So many dolphins in the Eastern Solent

[daverebbettes]

I was amazed to see at least 15 dolphins off St Helens Fort, Bembridge this week. See below. Has anyone else seen so many this far East?

https://youtu.be/kv-vvzCHKuo

 

[laika]

Not that far east but we had a dolphintastic trip back from Falmouth on the weekend. A pair of bottlenosed not long after leaving falmouth, dozen or more common dolphins west of bolt head which played with us for what seemed like ages but was probably only 20 mins, couple more a couple of hours past start point, another pod of a dozen or more in the middle of lyme bay then a couple more encounters with a pair before portland bill.

I acquired a gopro for my birthday. Turns out my snowboarding skills are too mild to make for interesting watching but I now have some worthwhile dolphin footage I just have to work out how to edit decently...

 

[Cactus Sailing]

I was amazed to see at least 15 dolphins off St Helens Fort, Bembridge this week. See below. Has anyone else seen so many this far East?

https://youtu.be/kv-vvzCHKuo

We saw a fair few Dolphins on the way to Brighton last year in the summer roughly in the middle between the Looe channel and the wind farm

https://youtu.be/ssrVGOhxVEY?t=261

there are a few around portland marina that we've seen a few times reliably, although i did hear one washed up on chesil beach recently tangled in plastic

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17504763.dead-dolphin-spotted-off-chesil-beach-portland/

 

[daverebbettes]

Sounds like you had little ones with you. Now that is the time to see dolphins. I'm sure they loved it. Keep safe.

We saw a fair few Dolphins on the way to Brighton last year in the summer roughly in the middle between the Looe channel and the wind farm

https://youtu.be/ssrVGOhxVEY?t=261

there are a few around portland marina that we've seen a few times reliably, although i did hear one washed up on chesil beach recently tangled in plastic

https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/17504763.dead-dolphin-spotted-off-chesil-beach-portland/

 

[dom]

Several dolphins appeared as we were anchored in Whitecliff Bay last August, so shouted at the wife to grab the fishing rods. She swiftly appeared on deck with them with a puzzled look on her face. Within a minute or so the water was alive with swirling mackerel which the dolphins were corralling into a surprisingly tight circle. Waited for an opportune moment then dipped a feather trace into the water: caught 6 mackerel within about 2 seconds, then another 6! Sorted dinner for that night and BBQ on Studland beach next day with another forumite

Hope the dolphins hadn't done a stock-take before dinner!

 

[Jungle Jim]

We had a pod pass us just south of Swanage on Saturday, they were heading up towards Poole. As we were going the other way they came in close to have a look at us on the way past but didn't stop to play.

 

[capnsensible]

If anyone is on holidays in Lanzarote there is a small pod frisking around about a mile off Puerto Calero. Made a nice sail this morning even better.

 

[Dipper]

there are a few around portland marina that we've seen a few times reliably, although i did hear one washed up on chesil beach recently tangled in plastic

This one in Portland harbour was around for several months. It stayed with our mooring inspection vessel virtually every time it went out and seemed very interested in the mooring chains and sinkers. If we could just train it to fill in the paperwork as well, we wouldn't need to go out!

 

[vyv_cox]

We have seen more than in the past five years in the last week in the Aegean. A pod of around 7-8 striped dolphin south of Ikaria and three or four common dolphin at N end of Chios yesterday.

 

[Just_sayin']

Great vid. They can be sneaky buggers, ducking and diving like an illegal street trader but you got lucky.

 

[daverebbettes]

Ha!

Seen them many times crossing Lyme Bay like this but so nice to have them closer to home and wonderful to see them so much more in British waters.

Great vid. They can be sneaky buggers, ducking and diving like an illegal street trader but you got lucky.

 

[DJE]

There was big pod of bottlenose dolphins off the West Pole Beacon outside Chichester about 18 months ago.

You can log your sightings here if you're interested.
https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/recentsightings/

And help with identification here.
https://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/species-identification/

 

[Gumpy]

Could it be they are gathering prior to leaving?

https://youtu.be/_zfuU6uLwF8

 

[Cactus Sailing]

Sounds like you had little ones with you. Now that is the time to see dolphins. I'm sure they loved it. Keep safe.

The kids loved the dolphins and were searching the seas for more relentlessly until we got to Brighton!

its hard to film them though because you just never know where they're going to come up

 

[johnalison]

The kids loved the dolphins and were searching the seas for more relentlessly until we got to Brighton!

its hard to film them though because you just never know where they're going to come up

I have just one photo that includes the beak - it is very difficult. My newer camera can now take pictures from before you press the shutter and I wish that I had had this when last I met dolphins.

Other than the odd fox or deer, dolphins are the mostly likely wild animals we are going to see. There is something very special about meeting any animal in the wild. They live in a world that is entirely different to ours. As well as our domestic wildlife I have been lucky enough to see various animals abroad, including rhinos and tigers, but dolphins are right up there with the best and it is their unpredictability that makes them so interesting.

 

[Channel Sailor]

Last summer near West Pole Beacon, Chichester harbour, probably 15 or more appeared to be feeding and heading west. An hour later someone on a motor cruiser in the same area took a stunning picture of one coming almost clear out of the water and look directly at the boat. I think the picture was put on Facebook. I wonder if the food availability has changed recently.

On a related point, a week ago I saw a solitary Gannet in the same area only a mile or two off Hayling beach, which I have never seen before in that area in the past five years of regular sailing. Though I am aware they are to be seen often off Selsey Bill. It looked to be passing through as opposed to fishing.

 

[johnalison]

Gannets don't half get around. Lots around the Channel Isles of course, but I have even seen them crossing Thames Estuary. I once saw a skua off the Normandy Coast.