More dolphin sightings

Three dolphin sightings have just come in relating to March and April.

26/03/2012
11:51
6 bottlenose dolphins sighted heading west to east in position 50’45.70n 000’30.30w the pod headed towards F.P.V. observers vessel and continued in the opposite dirrection.

27/03/2012
11:40
 I single dolphin 50’43.94N 000’16.83E (Near Beachy Head) Heading west unable to take pictures or identify any markings (report from Sussex IFCA, from FPV Watchful as above sighting)

13/04/12
 06.22
2 bottle nosed dolphins 50'43.26N 000'43.90W (off Selsey Bill) at heading east (reported by a commercial fisherman.

Whimbrel

I spotted from the car, a whimbrel standing on a clump of vegetation in the Adur estuary as the tide came in. This was in the RSPB reserve just west of the Norfolf Bridge. I have seen whimbel on many occasions in tenerife where they are a winter visitor.This is the first time I have seen one in the river Adur. I have heard that they are seen on occasions.

Bottlenose dolphins off Ferring

I recieved a report of 4 bottlenose dolphins (3 adult and 1 juvenile ½ adult length) seen off Ferring, swimming east, at 11.15am yesterday (11th March).

More Sussex Seal Reports

I received a report from BDMLR of a seal they visited in Eastbourne on Tuesday (March 6th). The seal was in the outer harbour and was reported to have been there for 2 days. The seal looked a bit thin and so BDMLR medics are keeping an eye on it. The seal is not considered to be too thin that it needs to be caught. We first thought it might be Twinkle but this has turned out to be a small seal.


They also passed on anecdotal reports that the Lewes seal (regular visitor we see each year) was spotted in Lewes on Monday. There is also a good possibility that the rescued and released seal Twinkle was spotted on the same day in Newhaven.

You may remember we followed Twinkles movement between the river Cuckmere, the Ouse and the River Adur for many months last year due to the orange flipper tag and the facial markings identified.It would be very exciting if he has returned to the same rivers this year - fingers crossed

Seal in the River Adur

A seal (probably a common) has been seen in the River Adur yesterday at 2.15pm. Its appeared to be feeding. The seal was between the toll bridge and the flyover.

White Beaked dolphins

Just received an interesting sighting of a White-beaked Dolphin observed by surveyors bow-riding their vessel about 15 miles south of Worthing (9th November 2011). Followers of this blog may remember we had a small group of white beaked dolphins sighted some miles off shore between Eastbourne and Dieppe back in April this year.

This species often bow-rides so it is interesting that both local sightings of these dolphins were bowriding. This species is not normally recorded in the English Channel.

Seal in the River Ouse East Sussex

Another seal is currently in the river ouse East Sussex.  It does not appear to be the usual 'Ouse Seal ' that regularly visits this river or Twinkle the rescued and released seal we have been following this year.

The seal was first reported to me on the 29th Nov and I received a message from British Divers Marine Life Rescue that they had attended the seal on 28th Nov. The seal is a little on the thin side.