More Common Dolphins today 24th January 2023.

 Another survey on the North Cornwall coast today and within 5 minutes of leaving harbour we were surrounded by common dolphins eager to spot humans in their oceanic domain.

Well into 200 animals came alongside or appeared in our view in the following hour and it was yet again an amazing sight.

Some of the students onboard had never seen a dolphin in the wild so it was quite an experience for them. I've now seen many thousands but they still excite me and I'm always trying to better the last picture.

Here are a few from today... it's our 4th consecutive day of surveys tomorrow so fingers crossed for more of the same!

Mother and calf

Common Dolphins off North Cornwall coast 23rd January 2023.

 

Probably well over 200 Common Dolphins off the coast today and in very enthusiastic mood, bow riding, leaping and generally putting on a show!

They came to us as we surveyed for seals down the coast from Newquay towards St.Ives and were a joy to watch. We'd previously seen a few Harbour Porpoise en-route but they are rarely showy and usually dive deep when a boat comes along but these were totally the opposite.

Yet on our return journey back to harbour we met a few smaller pods and they weren't interested in us and were just lolling around on the surface...maybe they'd just fed and were digesting!

Thanks to Cornwall Seal Group Research Trust and skipper Chris Lowe aboard Atlantic Diver.

Newquay sea safaris and fishing.

Anyway here are some photos to portray the scene!...... Often they were too close even for a wide-angle lens!

Gannets off the Cornish coast 23rd April 2019

A composite picture from 5 images

Gannets were diving in the bay between Costantine beach and the Quies yesterday as we came up the coast on our Cornwall Seal Group & Research Trust STAPIP survey of marine life and human activity.

The photo above is a composite of 5 images as the bird dived into the water, the last image being the single splash!

Below are 4 of the images that went together to make the top photo.

Flowers at Polly Joke

I took advantage of the break in the torrential downpours that have been the Cornish summer this year to pop out to Polly Joke & West Pentire for the Corn Marigolds.

Fortunately I wasn't too late and there was still a great display interspersed with a few poppies and also Borage.

I also found a nice Golden ringed Dragonfly sheltering from the wind at the edge of the field.

Corn Marigolds and Poppies at Polly Joke

Corn Marigolds and Poppies at Polly Joke

Corn Marigolds and Poppies at Polly Joke

Borage (I think)

Poppies at Polly Joke

Golden ringed Dragonfly amongst the Corn Marigolds