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

Dead starfish on Shoreham Beach

There have been a large number of dead starfish washed up on Shoreham Beach. The general consensus is that it is due to inshore spawning.                                                                                                            

As with many animals that gather and reproduce/spawn on mass this often leaves Looking at my past records, the starfish mass strandings seem to be around this time of the year - and starfish do spawn in the spring (some may spawn in the summer). Not all starfish gather in very large groups, I guess it may depend on the biomass of starfish in that area. They need to be relatively close to each other as reproduction is external.

Dead shore crab with eggs (pictures by Jackie, Friends of Shoreham Beach)

Seal not seen since the snow

The seal/s we have been watching in the River Adur, Shoreham, have not been seen since the snowy weather

Additional seal sighting in the Adur

I received another sighting of the seal seen in the River Adur last Sunday. The observer, Angelika,  spotted the seal, around 4pm, in the same general location. It was swimming back and forth between the western and the eastern bank, occasionally beaching itself on the western bank.

She said it looked very relaxed with the presence of humans (many walkers and dog walkers) and was still there when she left a good half hour later.

Another seal in the River Adur

I have just received a report from a canoeist who saw a seal higher up the river near Lancing College. The seal on the left hand bank watched as they paddled a respectful distance past, then as the tide was turning we drifted back past. This seal was estimated to be between 4 and 5 feet in length so cannot be the juvenile seal reported earlier.

When the canoe was about 20 feet away the seal entered the water and emerged 30 feet or so way and watched the canoe drift off, he dived again and then reappered in the same spot. The observer, Darren, said it felt like the seal was just checking they were on their way before heading back to the 'perch' where we first spotted him.

Juvenile seal in River Adur, Shoreham, West Sussex

A juvenile common seal has been spending time in the river Adur. The seal was first seen on 7th February in the morning, It appeared that the seal had swum back out to sea. However, on the 14th February the seal was hauled out on the estuary mud and reported again in a different location on 15th February by the Shoreham Port Authority.

As the seal was a juvenile we reported the sighting to British Divers Marine Life Rescue, even though the seal appeared to be fit and healthy, so they can monitor the situation.

The seal disappeared again and reappeared on 18th February. It’s great that the River Adur is receiving periodic visits from seals.

However, it’s important that these seals are not approached as they will quickly move to a quieter location. While seals are inquisitive and appear cute and appealing they are best enjoyed from a distance.