Goodbye BND? hello WBD :-)

After a number of near misses, I finally caught up with the Bottlenose Dolphins on Thursday 5th June, and tracked their movement down the coast from Newbiggin to St Mary's Island.  I lost them at that point, as they headed across Whitley Bay.  They seem to have moved quickly south, and were reported from Marsden Rock...unfortunately as a pod of Minke Whales...subsequently 'corrected' to a pod of Pilot Whales :-)  The following day I was guiding for NEWT and took my clients to see the BND as they were just off Church Point.  The dolphins then relocated (again) to the Farne Islands, and the latest sighting report we have was as they travelled north of the islands on Monday 9th June.

Overlapping with the BND were the first few reports of White-beaked Dolphin around the south Northumberland coast; 11 heading N at St Mary's Island at 05:00 on Sunday 1st June (S. Lowe), two off Alnmouth on Tuesday 10th (via S. Wales), 40 off the River Tyne on Thursday 12th (A. Bunney/ORCA) and ~100 off the Tyne on the weekend of 14th/15th (ORCA).

Bottlenose Dolphins in North East England 2014

Back in 2010, the first North East Cetacean Project report identified May as the best month to see Bottlenose Dolphins in North East England.  In 2012 we finally had evidence that they move south past our coast in October, and 2013 backed that up.  This year, we're seeing something unprecedented...

In late March I received a report of White-beaked Dolphins off the mouth of the River Tyne.  Not out of the question, but quite early in the year for them to be close inshore.  I managed to track down some images that were taken of the dolphins, and reidentified them as Bottlenose Dolphins.  Again, slightly early, but no doubt about the ID.  Since then there have been almost daily reports (including more that have been misidentified as White-beaked Dolphin), covering an area of the east coast from St Abb's Head in the North to Whitby and Scarborough in the south.  The largest group reported so far is of 50 animals, and it seems likely that we have 50+ animals ranging up and down the coast in search of food.

Discussion with colleagues in Scotland, and study of images of BND from North East England in the last two months, indicates that the animals currently present down here are from the Moray/Tay/Forth populations and have been impacted by limited food supply in their 'expected' location.  If the distance they seem to be covering in our area is also due to not finding a suitable food source here, then this is quite worrying.  Some people consider their occurrence off the north east coast to be an exciting development, and few people wouldn't enjoy watching a pod of dolphins, but an informed understanding of the species' ecology and distribution will have many conservationists concerned about what has driven this unprecedented event, and what the potential consequences for Bottlenose Dolphin and the two small cetaceans that are regular off North East England (Harbour Porpoise and White-beaked Dolphin) could be.

If you have any images of Bottlenose Dolphin taken anywhere on the east coast of England in the last two months, we'd really appreciate the opportunity to compare them with the existing BND catalogues for other areas so that we can identify exactly which animals are present here, and where they are expected to be at this time.  Images can be emailed (original, unedited files as downloaded from your camera please) to martin.kitching@marine-life.org.uk and we'll acknowledge you as a contributor when we publish our findings about this unusual occurrence.

White-beaked Dolphins 26/06/2013

2 White-beaked Dolphins were seen in Newbiggin Bay, Northumberland, yesterday evening (A. Priest)

White-beaked Dolphins 19/06/2013

10 White-beaked Dolphins 6nm E of Souter Point this morning (A. Skinner/SarahJFK).

NEWT's 16th year of North Sea pelagics gets underway this Friday, 21/06/2013, departing Royal Quays marina at 18:00 for a 4hr sailing off the coast of southeast Northumberland in search of whales, dolphins and seabirds.  Following a late cancellation we've got a few places available at £32.50/person.  Call 07908 119535 or e-mail martin@newtltd.co.uk

Recent MARINElife North Sea Ferry Survey sightings from DFDS Seaways

Immingham to Esbjerg 7-9 Sept, Jutlandia Seaways
Common Seal with Grey Seal 325 (hauled out)

Immingham to Cuxhaven 14-16 Sept, Hafnia Seaways
Harbour Porpoise 1

Immingham to Brevik 23-26 Sept, Petunia Seaways
Harbour Porpoise 19
Minke Whale 2
Grey Seal 12

Felixstowe to Vlaardingen 25 Sept, Flandria Seaways
Minke Whale 1

Rosyth to Zeebrugge 14-15 Sept, Finlandia Seaways
White-Beaked Dolphin 2
Harbour Porpoise 1
Grey Seal 1

For more information please see http:www.marine-life.org.uk/sightings

White-beaked Dolphins

July is always a good month to see White-beaked Dolphins in north east England, and this year is no exception.

The first reports came in the last few days of June, and during the last week they've been seen at Newbiggin, Druridge Bay, Blyth, Tynemouth, Lizard Point and Sunderland.

At least ten individual animals were photographed during a transect survey on the PV St Oswald off Northumberland yesterday.

If you see any of these stunning creatures (or any other whales, dolphins or porpoises) anywhere on the east coast from Northumberland-Essex can you submit your sighting to the North East Cetacean Project database please?  It's easy to do - just visit http://www.northeastcetaceans.org.uk/ and click on 'Submit a Sighting'.  The data gathered will add to the knowledge of the movements and distribution of our cetaceans and will support efforts to conserve the marine environment.

Northeast Cetacean Project Transect Survey 05/07/2011

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

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

White-beaked Dolphins 02/07/2011

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

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

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)

Northumberland pelagics 2011

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

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

September cetacean sightings

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

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

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

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 :-)

Yet more sightings 04/08/2010

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)

White-beaked Dolphins

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

Exciting times ahead

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.