Dolphin in the Solent

[BigLes]

Returning from Yarmouth today, coming up to Portsmouth a yacht (about 25-28ft) under sail heading west waved and shouted to us that they had a dolphin swimming under their bows. Lo and behold we watched it breaking the surface of the water as it swam along with them!

 

[Jobs_a_ good_ un]

Was it definetly a dolphin we saw porpoises off cowes a few months ago ?

 

[harryb1]

We saw one on the day of the RTI race. We were leaving Portsmouth as loads of race boats were coming back in. He started jumping beside us at BC Outer as if he'd come out of the harbour. Stayed with us all the way to the forts.
Don't know why he chose us there was loads of traffic around and many boats producing better bow waves to play in than us!- Think he might have liked the grey dingy we were towing.
He had some marks on the left side of his fin, very much as NDG describes here
If it's the same one he seems to be getting a liking for enclosed harbours

 

[alec]

It's a great sight when you see one down south.

There is a website which likes us to report these things. Googling should find it.

I saw one last year and reported it and they came back asking for more details. In my case it was a Harbour Porpoise apparently.

Their website reports various sightings and I was surprised that places like Gravesend on the Thames supported dolphins.

 

[lenseman]

Whilst on passage , delivering a yacht from Chichester to Ipswich 2 weeks ago I had two separate occasions where a porpoise or dolphin surfaced within 20 feet of the starboard side. Both times a small black fin, about 6" in size, broke the surface then disappeared.

Once was when we were about 5 miles off Hastings and the second occasion was in the middle of the Thames estuary the following day.

They did not ride the bow wave or travel with the boat but they were going in the opposite direction. It was almost as if they were just being nosy and surfaced just to take a peep at who we were and whether we were fishing /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[BigLes]

I think it may have been a porpoise - it was grey/light brown in colour.

 

[harryb1]

WDCS- Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society - Interesting site.

Apparently harbour porpoises keep away from boats and stay mostly below the surface. Pretty sure we saw a Dolphin.

 

[Rob_Webb]

Always a joy to see. Sometimes on my ferry journey to work we see dolphins or even orca and it transforms my mood for the rest of the day. The skipper sometimes slows down to take a look and we arrive a few mins late but no-one complains. One of those animals that everyone loves and no-one hates.

Although dolphins are just homosexual sharks, of course.

 

[dk]

Yes there is one hanging around the entrance of Portsmouth Harbour - it followed us out on Monday. We got pics, but I have never bothered to work out how to put them up here! Too many other things to work out like my new MP3 player and first satnav! (Birthday yesterday)
D

 

[Impaler]

Sorry to boast... out in a dive RIB in June off Gardenstown we had 10 to 15 dolphins following us. 2 riding the bow wave, the rest surfing the wake. Fascinating to watch the 2 bow riders looking over their shoulders to keep an eye on us. The joys of the Moray Firth. Not one camera between us!

 

[Koeketiene]

They are everywhere this year

Harwich - Ostend (End of May Bank Holiday 2007) /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[CPD]

Re: They are everywhere this year

Brilliant photographs, even second time around.

 

[Will_M]

Re: They are everywhere this year

There had been porpoise in Chi Harbour afew weeks back, at least thats my assumption as to what it was and others said that’s what it was.

I saw it doing a pretty efficient job of chasing fish in over shallows and then literally scoping them up as they tried to escape, fascinating really as just stood there on the beach.

 

[Danny Jo]

Re: They are everywhere this year

Very impressive pics - can you give us the technical details - did you use a polarising filter?

 

[Koeketiene]

Re: They are everywhere this year

Don't confuse me by asking technical questions like that - what do I know?

Camera's a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H2.
No filters, etc... were used. Out of the box - aim - press button.
My eldest took these pictures.

 

[LadyStardust]

Re: They are everywhere this year

Biscay last year

 

[Major Catastrophe]

[ QUOTE ]
Was it definetly a dolphin we saw porpoises off cowes a few months ago ?

[/ QUOTE ]
My experience of Porpoises Vs Dolphins is that Porpoises don't bow ride. Of course, I may be wrong and often am.

 

[Rabbie]

By far the easiest way to distinguish is that dolphin have a long snout (beak), whereas porpoise have a blunt, fish-like head.

 

[mandlmaunder]

In bed. Late night. Lulworth Cove. Heard noise. Said "Dolphin out there!".
SWMBO leapfrogged over, removing night attire, leapt in water.
Played in water with dolphin for an hour (mid-August).
Dolphin got horny. Wife left water.
(before you ask it is VERY obvious when a male dolphin gets horny!)
Wife still regards that previous hour as the highlight of her life!

And I thought I was the highlight of her life.......

 

[Danny Jo]

[ QUOTE ]
Played in water with dolphin for an hour (mid-August).

[/ QUOTE ] Sounds delicious. Pity it was too dark for pictures!