grey seals seen with 3 being seen just outside the harbour wall just after lunchtime! These were mainly scanning and bottling. Other notable sightings include gannets, and guillemots and Mediterranean gulls in their winter plumage.
Weather Conditions: Sunny and fair, Wind Direction: N/NW, Sea state 1-3
Yesterday was quieter than previous days in terms of marine mammal sightings with no bottlenose dolphins being seen between 9am and 1pm but Snowcap and her calf Mushroom came up close to the wall later in the afternoon and were observed throwing and chasing fish at the surface below circling and diving gannets. A few female grey seals also passed in front the harbour wall throughout the day, displaying behaviours such as swimming and bottling.