Mark Carwardine's Guide To Whale Watching in Britain and Europe by Mark Carwardine

Author:Mark Carwardine
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781472910165
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing
Published: 2015-03-14T04:00:00+00:00

England: Dorset

Durlston Head This is the site of a Bottlenose Dolphin research project, which is monitoring the local dolphins by sight and sound with the help of a hydrophone placed on the seabed. The dolphins are present on and off throughout the year, feeding around the reefs of Durlston Head, Peveril Point and Anvil Point, though peak periods tend to be April–May and October–November. They are seen less often during the summer, perhaps because of increased boat activity, and some individuals spend a lot of time off the coasts of Devon and Cornwall. Short-beaked Common Dolphins and Long-finned Pilot Whales are seen very rarely.

Portland Bill Projecting out into the English Channel, this narrow promontory – the southernmost point of Dorset – can be good for Harbour Porpoises and Bottlenose Dolphins. More offshore species, such as Short-beaked Common Dolphins and Long-finned Pilot Whales, are seen very occasionally.

Lyme Bay This is one of the best places in southern Britain to see White-beaked Dolphins. The central-western portion of the bay, which is known for its tidal fronts and biological productivity, is a nationally important area for this species. Though Lyme Bay probably marks the southern boundary of regular occurrence of White-beaked Dolphins in Europe, there is a sizeable resident population here, possibly (according to one guesstimate) as high as 200 animals. Many are included in a photo-identification catalogue for the area. One reason they prefer this central section may be because Bottlenose Dolphins are absent (research suggests that White-beaked Dolphins are not seen when Bottlenose Dolphins are around). Summer dolphin-watching trips and special charters are available from Lyme Regis, West Bay, Brixham and Dartmouth. They are often rewarded with sightings of Harbour Porpoises, too, and Bottlenose Dolphins can be seen in other parts of the bay. Short-beaked Common Dolphins are seen quite regularly, particularly in the central and western parts of the bay, and Risso’s Dolphins are seen occasionally (there is some recent evidence of a hotspot for this species in the area). Very rarely, there are sightings of Long-finned Pilot Whales and Minke Whales.

England: Devon

Lundy Island Lying off the coast of north Devon, where the North Atlantic meets the Bristol Channel, this small granite outcrop is better known for its breeding seabirds. But cetaceans are often encountered on the way to the island, from Ilfracombe or Bideford on board the MS Oldenburg, and can be seen from the cliffs on shore. The best viewing points are the Castle Parade in the south, and North West Point, though cetaceans can be seen from anywhere on the island. Harbour Porpoises and Short-beaked Common Dolphins are the most commonly observed species, but Bottlenose Dolphins, Risso’s Dolphins and Minke Whales turn up very occasionally. Look for large flocks of feeding Gannets – there could be cetaceans under the surface feeding on the same fish. Most sightings are in summer, probably because that is when most people are looking.

Hartland Peninsula to Capstone Point Harbour Porpoises, including females with calves, are frequently seen from headlands along this stretch of the north Devon coast.

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