School Dolphin Rescue Workshop

On 30th April, I attended an event held by the EYE Project (E.Y.E. stands for Eco. Young. Engaged) which links together locality schools across three towns, Shoreham, Lancing and Worthing (West Sussex). I took a display stand about the various marine related sessions I run for schools.

During the day, I ran three dolphin rescue workshops. Each workshop started with a PowerPoint introducing Sea Watch Foundation, Sussex Sea Mammals and included some pictures of local dolphin and seal sightings. I then discussed the biology/anatomy/natural history of dolphins which the children would consider when planning their dolphin rescue.

We discussed strandings, (including couple I had taken part in) and I mentioned things they needed to be aware of and what not to do (don’t tip water over the blow hole, check the breathing regularly as a means of assessing the dolphins condition, be aware the tail is the most dangerous part of the dolphin etc).

In two groups, the children then used what they had learned about dolphin biology and strandings to plan their rescue of a dolphin. What they would do, who would do what and in what order etc. The scenario they were given was a dolphin tangled in a piece of fishing net.

After both groups had conducted their rescue we de-briefed (another essential part of a rescue) to see how well they thought their rescue had gone, what didn’t go so well, what they might do differently next time.

The workshops were a great chance to raise awareness of Sea Watch Foundation, that we have sea mammals of Sussex and some of the dangers to sea mammals

You can book a similar workshop for your school or youth group on seawatch17@yahoo.co.uk

Grey seal Cuckmere

Grey seal sighting in the river Cuckmere area on 27th April.

Bottlenose dolphins

I have received several anecdotal reports of a group of about 10 bottlenose dolphins that have been seen on and off for the last couple of weeks, from Brighton to Shoreham.

Until now, no definite sighting - however I have just heard that they were spotted last Sunday off the undercliff walk to the east of the Marina.

Grey Seal Worthing

A grey seal was spotted from the shore on 14th April at Worthing

Seals still visiting River Adur

I am still receiving anecdotal seal sightings in the River Adur and surrounding area. I have some pics of one of the seals that shows no facial marking except for a couple of tiny black spots near its right eye.

Its not one I have seen (knowingly) in the Adur before.

The seal was reported by Paul Dogman on 14th March, first seen 8.29am Paul took the two photographs above.  The sighting was at Shoreham foot passenger bridge and the seal was clearly fishing. It hung about for around 10 mins.

You can see more of Pauls photographs http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrfurrylover/sets

Paul also forwarded two other photographs taken by a friend the previous week. The seal was furtther up river by the Coombes/passies pond area.

Harbour porpoise

Harbour porpoise sighting via Sussex Ornithological Society

At the end of my walk descending to the breakwater at the E end of Seaford esplanade (Splash Point) - the sea a flat calm in the lee of the cliffs, I noticed something dark diving not far out on the sea, I stopped and paid a bit more attention, expecting a cormorant to surface at any moment, imagine my delight when I found myself watching three Harbour Porpoises!

They were initially only about 40m offshore, milling around in line with the easternmost beach huts. I descended to the beach, and watched them for 5-10 minutes, there were definitely three (I suspect two ad. & a slightly smaller probable juvenile - about 3/4 the size of the other two).

There may have been as many as five, but the most I saw at any one time was three. A shame there was nobody else around (in the freezing conditions) to enjoy them. They eventually drifted further offshore and eastwards. This would have been about 13.45.

Dead Porpoise, Peacehaven

A dead stranding of a Harbor in Porpoise, Peacehaven, just the other side of Brighton in East Sussex.

Report and pictures from Elaine, British Divers Marine Life Rescue