Bottlenose dolphins off Fairlight Beach

I received a message about 30 bottlenose dolphins off Fairlight Beach (East Sussex) on Saturday 30th June at 4.45pm. Hopefully will have more informatio to report soon.

Seal visits Eastbourne Harbour

I have received a seal sighting from a lady who next to Eastbrourne Harbour  was noticed a seal (probably common) swimming around the outer harbour in Eastbourne on and off for a couple of months. She lives next to the harbour and first saw it in March/April and has seen the seal many times in the last 3 to 4 months. It is also there today.

　
She said that she first observed the seal on 31 March. The seal was in the outer harbour and sunbathing on the mud whilst the tide was out. She said they they saw him several times over the week or two. Then the dredger came in to dredge the outer habour.The dredger was here for about a week or so. She didn't see the seal after that.

Until this week.... She reported that she  saw him swimming around the outer harbour at high tide.　 That was at 10am ish. He just kept popping his head up and you could see his back and part of his tail. He seemed to be having a lovely time drifting around.

Last night she said he appeared again. This time it was approaching low tide. Again he just kept popping his head up and drifting around (despite boats coming in and out of the harbour).　　　　 I was hoping he would get up on the mud again but he didn't.. He was there until at lease 7.30pm.　 Then I had other things to do so　he may have been there later.  I have looked at him through the binoculars and he appears to be a common seal as his head is shaped like a dog rather than the roman nose. 　　

More about a seal in the River Adur

I received the following message re a seal in the River Adur

It may be of interest to you but I have also seen a seal on the river adur. I was at the Adur water sports centre on 23/24 January this year completing some water rescue training when myself and a group of colleagues also saw a seal! I hope this is of use to you

Seal in the River Adur

A seal was seen in the River Adur this morning, while the river was high, swimming back and forth past the Bridge Pub next to the Norfolk Bridge.

We are hoping that this may be the same (rescued and released) seal called Twinkle that we were following last year as it travelled back and forth between the Rivers Cuckmere, Ouse and Adur. The seal can be identified by an orange tag on its hind flipper and facial markings.

This seal was last spotted in the Cuckmere River back in March, so this seal may still be around.

However, other seals occasionally visit the River Adur

Minke Whales off Hastings

Fisherman reported a group of 5-7 minke whale off Hastings yesterday. This is quite unusual for Sussex and a fascinating report.
Even more valuable, they have posted the following link on Youtube which clearly identifies them as minke whale.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chluNZ8h6jE

Grey Seal sighting at Brighton

A grey seal was observed near the Brighton Marina today. It was observed eating a large fish

Another fascinating grey seal sighting.

Grey Seals off Eastbourne

I received the following sighting of grey seals off Eastbourne 27th May.

"Today as I was swimming in the sea in Eastbourne, I was very surprised to spot a few of some Seal's heads coming up from the surface and came rather close to me which was very impressive! They were very close to shore and were at about the level of The Western Lawns in Eastbourne. It was a big surprise but I thought I would let you know what happened! Is this normal (migration?) In any case it was a nice experience!"

While we do see seals from time to time off Sussex, these are usally common seals and then usually on their own, so this is an interesting sighting.