Northeast Cetaceans

Northeast Cetacean Project Transect Survey 05/07/2011

2011-07-05T21:20:00.000+01:00

Plenty of swell and a strengthening southeasterly combined to make surveying impossible this afternoon (waves crashing over the boat every few minutes...) but the morning produced the sort of sightings we dream of;

Minke Whale 1 off Alnmouth

White-beaked Dolphin 6 bow-riding for 12mins from 2mi off Druridge Pools to a point 1.8mi E of Coquet Island

Sightings 03/07/2011

2011-07-05T05:34:00.000+01:00

03/07/2011 White-beaked Dolphin ~10 between Druridge Pools and Cresswell (I.D. Robson)

White-beaked Dolphins 02/07/2011

2011-07-03T13:25:00.000+01:00

3 off Wansbeck Estuary 08:30 joined up with 12-15 further offshore by 09:30 (A. Priest)

several pods 25-30mi SE of the Tyne (A Skinner/SarahJFK)

White-beaked Dolphins 01/07/2011

2011-07-01T21:38:00.000+01:00

A rush of sightings, possibly all relating to the same pod;

01/07/2011 White-beaked Dolphin 4 breaching off Lynemouth Bay 13:50-14:00 (Northern Experience Wildlife Tours)

01/07/2011 White-beaked Dolphin 8-10 Church Point, Newbiggin 14:38 (A Priest)

01/07/2011 White-beaked Dolphin 10+ off Seaton Sluice for 2hrs this evening (B Dack)

White-beaked Dolphins

2011-06-30T11:46:00.000+01:00

typical time for small pods to start appearing off Northumberland

28/06/11 White-beaked Dolphin 4 off Wansbeck estuary in the evening (A. Priest)
29/06/11 White-beaked Dolphin 2 in Newbiggin Bay 9pm (A. Priest)

Sightings June 2011

2011-06-27T12:57:00.000+01:00

Wednesday 22/06/2011 1 Minke Whale 2mi E of Blyth (M.S.Kitching/Northeast Cetacean Project)

Friday 24/06/2011 1 Minke Whale 8mi E of Blyth (A. Skinner/SarahJFK)

Then, possibly the outstanding cetacean sighting of the year so far;

Sunday 26/06/2011 4-5 Orcas heading S past Lynemouth in the evening

Whales and Porpoises

2011-04-05T08:54:00.000+01:00

31/03/2011 1 Minke Whale between Coquet Point and Coquet Island (M. P. Frankis/A. S. Jack)

04/04/2011 13 Harbour Porpoises off Lizard Point (P. Collins via A. Tait)

Northumberland pelagics 2011

2011-03-28T09:29:00.000+01:00

The 2011 Northumberland Pelagics programme, operated by Northern Experience Wildlfie Tours in association with the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club

Friday 22nd July 2011
A 4-hour evening pelagic departing Royal Quays Marina at 18:00. Cost £30 per person. Target species; Storm Petrel, Great Skua, cetaceans

Wednesday 27th July 2011
A 5-hour pelagic to the Farne Deeps on a high-speed RIB, departing Seahouses Harbour, time tbc. Cost £70 per person. Target species; White-beaked Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Minke Whale

Friday 29th July 2011
A 4-hour evening pelagic departing Royal Quays Marina at 18:00. Cost £30 per person. Target species; Storm Petrel, Great Skua, cetaceans

Wednesday 3rd August 2011
A 4-hour evening pelagic departing Royal Quays Marina at 18:00. Cost £30 per person. Target species; Storm Petrel, Great Skua, cetaceans

Thursday 11th August 2011
A 10-hour pelagic to the Farne Deeps departing Royal Quays Marina at 08:00. Cost £70 per person. Target species; White-beaked Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Minke Whale

Saturday 3rd September 2011
An 8-hour day pelagic departing Royal Quays Marina at 09:00. Cost £47.50 per person. Target species; skuas, shearwaters, cetaceans

Saturday 10th September 2011
A 4-hour Whale and Dolphin Cruise departing Seahouses Harbour at 10:00. Cost £35/adult, £20/child. Target species; White-beaked Dolphin, Minke Whale, Harbour Porpoise.

Saturday 17th September 2011
An 8-hour day pelagic departing Royal Quays Marina at 09:00. Cost £47.50 per person. Target species; skuas, shearwaters, cetaceans

Our pelagic trips from Royal Quays take place on the SarahJFK, a 44ft converted lifeboat which is used for sea-angling charters and for the last ten years has been chartered for our pelagic trips. The boat offers an excellent vantage point for observation of wildlife. All of our Royal Quays pelagics are limited to a maximum of 12 participants, allowing all on board a good opportunity to see any birds or cetaceans which are found. Some truly outstanding opportunities for photography occur on our pelagic trips as well, with many birds being attracted very close to the boat.
Our Whale and Dolphin Cruise from Seahouses will be on Glad Tidings V.

Our pelagic trips have proved very successful and they are an excellent way to enjoy our offshore wildlife in the company of other birders who are always willing to help any less experienced participants. More experienced birders may well find that the North Sea is a new frontier for their birding. Pelagic birding is very unpredictable but highlights of our trips on the SarahJFK have included the 1st British North Sea Wilson’s Petrel (2002), Long-tailed Skua (2002), Sabine’s Gull (2005), Harbour Porpoise (2006), Minke Whale (2006 and 2007), Great Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater and Pomarine Skua (2007), excellent views of Sooty Shearwater in each of the last nine years and several very close encounters with White-beaked Dolphins, most recently on our Farne Deeps trip in September 2010.
Participants should bring their own food and drink and warm/waterproof clothing.
To reserve a place on any of these trips, please contact Martin Kitching martin@newtltd.co.uk or (O167O) 827465 and send a deposit of £10 per person per trip (cheque payable to ‘Northern Experience Wildlife Tours Ltd’, non-refundable if you cancel at a later date) to NEWT Ltd, 18 Frances Ville, Scotland Gate, Northumberland, NE62 5ST. Alternatively, you can book online. The balance of payment is due 2 weeks before sailing.

Recent sightings

2011-03-28T09:15:00.000+01:00

Some impressive numbers of Harbour Porpoise, and the continuation of the Northeast Cetacean Project transect surveys (with many thanks to the Northumberland Sea Fisheries Committee - having a project partner with a patrol boat is a real bonus!).

22/02/2011
Northeast Cetacean Project Transect Survey (M. Kitching/R. Milor/NSFC St Oswald)
21 Harbour Porpoise
2 poss. Minke Whale

20/03/2011
Whitburn obs. (P. Collins via A. Tait)
1 Minke Whale

25/03/2011
Northeast Cetacean Project Transect Survey (M. Kitching/NSFC St Oswald)
28 Harbour Porpoise
1 Minke Whale
1 White-beaked Dolphin

26/03/2011
Sarah JFK (A. Skinner)
6-7 Harbour Porpoise 4mi E of the Tyne

Happy New Year

2011-01-02T08:11:00.000Z

An astonishing start to 2011, with a Humpback Whale watched as it passed slowly N 0.75km off Whitburn between 13:05-13:40 (M. Newsome/S. Addinall)

Harbour Porpoises

2010-09-24T09:40:00.003+01:00

21/09/2010, 7+ Harbour Porpoises from Harkess Rocks, Bamburgh (Northern Experience Wildlife Tours www.newtltd.co.uk /Bird Watching Magazine)

September cetacean sightings

2010-09-19T13:08:00.003+01:00

03/09/2010 5 White-beaked Dolphins in the Farne Deeps, Northumberland. Video can be viewed on the Northern Experience blog (Northern Experience Pelagics)

11/09/2010 1 Harbour Porpoise just south of Staple Island, Farne Islands, Northumberland (Northern Experience Pelagics)

18/09/2010 2 White-beaked Dolphins off Newbiggin, Northumberland at 15:00 from NEWT Birdwatching trip (Northern Experience Pelagics)

19/09/2010 30+ White-beaked Dolphins breaching off Tynemouth, North Tyneside at 11:15 (A. Skinner)

Sightings 12/08/2010

2010-08-13T07:03:00.003+01:00

2 large dolphins (probably Bottlenose) past Whitburn (S. Addinall)

6+ White-beaked Dolphins between Church Point and Beacon Point, Newbiggin, 16:00-17:00 (A. Priest)

Farne Deeps pelagic cancelled due to weather. Rescheduled for Friday September 3rd. We have a few places available. Call 01670 827465 for further details.

White-beaked Dolphins 07/08/2010

2010-08-07T09:47:00.005+01:00

20+ moving N past Whitburn from 06:00-09:00 (M. Newsome)

20+ 3 miles E of Whitley Bay 09:20 (A. Skinner)

40+ 8 miles E of Blyth 10:00 (A. Skinner)

30+ 9 miles E of Newbiggin 10:30 (A. Skinner)

20+ feeding off Whitburn 11:00-11:30 then heading slowly N (via A. Tait)

8 moving N past Whitburn 16:55 (M. Newsome)

Additional sightings

2010-08-06T07:42:00.002+01:00

03/08/2010 large dolphins breaching off Whitburn obs, possibly 2x Risso's Dolphin (via Andy Tait)

05/08/2010 25+ White-beaked Dolphins, Lynemouth Bay 19:20-19:30 (NEWT), best cetacean sighting yet for Northern Experience Wildlife Tours :-)

Sightings 05/08/2010

2010-08-05T15:34:00.003+01:00

Bottlenose Dolphin 1 in Lynemouth Bay 11:15 (NEWT)

4-5 large active dolphins well offshore from Snab Point, unidentifiable in heat haze 11:20 (NEWT)

Yet more sightings 04/08/2010

2010-08-05T08:03:00.000+01:00

1 Harbour Porpoise, Church Point, Newbiggin 14:40 (NEWT)

3 Harbour Porpoise, Snab Point 15:20 (NEWT)

4 Bottlenose Dolphins, Snab Point 19:30 (NEWT)

12 White-beaked Dolphins, off Druridge Pools yesterday evening (G. Roberts)

Dolphins 04/08/2010

2010-08-04T13:11:00.003+01:00

4-5 Bottlenose Dolphins S past Newbiggin at 11:55, then heading N towards Church Point at 13:10 (A. Priest)

20-40 Bottlenose Dolphins 4 miles E of St Mary's Island at 11:46 (A. Skinner)

All good data for the Northeast Cetacean project. Now, we just need something similar on the Northern Experience Wildlife Tours pelagic this Friday :-)

White-beaked Dolphins

2010-07-30T13:40:00.001+01:00

Pod of 20-25 past Seaton Sluice at lunchtime today (B. Dack)

Whitburn sightings

2010-07-27T15:47:00.002+01:00

24/07/10 9 Bottlenose Dolphins N (later seen in King Edward's Bay, Tynemouth) (Andy Tait)

25/07/10 1 Minke Whale (Andy Tait)

Minkes! off the King of Scandanavia

2010-07-26T18:31:00.002+01:00

ORCA Wildlife Officers recent sightings
24th July Netherlands
Porpoise pods x3
25th July Newcastle
4x Minke whales. 1 breaching x3 times next to ship. 1 porpoising alongside ship. Off Flamborough Head
2x harbour porpoise pods

More cetaceans from the ORCA Wildlife Officers

2010-07-26T18:20:00.002+01:00

DFDS Ferry Newcastle-Amsterdam
10th July 2010
Leaving Netherlands 2 x dolphin sp.
17th- 19th minicruise
1 Minke Whale
1 pod of Harbor porpoise
19th - 21st Mini-cruise
1 pod of Harbour porpoise
21st July Leaving Newcastle
1 Minke whale 10 pm off Flamborough Head
2 x porpoise pods
22nd July Netherlands
1 x porpoise pod

Sightings from The King of Scandanavia

2010-07-26T18:05:00.002+01:00

Recent sightings from The DFDS Ferry Newcastle-Amsterdam

3rd July 2010
Leaving Newcastle
8 pods of Harbour porpoise
6 Minke whales feeding off Flamborough Head 9.30pm- 11pm
5 Bottlenose dolphins bow riding the ship
5tth July
Leaving Newcastle
1 White beaked dolphin 10.30pm
6th July
Leaving Amsterdam
Harbour porpoise pods
9th July
Leaving Newcastle
5x Bottlenose dolphins

Exciting times ahead

2010-07-20T08:06:00.002+01:00

2 large dolphin sp reported past South Shields yesterday (P. Collins)and a belated report, to the Northeast Cetacean Project, of 200 White-beaked Dolphins off Eyemouth in June. Angling charter boats are reporting increasing numbers of WBD so we could be in for a better year than the rather sparse 2008 and 2009.

Sightings 28th- 23rd

2010-06-30T15:23:00.000+01:00

28th June 2010 pm leaving Netherlands
7-10pm 3 pods of harbour porpoise

25th June 2010 pm leaving Newcastle
22.00pm Harbour porpoise x3
22.53pm White beaked dolphins x4

24th June 2010 leaving Netherlands
20.30 Bottlenose dolphins x2

23rd June 2010 Leaving Newcastle
20.00 Harbour porpoise x3
20.10 Harbour porpoise x4
21.05 Bottlenose dolphins x2
10.30pm Minke whale

Recent sightings on The King of Scandanavia

2010-06-30T14:42:00.002+01:00

Recent sightings from the King of Scandanvia

29th June 2010 Newcastle
08.00 am 2 pods of harbour porpoise
08.50 1 juvenille harbour porpoise

20.05 hrs White beaked dolphins x5 breaching off Sunderland coast ( hrs 3photos taken)
20.22 3 Harbour porpoise
21.38 White beaked dolphins x5
Harbour porpoise x 6
21.47 Minke whale lung feeding
Harbour porpoise x6 (with juvenille)
22.05 dolphins spp waiting photo poss bottlenose x4
23.00 poss: Basking shark below water surface approx 9 metres

28th June 2010 pm leaving Netherlands
7-10pm 3 pods of harbour porpoise

25th June 2010 pm leaving Newcastle
22.00pm Harbour porpoise x3
22.53pm White beaked dolphins x4

24th June 2010 leaving Netherlands
20.30 Bottlenose dolphins x2

23rd June 2010 Leaving Newcastle
20.00 Harbour porpoise x3
20.10 Harbour porpoise x4
21.05 Bottlenose dolphins x2
10.30pm Minke whale

King of Scandanavia recent sightings

2010-06-18T20:13:00.002+01:00

9th June
5xWhite beaked dolphins 8.43am off coast of South Shields
3 xWhite beaked dolphins 7.10pm off Sunderland/ Seaham coast

Recent cetacean sightings from The King of Scandanvia

2010-06-06T12:41:00.004+01:00

3/6/10
10 small pods of harbour porpoise feeding from 19.45-23.00
3 minke whales seen 10.05pm 10.45pm and another after 11pm so approx 40 miles out.

Also 2 more small pods of dolphin seen from observation deck
21.00 2 Bottlenose dolphins
20.30 3White beaked dolphins bow riding The King of Scandanavia
GPS for sightings was around 54 23.3335N 0 17.9634E

4/5/10
Pod of 2 and one of 3 Harbour porpoise 10-20 miles off Imojdeon on the Dutch coast

5/6/10
5 risso dolphins- tight group feeding seen off ship coming into Newcastle
08.04hrs
54 48 540N 0 48.681W

19.00 3 Bottlenose dolphins seen from the ship off the Durham coast

For more info: http://orcaweb.wordpress.com/

Press Release from the Northeast Cetacean Project

2010-05-13T19:59:00.002+01:00

HELP US MONITOR NORTH EAST WHALES AND DOLPHINS
Sightings website and postcard survey launches

In January this year, a partnership of organisations launched the North East Cetacean Project (NECP) to discover more about dolphins and whales off the Northumberland coast. The partnership includes Marinelife, Natural England, the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club, the University of Aberdeen, and Northern Experience Wildlife Tours.

A series of winter surveys, funded by Natural England and lead by Martin Kitching of Northern Experience Wildlife Tours were undertaken, targeted in the cold, deep waters of the Farne Deeps, which have been described by local fishermen as an important wintering ground for White-beaked Dolphin.

The surveys generated some both anticipated and unexpected results. Harbour Porpoise, a small cousin of dolphins, were, as anticipated, encountered during the surveys. However, rather than White-Beaked Dolphin, a species limited in distribution to the colder waters of the Atlantic, Common Dolphin, a warmer water species was found.

Dr Tom Brereton, Marinelife Research Director who analysed the results commented “This was disappointing but not unexpected as Common Dolphins have been spreading north in recent years, presumably due to warming sea temperatures. However, occurrence in Northumberland waters is a potential cause of concern because studies in other regions have shown that the arrival Common Dolphins coincides with a corresponding disappearance of White-beaked Dolphins.”

The project also analysed data submitted by members of the public since 2003, with the majority of sightings being recorded from land. The results indicate that whales and dolphins are possibly changing their North Sea distributions. There is an urgent need for more offshore data to fully understand these changes, especially in light of new Government initiatives to improve conservation measures in our seas.

To this end the project has now launched a sightings website (www.northeastcetaceans.org.uk) and a postcard survey from this spring to engage the local community, including local fishermen, recreational dive and angling boats, yachtsmen, pleasure craft operators and the general public to get involved and help increase the understanding on where dolphins, whales and porpoises are found off the North East coast of England.

The website and the postcards contain information on the different species which are likely to be encountered and requests information on the number of each species seen, where the sighting was made and when.

Dr Martin Kitching, lead surveyor from Northern Experience said: “With the start of the spring and summer season, the number of boats on the water will increase and this offers a great opportunity to find out more about the whales, dolphins and porpoises off the Northumberland coast – please get in touch with your sightings and help us with this important research project.

How you can help: If you see a dolphin or whale, please report the information to us. You can use our online recording form at www.northeastcetaceans.org.uk, fill in a sightings postcard, available from North East Cetacean Project (NECP), 18 Frances Ville, Scotland Gate, Northumberland, NE62 5ST, or phone in you sightings to NECP co-ordinator Martin Kitching on 01670 827465 or mobile: 07908 119535.

ORCA

2010-05-10T16:20:00.010+01:00

With ORCA (Organisation Cetacea) having wildlife officers and volunteer surveyors on the DFDS ferry King of Scandinavia for this coming summer, they'll be adding to our knowledge of cetacean distribution in the North Sea. Kathryn and Steph have kindly offered to let me know of any cetacean and seabird sightings they have so that we can add them to the blog. Updates will initially be as comments below this post, but we're hoping to welcome the girls as authors on northeastcetaceans soon.

A quick glance at the database I've collated as part of the Northeast Cetacean Project has some really exciting cetaceans in amongst the 'expected' species; Bottlenose Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Harbour Porpoise, Humpback Whale, Minke Whale, Orca, Pilot Whale, Risso's Dolphin, Sei Whale, Sperm Whale, Striped Dolphin, White-beaked Dolphin and White-sided Dolphin have all been reported in the last decade.

Birdwatching in the North Sea can be a bit erratic, but it can be extremely good...so I'd like to wish Kathryn and Steph luck in finding something really special on one of their crossings. Hmmm...Black-capped Petrel :-) Not Cape Gannet or Pacific Fulmar though - they're my top tips for this year's Northern Experience Pelagics..or for the Northumberland seawatching mecca that is Newbiggin by the Sea ;-)

Harbour Porpoises

2010-05-05T18:09:00.002+01:00

4 Harbour Porpoises off Harkess Rocks (Bamburgh) this morning, found on a Northern Experience Lindisfarne Safari. Logging for a short while and then actively foraging.

The end of the beginning

2010-04-30T18:29:00.004+01:00

Yesterday saw the finale to the winter phase of the Northeast Cetacean Project...and there couldn't have been a more appropriate way to do it. Our specially invited list of participants gathered at Royal Quays marina just before 9am ready to board the SarahJFK for a trip to the Farne Deeps. We'd invited all of the key organisations so there were representatives from Natural England, Marinelife, Northern Experience Wildlife Tours, Northumberland & Tyneside Bird Club, Northumberland Wildlife Trust, Newcastle University and the Sea Fisheries Protection Office. Sadly, David Steel was stuck on the Farne Islands so couldn't join us, and the Chief Exec of the NWT had had a breakdown in his car (not him personally, his car had broken down).

As we set sail on a flat calm sea (so very, very different from any of the survey dates...) the draft report for the initial project was available for discussion, plans were formulated for the next stage of the project and we were able to enjoy some very relaxed birdwatching. Puffins were probably the most numerous bird seen during the day, Kittiwakes followed the boat for much of the trip, being their endearing selves, Gannets passed by, an occasional Fulmar glided along effortlessly and we managed to see two cetaceans; both were very brief - one Harbour Porpoise and one unidentified animal. As we returned to Royal Quays there was great deal to ponder; our report will draw some interesting conclusions, which will surely lead to more questions, more surveys, more seawatching, more pelagics.

Recent sightings

2010-04-20T09:55:00.002+01:00

2 juvenile Minke Whales reported off Eyemouth yesterday

Request for cetacean sightings

2010-03-15T11:12:00.002Z

As part of the Northeast Cetacean Project (a partnership involving Marinelife, Natural England, NTBC and Northern Experience Wildlife Tours) we are compiling a database of cetacean sightings for northeast England.

Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club and Durham Bird Club members, along with Marinelife volunteers, are involved in our ongoing seabird/cetacean surveys, but we are keen to extend our cetacean database as far back as 2003 (or even earlier if significant records can be unearthed).

Whilst compiling the database it has been noticeable that there seem to be a lot of cetacean sightings that are written in notebooks but not published anywhere. If you do have sightings of any cetaceans then we would be grateful if you would submit them for inclusion in our database. We're including tideline strandings/corpses in the database so please send records of those if you have any.The key data are; Date, Species, Number, Location, Observer. Less important, but still of interest if you have this level of detail are Time, Behaviour, Direction of Travel.

Please send records to Northeast Cetacean Project, 18 Frances Ville, Scotland Gate, Northumberland, NE62 5ST or e-mail martin.kitching1'at'btopenworld.com

Martin Kitching
Lead Surveyor, Northeast Cetacean Project

Exciting New Dolphin Project off Northeast Coast

2010-01-29T08:25:00.004Z

White-beaked Dolphin (c)Adrian Shephard/Marinelife

Marinelife and Natural England launch a new project to monitor White-Beaked Dolphins and other marine wildlife in the waters off the Northumberland coast with Northern Experience Wildlife Tours.

The White-Beaked Dolphin is a little studied species which occurs around the coast of the UK and is vulnerable to the effects of global warming. It lives in the cold waters of the northern Atlantic and its available habitat is thought to be shrinking. There is little detailed information on the status of the species around the UK and the charity Marinelife has been studying these dolphins as well as other marine mammal species and seabirds off the south west coast of the UK for a number of years.

Now thanks to funding from Natural England (£17,700) and the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club (£1000), a new project starts this month to discover more about White-Beaked Dolphins and other species in the rarely studied Farne Deeps off the Northumberland coast. The partnership includes Marinelife, Natural England, the Northumberland and Tyneside Bird Club, the University of Aberdeen, and Northern Experience Wildlife Tours - who will coordinate the winter surveys in the Farne Deeps and surrounding waters.

Dr. Tom Brereton, Research Director for Marinelife commented: “Our work along the coast of the south west has provided useful information on the distribution of White-Beaked Dolphins and their preferred habitats and this project will help complement and extend the existing work. Anecdotal evidence suggests that the area around the Farne Deeps will be important not only for White-Beaked Dolphins, but also for wintering seabirds”.

As with the project along the south west coast, the aim is to engage the local community in the conservation work and the value of safeguarding this species. It is believed the work can also raise the profile of Northumberland as an eco-tourism destination. A sightings website and postcard survey will be launched for local fishermen, recreational dive and angling boats, and yachtsmen to submit any sightings of White-beaked Dolphin and other cetacean species.

Dr. Catherine Scott, Marine Advisor for Natural England North East added: “Natural England is delighted to be supporting this exciting project. The survey will help us understand more about the importance of the sea off Northumberland for these little-known marine mammals, which are a priority species for wider marine protection. This is a great way for the North East to mark the start of the International Year of Biodiversity and it’s possible that this survey will discover that we have a nationally important stronghold for White-Beaked Dolphins off the coast of Northumberland. Through this new project, the North East is playing a vital role in identifying the areas which need protection to safeguard the future for this species around the UK.” Dr. Martin Kitching, lead surveyor from Northern Experience said: "We have been recording White-Beaked Dolphins and other wildlife along the coast of Northumberland for seven years, and now systematically investigating the off-shore waters during the winter months, and engaging with the local community, provides a real opportunity to define the North Sea off Northumberland as an important area for conservation efforts".

The project also involves setting up a photographic database of dolphins that will help experts to identify individual animals. In future, the ‘photo fits’ taken of dolphins in waters off South West and North East England will help find out how wide ranging the animals are and whether the two populations are linked.

White-Beaked Dolphins are a species limited in distribution to the colder waters of the Atlantic. The North Sea represents some of the coldest waters around the UK coastline and this new project will strengthen the scientific data about this and other species in this area and help support conservation efforts for this vulnerable species.

Sperm Whale

2010-01-25T11:10:00.002Z

30ft Sperm Whale currently stranded on the rocks at Beadnell. BDMLR are on site but the tide is falling so the outlook isn't good.

Scouring the seas

2009-12-31T19:28:00.004Z

A major project for NEWT this winter is an offshore survey, primarily to search for White-beaked Dolphins, covering most of Northumberland's waters out to a distance of 20-35 miles (depending which sector we're surveying on any given day). As it's incredibly weather-dependent we're running the surveys at fairly short notice (we're usually confident enough to arrange the boat and the survey team 3-4 days in advance of sailing).

We've got a few spaces available for passengers on each survey, which are available at very low cost, so give us a call on 01670 827465 if you think you might enjoy a 7 hour pelagic into the unknown at some point in the next 6 weeks.

Best wishes for the New Year :-)

Tracking the leviathan

2009-12-04T07:23:00.007Z

I had a call yesterday evening from Andy Tait, cetacean-watcher, videographer and NEWT pelagic guide. He'd had an e-mail from a cetacean researcher in Aberdeen, also cc'd to one of the country's top cetacean experts, asking the question "minke - seen this id'able character?"

Imagine Andy's surprise when the link he'd been sent was the one to the gallery on the NEWT website...

http://www.northernexperiencewildlifetours.co.uk/gallery.php?type=1&gallery=17

Here's one of the images;

That distinctive notch in the dorsal fin should mean that there's a good chance of the animal being located elsewhere. In fact I've seen an image of a minke, taken in the Hebrides in May 2008 (4 months prior to the image above), which is almost certainly the same animal. Which is interesting because it proves that there is movement of Minke Whales between the well-studied population in the Hebrides and the ones that we find off Northumberland in mid-late Summer.

The funny thing is that Andy was standing next to me when I took that photo, so he has seen this character. We've got this animal at two different locations, and we know the maximum length of time it took to travel between them. Hopefully more images will come to light and we'll have an even better picture of where this whale goes, and when.

With increasing interest in offshore wildlife trips there could well be more instances of photo 're-captures', and the potential for anyone on a pelagic trip with a camera to contribute to our knowledge of the distribution and movements of our cetaceans.

Some excitement

2009-10-12T07:09:00.002+01:00

Once a month we walk from Cresswell to East Chevington, counting waders, wildfowl and other waterbirds as part of the WeBS (Wetland Bird Survey). Yesterday was a warm, sunny morning with a stiff northwesterly breeze, so not bad for walking. As we scanned the sea off Druridge we found;

Minke Whale 1

which was moving quickly north, in the general direction of Coquet Island.

When you're feeding on scraps...

2009-10-05T11:27:00.003+01:00

Not much, but it was a cetacean;

Church Point, Newbiggin by the Sea, 04/10/09 17:25-18:55

Harbour Porpoise 1

Recent reports

2009-09-20T21:08:00.005+01:00

Friday 18th September, 6-7 Bottlenose Dolphins off Holy Island

Saturday 19th September, Humpback Whale 2 miles E of Newton by the Sea - it's still out there!

The Humpback Whale was found at 11:45 by a very surprised lobster fisherman. Well, you would be surprised if a 12m cetacean that you weren't aware of suddenly breached next to your boat! John Dawson on Glad Tidings V set out from Seahouses to search for it, but it had moved away by the time they arrived off Newton. Several hours of searching didn't reveal it's location. Surely the same animal seen off Longstone on Sunday 13th.

The porpoise of seawatching

2009-09-15T06:32:00.001+01:00

On a 4-hr seawatch yesterday afternoon/evening, at least 4 Harbour Porpoises were just offshore at Church Point, Newbiggin

NEWT Pelagic 12/09/09

2009-09-14T08:14:00.002+01:00

Despite excellent viewing conditions, and the finest weather you could wish for on a pelagic, the whales and dolphins evaded us. We covered a lot of sea, from Dunstanburgh in the south to Holy Island in the north, but there was a distinct lack of flukes and fins. With some of the finest, and most experienced, cetacean watchers in the Northeast on board, we would have spotted any cetaceans that were around.

Atlantic Grey Seals were everywhere as far as the eye could see, Gannets were flying by (but not really showing any interest in feeding) and we had a couple of Red-throated Divers and a very obliging Arctic Skua. Eventually we did find some cetaceans; Harbour Porpoises. Although they're generally not keen on boats we had excellent views of one that surfaced within 20ft of the boat and then swam across the wake. Still too fast for my camera though!

We've booked the boat for the same Saturday next year, and we're taking advance bookings already so give us a call on 01670 827465 to reserve your place.

NEWT Whale and Dolphin Cruise

2009-09-11T11:45:00.005+01:00

No, not a cruise in search of newts, whales and dolphins (how esoteric would that be?) but a Whale, Dolphin and Birdwatching Cruise from Seahouses at 10:00 tomorrow (Saturday 12th September). Organised by Northern Experience Wildlife Tours in association with Billy Shiel MBE, we will sail into the offshore waters of North Northumberland in search of cetaceans and seabirds.

Places are selling well, but there are still some remaining (£30/adult, £20/child) so call Martin on 01670 827465 to book your place.

With Minke Whale, White-beaked Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise all real possibilities it's one not to miss.

Weather will be glorious, winds will be light, and things are looking promising...

Recent sighting

2009-09-11T11:43:00.001+01:00

Harbour Porpoise (1) off Cresswell 10/09/09 (Andy Tait)

Here they come...

2009-08-09T19:42:00.003+01:00

Cetacean reports today;

2 Minke Whales, several Harbour Porpoises and a pod of dolphin sp, south past Snab Point at lunchtime (D Dack/A Gilbertson)

10-15 Bottlenose Dolphins, from angling boat 10 miles E of Cresswell (A Skinner)

More WBDs

2009-07-30T10:00:00.002+01:00

Another Andy Tait/Northern Experience video clip from 2005

An evening watch

2009-07-29T21:04:00.003+01:00

With the forecast heavy rain nowhere to be seen (not like the Met Office to get it wrong...) I decided to spend an hour at Church Point this evening. The sea was very calm and there wasn't a breath of wind. Viewing conditions were ideal for cetacean watching though and the hour produced;

Harbour Porpoise 2
Bottlenose Dolphin 1

White-beaked Dolphins

2009-07-29T14:46:00.006+01:00

Mid-July is always a time when expectations for the forthcoming cetacean season are growing. With a pod of 20-30 dolphins off Sunderland and Tynemouth last Friday, which seem very likely to have been White-beaked, I thought I'd post a video clip from Andy Tait/Northern Experience, from a pelagic I organised in 2005, showing how close they sometimes get to our boat. We counted at least 15 animals on this trip, including one juvenile. Enjoy.

Welcome to Northeast Cetaceans

2009-07-28T07:43:00.000+01:00

I've created this blog to allow observers to share cetacean sightings around the coast of northeast England. Anyone who wants to be an author of this blog is invited to contact me and I'll add you to the list so you can post your own sightings. As well as up to date info, we'll be posting images and video from some of the cetacean and birdwatching pelagics we've enjoyed over the last 11 years.