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Rare sightings off the Yorkshire coast
On Monday 31st May a rare sighting of bottlenose dolphins was recorded off the coast of Yorkshire. A group of approximately twelve dolphins (including young) were seen having fun, leaping and bow riding within the waters around Whitby. The group were initially spotted at 6am off the coast of Bempton and were then reported further North around the Whitby area late afternoon, around 4pm. Harbour porpoises are often seen within Yorkshire waters and occasionally white-beaked dolphins but bottlenose dolphin sightings are rare. Bottlenose dolphins have not been actively recorded within these waters for the last three years.
Earlier this week a minke whale and white beaked dolphins were seen offshore in Yorkshire waters and news broadcasters have reported the occurrence of ‘super-pods’ of common dolphins within Pembrokeshire and the Moray Firth, where in places numbers of up to 400 animals have been seen. This is exciting news for UK cetacean watchers, so get watching the waters and keep your eyes peeled.
To find out about local boat trips go to http://www.dolphinspotter.co.uk/ and contact Robin Pech at robin@dolphinspotter.co.uk or via telephone on 07768 592306. For more information about sightings within the area go to http://www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/region.php?output_region=5
