Archives

14/10/18: Harbour Porpoise and Atlantic Grey Seals

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.

Sightings Update 14/10/2018: Harbour Porpoise and Atlantic Grey Seals

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.

Sightings Update: 08/10/2018: Bottlenose Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise and Atlantic Grey Seals

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.

Sighting Update: 21/07/18: Bottlenose dolphins, Harbour porpoise, Atlantic grey seals

Weather Conditions: No precipitation, Wind direction: variable, Sea state 1-3, Visibility: variable

Our volunteers were lucky enough to see all of the Cardigan Bay Big Three yesterday during two boat surveys: Seals, Porpoises and Dolphins. Porpoises were seen travelling, seals bottling, dolphins approached the boat, and were also observed milling and foraging. Many Common Jellyfish were seen yesterday too.

Sighting Update: 20/07/18: Bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoise, Atlantic grey seals

Weather Conditions: No precipitation, Wind direction SW/S, Sea state 1-2, Visibility 1-10k 

An eventful boat based survey aboard the Sulaire with our Living Seas Volunteer spotting the Cardigan Bay Big 3. Several groups of dolphins were spotted totalling about 9 individuals including one juvenile.  Behaviour included socialising and foraging.  A pair of harbour porpoises were seen off Bird’s Rock travelling west and nearby a single Atlantic grey seal was bottling.

Sightings Update 19/07/2018: Basking shark, bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoise & Atlantic grey seals

Weather Conditions: No precipitation, Wind direction N-NW, Sea state 1-2, Visibility >10k

On-board ‘Anna Lloyd’ for yesterday’s all-day boat trip, we had some incredible sightings recorded by our Living Seas team. The Cardigan Bay big three were all seen (dolphins, seals and porpoise) along with our first confirmed sighting of a basking shark here in three years. Although only a small individual of around 7ft, it was still a remarkable rare sight for all on the trip.

Sightings Update 17/07/2018: Bottlenose dolphin, Atlantic grey seal, Harbour porpoise

Weather Conditions: No precipitation, Wind direction W/NW, Sea state 2-1, Visibility >10k

Our LivingSeas volunteers had three successful Dolphin Survey Boat Trips yesterday, with sightings of all “Big Three”! A total of 18 Bottlenose dolphins were spotted throughout the day, displaying behaviours such as foraging and feeding, logging, and head slaps. A Harbour porpoise was spotted as well as Atlantic grey seals which were displaying behaviours such as bottling, swimming, and hauled out. Gannets and guillemots were spotted around the dolphin sightings.

Sightings Update 08/07/2018: Bottlenose Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise and Atlantic Grey Seal

Weather conditions: sunny, sea state: 0-1, visibility >10k 

All of the Cardigan Bay Big Three – bottlenose dolphins, harbour porpoise and Atlantic grey seals – were seen during the boat surveys! Bottlenose dolphins were spotted in both of the 2 boat surveys carried out yesterday. One Atlantic grey seal was sighted during the first survey and one harbour porpoise was seen in the second survey! As well as seals and cetaceans, an abundance of jellyfish were recorded. Hundreds of moon jellyfish were seen, as well as compass, blue and barrel jellyfish.

Sightings Update 25/06/2018: Bottlenose Dolphins, Atlantic Grey Seals and Harbour Porpoises

Weather Conditions: cloud cover: 1-3, no precipitation, sea state: 0-2, visibility: >10km

We had an all day boat trip yesterday and saw all the Cardigan Bay Big Three: Bottlenose Dolphins, Atlantic Grey Seals and Harbour Porpoises. The Seals were seen both hauled out on the rocks and bottling in the water and the Dolphins displayed a number of behaviours including foraging, logging and bow riding! Sightings also included Herons, Manx Shearwaters and plenty of jellyfish.

Sightings Update 09/06/2018: Bottlenose Dolphins, Atlantic Grey Seals, Harbour Porpoise.

Weather conditions: Mist / Rain Moderate cloud cover, sea state 0 – 1, visibility: 1 – 10km

Two boat based surveys were conducted throughout the day, both with a good number and array of sightings. In particular the first trip of the day at 10:45, that despite the mist, was lucky enough to encounter the Cardigan Bay ‘Big 3’, that includes Bottlenose Dolphins, Harbour Porpoise and Atlantic Grey Seals, as well as a wide array of Sea Birds. The afternoons boat trip also encountered a number of Atlantic Grey Seal individuals as well as a group of Bottlenose Dolphins as the mornings mist faded away throughout the day.

Sightings Update: 31/05/2018: Bottlenose dolphins, Atlantic grey seal, Harbour porpoise

Weather conditions: varied with brief spells of rain, sea state: 0-1, wind directions: NE – NW

We had an all-day survey during which our living seas volunteers were lucky enough to see all of the Cardigan Bay Big Three, which included a spectacular encounter during which a pod of six dolphins approached the boat and socialized, pictures attached. We also saw frequently seen Lipstick and Snowcone, a number of jellyfish, and, unusually, a Canadian Goose and some Shelduck, plus a dolphin eating a Garfish.