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Newquay's Celtic Bottlenose Dolphins starred in the famous T.V. series " Four in a Bed" in December 2013. Bed and Breakfast owners at Kallacliff Bed and Breakfast  in Newquay dreamt of seeing Dolphins for their special activity. Chris and I took them out on a beautiful Summer Day and within 1 minute of leaving Newquay Harbour, a pod of the infamous Bottlenose Dolphins were porpoising out of the water around "Atlantic Diver"….What a spectacular treat. The series has been the Buzz of Newquay since as we were all pleased that Newquay is becoming know for its amazing and diverse marine Wildlife.

We are offering  2 hourly Sea Safari Trips to spot for Marine Wildlife, including the Dolphins all year round. The breeding birds are gathering just offshore , so will be back on the their breeding rocks very shortly…give us a call if you fancy a trip out now that the storms seem to have passed.

Kallacliff Bed and breakfast are also open all year round and are taking bookings now on

www.kallacliffhotel.co.uk  01637 871704

We are also working together with Kallacliff this year , so you can find our details at their beautiful coastal boutique bed and breakfast.

 

 

 

Dolphins put in an amazing appearance today at the end of a Seal Survey and completely stole the show.

Here is the video Chris (Atlantic Diver's skipper) took

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=10202331756307661&l=5417023402595672036

Six Celtic Bottlenose Dolphins appeared like magic at our bow emerging from the brown muddy sea. The water visibily down west was still poor unlike off Newquay , where the sea was back to azure blue as the storm merk has cleared. It made spotting the 3.2m Dolphins fairly tricky but we managed to captured a few of their surface breaths on film to share with you.

Chris slowed down our speed to a gentle crawl as they had 1 juvenile and what looked like last year's calf with them. The adults became impatient and began to use their tail flukes to physically thump "Atlantic Diver's" twin hulls from side to side, (a phenomenum we have experienced before) as if to say …hurry up we want to play. Chris kept a steady and sure path as is suggested in WiSe ( wildlife safe operator guidelines) and left the pod after a short while to continue our seal survey.

A solatary pretty female Grey Seal popped her head up during all of the Dolphin Dancing as if to say .."Hey this is supposed to be a Seal Show!" but she wasn't alone as we saw other Seals in various stages of moulting as we travelled the coast.

It was a fantastic day at sea, starting off before sun up. The Breeding Seabirds are back in good numbers which was pleasing to see after the huge amount that have been washing up on the North Cornwall Coast dead , after the destructive and seemingly never ending storms. It was most satisfying to see them today in the Glorious sunshine perched on their ledges ready for breeding.

Our Friends from Koru Kayaking joined us today to enjoy the Marine Wildlife at its best and we shall be taking part in a kayack trip with them shortly to share their guiding of North Cornwall….What a great place to live or visit, there is so much Marine Wildlife to enjoy. Tomorrow we shall join with other ourdoor providers to decide how best to view our spectacular Cornish Wildlife withour causing Disturbance , so that we can Champion it , whilst ensuring its' very future still exists!

A second trip of the day saw  Bottlenose Dolphins this time a little closer to Newquay, still actively foraging….WOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sea Safaris are currently running as 2 hour trips but if anyone wants a longer trip to view North Cornwall Wildlife over an extended trip please get in touch on 07860927833 and we can arrange a bespoke package.

Lucky us living and working in stunning Cornwall.

Happy Dolphin Day!!!!!!!!!!

 

What a fabulous day …Newquay Marine Group joined up with St Agnes, Looe, The Helford and Polzeath Marine Conservation Groups today to carry out a Shore Search at Looe for named important Marine Species whose recorded presence will help support the preposed and established MCZs ( Marine Conservation Zones)around our beautiful Cornish Coastline. It is hoped that in taking care of our wildlife that not only will it thrive and prosper as in Lundy Island ….a long established and experimental no take zone, with the added benefit of locals and tourism enjoyment of the wildlife. Newquay and the river Gannel are newly preposed and its thought that whilst potting and netting may be permitted only trawling may be banned but this is still all to be decided. Supporting our local potters by buying local "Newquay Crab " will help the local Commercial Fishermen support the MCZs.

It was great to see this Shore Crab above in full berry. She was returned to the same spot in the rockpool after recordings were taken to register and send off.

 

 these anemones are predatory creatures resembling strawberry jelly when out of the water but have reaching projections when immersed in water that produce venom to catch fish and crustacean…look like beautiful but deadly flowers!!

The Marine Conservationalists carefully search for BAP ( Biodiversity Action Plan) species amongst the encrusted Gullies and rockpools.

Below Gabi and Kyle from Newquay Marine Group help us.on their first Rockpool Ramble.

Ok Here it is the second Stalk Jelly of the day, we found 4 in all…Can't see it? well its on the top left of the seaweed…yes ….its very hard to spot Stalk Jellies!!!

 

I just thought I would share with you this beautiful picture of trunk from today. She is a semi resident seal that reguarly comes into Newquay Harbour. This was taken at the stern of our boat "Atlantic Diver" while we waited to get moorings after a beautiful calm Sea Safari with some fabulous passengers.

We watched Phillip and Kevin ..local fishermen, hauling their catch of Newquay Spider Crabs, Newquay Brown Crab and Newquay Lobster. This is a very sustainable catch…an industry we support as there is very little bycatch. Its important to champion sustainable local fisheries by buying local Newquay Shellfish.

There were seals in a the sea foraging near a local haul out site and a mixture of Guillemots and Razorbills on ledges.

See how tricky it is to spot these seals when they are against the rocks..she is just off to the left of these rocks watching us on Atlantic Diver watching her.

 

 

Newquay Sea Safaris and Fishing Boat Trips are going out every day now (weather permitting) . Crew and passengers of both "Atlantic Diver" and "Atlantic Explorer" have been enjoying the incredibly beautiful sunshine which has been bathing the Newquay coastline in glorious sunshine. Newquay really has been living up to her title of "Coast of Dreams"

The Mackerel is in the Bay now ,with Ben and I catching a whole box in less than an hour to smoke at home in our fish smoker. I also made an amazingly tasty mackerel pate.

Mackerel is a great alternative to tuna and eating it is ,not only healthy for you but takes the pressure off the  tuna stocks. Ben my son who is an apprentice rod and line caught fisherman and potter was naming the larger catch as Tuna as they were sooo BIG. For those that dont have a smoker you can make a simple mackerel pate by

• baking about six mackerel fillets with salt , pepper and a sqeeze of lemon juice for about ten minutes in oven gas mark 6
• fork cooked fish into a bowl
• add 2 large teaspoons of horseradish  sauce and a small tub of creme fraich
• mix with another squeeze of lemon juice
• serve in a pretty dip bowl with plenty of crusty bread slices, some peashoots, a wedge of lemon and ENJOY..hmmm the taste of a Newquay Summer.

For other recipe ideas try…http://www.channel4.com/4food/recipes/popular-ingredients/fish-and-seafood/mackerel

drop us a line and let us know how your mackerel recipes went

 More fantastic news ..Dr Who our Semi Resident Grey Seal is back

Took these stunning pics as we worked our way along the North Cornwall Coastline .

 

Ben Lowe recovered meters and meters of trawl net from the sea in the past few days. imagine what damage this debri can do to our wildlife …thanks Ben and all of the Newquay Fishermen and Potters who give their time to clearing the litter out of the ocean.

 

We had an immensly enjoyable Sea Safari for the St Agnes Marine Conservation Group this week. The sun was shining all the way to St Agnes and all manner of Breeding Sea Birds were out including this Bridled Guillemot. Its the first time I've seen one this far West. It was sitting on the ocean in a small raft of Guilies just waiting to be spotted. Our sighting has been sent off to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust as we are a Master Wise acredited boat operator.

Beautiful Juvenile Gannet was resting after feeding.

All proceeds being donated back to the Conservation Group by us so that they can continue their good works of Marine Education to the general public.

The sun began to set as we cruised back into Newquay Harbour and enabled us to catch this beautiful image of Ben our son and Jessica our daughter rod and line fishing for mackerel, in the bay…..Epic!! day with freshly caught silver darlings for late supper

 

Well what a week…there has been a massive Jellyfish Hype with Barrel jellies being the main star of the show..the BBC, Sunday Times, Childrens' BBC and Skye T.V…all filming off "Atlantic Diver"  in Newquay Bay this week…phew ..no pressure to find them then!!

The huge Bell is approximately 1m in diameter and its 8 arms have cauliflower appearance with oral offices at the ends. its reputed to NOT sting but I can tell you that it definitely gives an agitation to the skin a little less than a nettle sting….easily soothed with scraping area in one direction then applying vinegar.

John Maguire BBC Presenter , Peter Richardson from the Marine Conservation Society and Ross James..camerman all donned wetsuits and invetsigated the Jellyfish up-close-and -personal. It aired on prime time BBC Morning Breakfast Time several times during the morning

 

This Amazing SHARK …was caught whilst on a fishing trip off Newquay on board "Atlantic Explorer"  today. Skipper Derek Applewhite said it was about 5 feet long and weighed approximately 35lbs. The anglers were only a short distance offshore when the chance catch happened as they were trying to catch any bottom fish species such as pollack and cod. They were using mackerel as bait.

A total of 8 Tope ranging in sizes between 12 to 35lbs came in in a very short period.

All were handled carefully ,released from the hook and returned to the sea as quickly as possible.

All details were sent to the Shark Trust .

Especially interesting as Annabelle has just been made a Shark Trust Trustee.

Atlantic Diver also had a great day with a chance sighting ,for divers on board ,of these Celtic Bottlenose Dolphins in Newquay Bay whilst on commute to the wreck.

link to dolphin video

http://youtu.be/HYbtUHfL7uE