Dolphins galore on Easter Day as Common Dolphins Bow ride “Atlantic Explorer” and let out excited clicks and sounds as they communocate with each other when the boat stopped….absolutely wonderful. We have been seeing lots of dolphins on our trips throughout the winter like this Bottle Nose Dolphin above but the becalmed Easter weather is allowing us to spot them more easily. Trips are running daily at the present .This is some of Chris’s iphone video
I LOVE THIS JOB!!!
As Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network Volunteers Chris and I were able to leap into action when Chris heard of the reappearance of the dead Leatherback Turtle that was sadly pot rope entangled here off Newquay ten days previously.( see previous blog). We alerted CWTMSN and Atlantic diver went out to tow the Turtle to safe waters and prevent a shipping hazard. it was later agreed to bring it into Newquay Harbour for recording and removal. British Divers Marine Life Rescue Marine Mammal Medics joined the crew of volunteers and used their expeience of a previous turtle stranding to assist its recording of vital measurements which will help in identifying its sex, age and which rookery it came from. Full press release and contacts below:
A rare leatherback sea turtle was towed into Newquay Harbour by Diving and Newquay Sea Safaris boat Atlantic Diver on Thursday 4/08/2011, after it was spotted by a tripping boat earlier in the day just over one mile from Newquay Harbour and was considered to be a shipping hazard.
The turtle was first reported at sea 9 days previously after, sadly, having become entangled in a pot rope just off St Agnes, where it was believed to have drowned, but the body then disappeared. The right flipper had been removed to disentangle it and this later helped support the theory that this was the same turtle. It was approximately 2 metres in length, probably the largest ever recorded in Cornwall, and is thought to be male.
A large team of volunteers from Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network and British Divers Marine Life Rescue retrieved and recorded the turtle, which, due to its huge size and weight presented quite a challenge and attracted a large crowd of people keen to learn more about the animal. Measurements and photos were taken for the Strandings Network’s database and these will also contribute to UK turtle strandings records database. Unfortunately it was too degraded to be taken for post-mortem examination, but samples were taken for DNA research and were sent to the Animal Health Veterinary Laboratories Agency, Polwhele, in Truro for analysis. Cornwall County Council liaised with Mick Webb, the Newquay Harbour Master who assisted the volunteers, to arrange removal of the turtle remains.
There are three genetically distinct populations of leatherback turtle: Atlantic, Pacific and Malaysian Pacific but, as turtle expert Professor Matt Witt explained when he was contacted by the volunteers, this turtle could have been an Atlantic Caribbean turtle, determined by the shallowness of the ridges down its shell.
Leatherbacks are the largest of all the sea turtles and, although not native to the UK, are frequent visitors and can survive in our waters by raising their body temperature to up to 18 degrees Celsius above the surrounding water. They often follow food into our cooler waters, which are abundant with jellyfish, the turtles’ main food source. Threats to the turtles are mainly from ingesting plastic bags and other marine litter; from tourism disturbance where they lay their eggs; from being eaten as a delicacy and, rarely, from accidental bycatch. They are listed on the IUNC’s list of Endangered Species as “ Critically Endangered”.
The event highlighted the benefit of the strong links between the various organisations involved and the Cornwall Wildlife Trust Marine Strandings Network are very grateful to all those who helped retrieve the turtle. They welcome reports of stranded marine animals to their Hotline – 0845 201 2626.
ENDS
Contacts:
Annabelle Lowe
Atlantic Diving/Newquay Sea Safaris and Fishing
Jan Loveridge
CWT Marine Strandings Network
Dave Jarvis
BDMLR( British Divers Marine Life Rescue)
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Trunk , the female grey seal semi resident to Newquay Harbour had an exploratory sniff and stretched her neck to what you would imagine was near breaking point, then recoiled rapidly as if she was unfamiliar with the scent…poor Trunk!!
(For those with a delicate stomach it may be best to avoid the next few pics as they explore the turtle in greater detail..thanks)
Wow…what a stunning day yesterday…most of the Newquay Harbour boats were out on trips which made for a frenzy of activity across Newquay Bay! A visiting German couple were pleasantly suprised at the subtropical conditions we were experiencing..( weren’t we all) as they boarded ready to enjoy the spoils of the ocean during one of our Newquay Sea Safaris. Seals ,Sunfish, Gannets, Cormorants, Shags ,Manx Shearwaters, Oyster Catchers, Harbour Porpoise and amazily..Common Dolphins hunting for Sprats surrounded the boat whilst a few porpoised infront of us…spectacular viewing. We were able to get some amazing pics for photo ID. Dusk signalled time to return to Harbour..reluctant but HAPPY
Dolphins galore at the moment….we have had a few spectacular dolphin viewing days. Three large Bottlenose Dolphins have been playing with the boat for the past few days, using their huge tail flukes to nudge the boat when we are stopped , conducting our marine wildlife talks during our sea safaris. Then jumping and twisting out of the water backwards in an amazing acrobatic display. Even our lucky divers this week have been treated to Common Dolphins circling the boat again whilst we were stopped waiting for divers to resurface. The Common Dolphin is much smaller than the Bottlenose Dolphin and has a beautiful hourglass pattern as seen in one of the pics here. They are very playful and love to compete with each other when riding the bow wave of Atlantic Diver
Acrobatic Short Beaked Common Dolphins swam around the divers today as they decompressed and slowly resurfaced. The beautiful and inquisitive cetacean swam from one group of divers to another as they amused themselves “human watching!” in the glorious July sunshine. The guys were just completing a dive on the HMS Rewa a World War One hospital ship wreck featured on the documentary made with Atlantic Diver…. ” Deep Wreck Mysteries”.This is the time of year the dolphins are giving birth or breeding so we have been having unbelievably fantastic sightings of them almost daily….fin tastic. Our last 2 blue shark cage diving saw a couple of pods feeding within a mile of our chum slick!! Our sea safari trips are seeing the kittiwake chicks hatch out, seals hauled out , diving gannets and the porpoising dolphins. We were also lucky enough yesterday to also see 2 harbour porpoise…wow what a day to remember…dolphin heaven
I Loved this pic so much I've made it available for desk use (non commercial use please)
Experts are concerned about the number of by -caught Dolphins being washed up onto our beaches dead after becoming caught in fishing nets. Sadly often Cetacean, Seals and Turtles become entangled in fishing gear and die from Asphyxiation. The Cornwall Wildlife Trust are trialing Pingers which are devices that attach to the gear and emit sounds audible to the cetacean, in the hope that it will deter them from the net. Members of the public can report sightings of dead Dolphins, seals etc to their hotline number:0845 201 2626 .For more info please click the link below:
To see the news article please click below link:
http://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/
To learn more about the pingers, click here: http://www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk/conservation/livingseas/dolphin_pinger_trial
We can help by trying to purchase our fish supplies from dolphin friendly sources. It was really sad when Chris and I recorded the details of this little baby…It still had its soft baby dorsal fin , which told us it was a neonate.
Atlantic Diver was out on a Dive trip with Somerset divers on Sunday and came across this amazing Scene of Common Dolphins Tail Walking during what appeared to be a hunting strategy. The story has been picked up by localpress as it is such an unusual thing to see.
It was a spectacular day and both "Atlkantic Diver" and "Atantic Explorer" were out the the Flaming June sunshine. The sea was becalmed so we saw all manner of birds including a Puffin, a pod of 20 Common Dolphins, A Harbour Porpoise and 8 Grey Seals
Off shore there were lots of harmless and beautiful Moon Jellyfish which means there is plenty of plankton about …great for potential Basking Shark sightings!! Here of some of the Dolphin and seal pics I'd like to share with you….
Busy week this week and lucky us dolphins seen out on boats most days. Whilst out doing some C-Pod retrieval ..a device which carries out cetacean acoustic monitoring…and a bird survey…who should pop up on "Atlantic Diver's "starboard side but a beautiful Common Dolphin. They were 7 of them casually hunting right next to the boat…What a huge distraction from our bird survey..wow..they porpoised out of the sea a couple of times , crashing and belly flopping back down .totally awesome.
North Cornwall Juvenile Seal Cliff Top Rescue
Saturday night and BDMLR hotline Devon are alerted to the plight of a
Juvenile Grey Seal spotted at a North Cornwall haul out sight . Blue
netting was wrapped around the seal's neck and trailed limply along
its underside. This seal was a juvenile female taggie known to the
medics as a 2011 rehabilitation and release.
Sunday and a team of BDMLR Medics :Simon Bone, Phil Jarvis, Tim Baine,
Paddy Maher, Dave Jarvis, Lesely Jarvis, and Volunteer Climbers: Chris
Howell and Phil Knight all gather at the cliff top location and plan a
rescue of the entangled seal. After successfully descending the steep
cliff face,sadly as they approach across the seal laden beach, the
seal returns to the water at speed.
Monday… a second team are alerted to watch for the seal's return.
BDMLR Medics: Tim Baine, Dave Jarvis, Chris and Annablle Lowe(Atlantic Diver Crew),
Climber Volunteer Phil Knight and Sam Stuart Volunteer Observer and
Photographer.
Eventually the seal returns and settles onto the haul out sight. It is
now evident that the blue netting has further entangled and involves
both fore flippers..help is needed and fast. The team wait patiently
for the tide to drop back to allow more time for the cliff rescue team
to reach the seal BEFORE she has chance to make her escape into the
sea. Sadly as the team muster at the cliff top and with the aid of
members of the public who are observing quietly in support of the
team, the seals spook as two large bull seals rut together and most of
the seals charge into the sea again!! aaaarrrggg!!..
Tuesday…The team are deflated but hope is not lost and Sam Stuart
returns for a cliff side vigil…She is not sighted today.
Wednesday…a member of the public alert the Gweek Seal Sanctuary of a
blue netted seal at the same location….This time the netting is
completely wrapped down the neck, fore flippers and torso of the
helpless seal. She looks like a trussed up Sunday joint..
how very
sad!! Dave Jarvis is contacted who immediately pulls a team together
..BDMLR Medics: Dave Jarvis, Tim Baine, Chris and Annabelle Lowe
advance to the location with climbing kit at the ready.
Tide line is
in a good spot and seals are hauled out and gentlely snoozing in the
mid day sun. The decision is made to act fast and Tim Baine and Chris
Lowe rig up ready for the descent. Again members of the public are
engaged to help the rescue by keeping a low profile at the cliff top
and keeping all noise to a minimum.
The medics slowly and quietly
begin the descent down the rugged cliff face. The seals sleep on
..oblivious to their actions..one false move may cause them to charge
to the sea again, so the Duo, armed with the experience of the
previous few days , move stealthily on..once on the beach , they hit
the ground, SAS style and crawl across the shaded section of the beach
behind the resting seals .
No one dares breathe at the cliff top as
they watch the team advance toward the oblivious seals
UNTIL…suddenly as they move out of the shadows the seals spot them
and charge to the sea..Tim and Chris chase in hot pursuit of the
nettie and clamber amongst adult bull, cows and juvie seals and launch
toward the stricken juvenile. SUCCESS as Chris( our Skipper) picks his moment jumps
the seal…the seal wises up quickly and squirms out from under him,
but there is no escape as quick thinking Tim grabs her!
They pause for a few moments as they watch the remaining seals safely
pass them into the sea and then begin cutting away her manmade bonds.
Cheers shout out and ecstatic tears fall from the cliff top viewers as
she is released , limbs free again . Well done to all concerned as she
lives to fight another day!
About 3-5% of Grey Seals suffer some kind of net entanglement which cuts into their flesh, choking them until eventually they succome to infection, starvation and eventually death.getting involved in Beach Cleans are a great way to help prevent this kind of disaster. Details of how to organise or take part in one of these in your area can be obtained during one of our Newquay Sea Safaris.
