Saturday 6 August 2016

Mystery cetaceans at Whitburn.......

Dolphins stole the show at Whitburn Obs today. We had at least three different groups and they were on show from 07.30-09.30. Always distant they put on a good show for viewing through our telescopes.Two young White-beaked Dolphin were breaching for long periods and i will post some video later. However the talking point was the first group of Dolphins that were picked up at circa 4km offshore. As well as breaching they were blowing continuously, and not just small blows these were substantial. Some investigation is required and we are wondering about Risso's, but hey normally have an indistinct blow and this was substantial, watch this space
Bright sun and a westerly was challenging but his is what we saw in order of appearance

Saturday 6th August 05.05-09.45 W1-2 cloud 0/8

Curlew 6n
Common Gull 6n 25s
Sandwich Tern 38n 47s
Turnstone 5n
Common Tern 38n 9s
Manxie 16n
Black h Gull 4n 5s
Common Scoter 75n
Porpoise 4n
Shag 3s
Arctic Skua 5s
Oyster catcher 16s
Arctic Tern 6n
Redshank 1s
LBBGull 1n
07.33 Dolphin sp at least 6 circa 4km offshore splashing breaching and blowing. blows maybe 4 ft high till 08.15 moving north
Ringed Plover 3n
Teal 1n 3s
08.25- 08.40 White-beaked Dolphin circa 12 north 1km offshore with two youngsters breaching
08.40-09.30 probable White-beaked Dolphin 6 plus north circa 3km offshore