View Full Version : '1500+ dolphins off Pembrokeshire coast'
Sunspots
15-08-2005, 12:00
Wow! Just seen this on the telly. Anybody ever been lucky enough to have seen any dolphins?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4150502.stm
They're getting ready to leave the planet I expect.
I've seen whales before, never dolphins.
only off the west coast of ireland
been on holiday down there a few times...near Marloe and Skomer, beautiful area already rich in wildflife :cool:
never saw dolphins though :(
butchersapron
15-08-2005, 12:05
Marine experts said it was "massively unusual" - a technical term no doubt. Sounds spectacular.
I've seen a Porpoise in the Thames at Greenwich.
King Biscuit Time
15-08-2005, 12:26
My sister saw one in North Devon last week!
There was a dolphin that hung around in the sea by a pub in Portland for a few days last year. It was fun for the locals, who got into the sea and played with it. We think it came from France.
Minnie_the_Minx
15-08-2005, 12:35
There was a dolphin that hung around in the sea by a pub in Portland for a few days last year. It was fun for the locals, who got into the sea and played with it. We think it came from France.
How do you know it came from France. Did it squeal in French? :confused:
Col_Buendia
15-08-2005, 12:41
Didn't think dolphins were that unusual... I saw a couple playing in the water when I spent a night camping down near Munt last year. Also saw a couple of seals playing in the water right at the bottom of the cliffs near the youth hostel at Strumble Head (think that's the name), blissfully safe from the gawking human above.
As a non-local, west Wales is amazing.
Sunspots
15-08-2005, 12:42
Didn't think dolphins were that unusual...
I think, in this case, it's the sheer number seen swimming together that's unusual. :cool:
Oooh, I hope they stick around. We're going to pembrokeshire for a holiday in a few weeks!
maximilian ping
15-08-2005, 12:54
saw a pod (love that word) of dolphins just offshore in dingle bay. even saw baby ones doing silly jumps to annoy their parents. was absolutely beautiful thing to see :cool:
spacemonkey
15-08-2005, 12:55
wow! I'm going down that way in a couple of weeks...Gonna go dolphin spotting! :cool:
How do you know it came from France. Did it squeal in French? :confused:
erm, because it's rather more likely than the dolphin coming from Indonesia. France is a tad closer.
Minnie_the_Minx
15-08-2005, 13:01
erm, because it's rather more likely than the dolphin coming from Indonesia. France is a tad closer.
Maybe it was Irish. Maybe Fungie's been busy the last few years and took his family on holiday :D
Well, blow me. I didn't know Ireland have dolphins but apparantly they do, in the thousands.
http://www.whales-dolphins-ireland.com/dolphins_ireland.htm
http://www.whales-dolphins-ireland.com/dolphins_2.jpg
Cute oirish dolphins
Minnie_the_Minx
15-08-2005, 13:35
Well, blow me. I didn't know Ireland have dolphins but apparantly they do, in the thousands.
http://www.whales-dolphins-ireland.com/dolphins_ireland.htm
http://www.whales-dolphins-ireland.com/dolphins_2.jpg
Cute oirish dolphins
See. Would much rather have Irish dolphins than French dolphins. Irish ones have much better accents :p
LilMissHissyFit
15-08-2005, 15:20
We saw a dolphin when we went on a boat trip in turkey :)
I have an incredible pic but hubby wont let me upload it
butchersapron
15-08-2005, 15:24
Got your tits out?
LilMissHissyFit
15-08-2005, 15:46
hahaha OF THE DOLPHIN :rolleyes: :D . *whispers* It was nude though, well worth seeing ;)
SeniorSbagliato
15-08-2005, 23:56
Just saw this on the news, it's ace! Maybe they're having some kind of dolphin celtic folk festival or summat?
Porpoises are fairly common round the coast of Wales I thought? Dolphins too.
Cardigan Bay is quite famous for their presence
http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/mid/sites/wildlife/pages/dolphins.shtml
Cant remember exactly how you tell the difference between dolphins and porpoisesalthough I think its something to do with their dorsal fins, and porpoises tend to be shorter.
I saw a dead porpoise washed up on the beach in Aberystwyth but also saw them happily swimming in the sea :)
I've seen a Porpoise in the Thames at Greenwich.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3921611.stm
:cool: (sorry, I know its the Wales forum :p )
BrixiSteve
30-08-2005, 18:58
Didn't an earthquake happen somewhere in the world just a few days after? Think a theres a link? :eek:
IUsed to see them quite regularly when I lived in Aberystwyth
wrysmile
30-08-2005, 19:20
A boat I was diving with in Belize last year was heading along when this pod of playful dolphins just started jumping up and out of the water right in front of the bow... there must have been a dozen of them. Ok, so it's not 1,500 - but I got to see them from a metre away, could even see the different patterns on their skin. They stayed around for 20 mins. Amazing!!
I've also seen them heaps of times in Australia, but never that close.
munkeeunit
29-07-2006, 13:51
I will keep a look out for dolphins, whales, and other large aquatic objects, when I am in the mumbles come September. :cool:
Not a million mile from Pembrokeshire.
Eager Beaver
14-08-2006, 12:25
I will keep a look out for dolphins, whales, and other large aquatic objects, when I am in the mumbles come September. :cool:
Not a million mile from Pembrokeshire.
yeah, but the ocean currents that support the marine ecosystem off pembokeshire differ greatly to the mumbles.
i doubt you will see them off the mumbles, West Coast is where they are at, there is a Dolphin in St Bride's Bay, and pods of 40+ have been sighted within 250 yards of shore over the past 2 years.
I see them everyday, thats why i am here.
Eager Beaver
14-08-2006, 12:26
Wow! Just seen this on the telly. Anybody ever been lucky enough to have seen any dolphins?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4150502.stm
Yep, all summer long.
Eager Beaver
14-08-2006, 12:29
I've seen a Porpoise in the Thames at Greenwich.
so have i...it was dead.
Snorkelboy
14-08-2006, 21:38
yeah, but the ocean currents that support the marine ecosystem off pembokeshire differ greatly to the mumbles.
i doubt you will see them off the mumbles, West Coast is where they are at, there is a Dolphin in St Bride's Bay, and pods of 40+ have been sighted within 250 yards of shore over the past 2 years.
I see them everyday, thats why i am here.
There's plenty of porpoise round this way. I regularly watch them off limeslade, just round the corner from Mumbles. I Haven't seen dolphin off the shore yet - but people do. I've seen them from boat off South Gower.
Though to be fair, you do get more down your way.
Went snorkelling down your way yesterday actually (near Dinas Fawr) - got close to a lovely trigger fish (and plenty of other stuff). Didn't see the dolphin , but my mate was telling me about watching it from the pub in BroadHaven.
Edit: actually it was near Dinas FACH - the cove is called Porthmynawyd
Strumpet
14-08-2006, 22:40
:eek:
That is SO :cool:
LilMissHissyFit
15-08-2006, 08:17
There is a rigid inflatable I think its called gower coat explorer or something like that where youcan go out round the gower, you would be more likely to seethe porpoises from a boat round the headland towards rhosilli/oxwich etc I reckon
Were going to St Davids on thursday, the speedboat round ramsey island is usuallygood for spotting seals atthis time of year
Snorkelboy
15-08-2006, 09:24
There is a rigid inflatable I think its called gower coat explorer or something like that where youcan go out round the gower, you would be more likely to seethe porpoises from a boat round the headland towards rhosilli/oxwich etc I reckon
Were going to St Davids on thursday, the speedboat round ramsey island is usuallygood for spotting seals atthis time of year
From the work I've been involved in the hotspots for porpoise are:
Mumbles Head
Port Eynon Head
Burry Holms
Worms Head
Mumbles head is a really good one as it's quick to get to and they are very often there feeding on the Mixen
Pretty much any rocky point on South Gower that'll have a tidal race is pretty good though.
i seen em off the coast of Dinas Head (between Fishgaurd and Newport) when out kayaking last year, they are incredibly scarey creatures if your sitting in a boat only 15cm out of the water and they come up to "play"
i seen em off the coast of Dinas Head (between Fishgaurd and Newport) when out kayaking last year, they are incredibly scarey creatures if your sitting in a boat only 15cm out of the water and they come up to "play"
scarey! scarey :confused: they're loooooooooooooovvvvverrrrrleeeeeeeeeee mun :)
and u was well lucky
see - reviving these old threads works out ok some times. Now where's that old Forward Wales thread gone.....:D <relax I is joking;) >
Oooh, I hope they stick around. We're going to pembrokeshire for a holiday in a few weeks!
You lot planning on going out on a boat when you're down here?
To be honest, the few times i've been out over the years i've never seen any, although i'd be exillerated (sp?) to see dolphins again - the last time was when i swam with a massive school of them in the wild in a secluded reef in the red sea when i was about 14.
Might even see if i can go out there in the next few days actually...
EDIT: Whoops, just realised this thread is somewhat old :o
LilMissHissyFit
16-08-2006, 06:35
If you are dont bother with the slow boats....
Go on the rigid inflatables, its a fantastic experience
Snorkelboy
16-08-2006, 07:20
If you are dont bother with the slow boats....
Go on the rigid inflatables, its a fantastic experience
Ribs are great fun, but if you're going for wildlife watching a slower boat is better.
Kayacs are great for close encounters, but you lose your spotting ability quite a lot by being so close to the surface.
Kayacs are great for close encounters, but you lose your spotting ability quite a lot by being so close to the surface.
that and scary when they start playfully knocking your kayak :eek:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/south_west/5298710.stm
http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/42030000/jpg/_42030010_newtuna_203.jpg
found by 3 lads in Bury Port :cool:
The tuna was recovered by three teenagers from a mud bank near the harbour town last Thursday.
Marine biologists at Swansea University say it was a bigeye tuna - usually found warmer waters in open oceans.
Weighing 83.5lb (38kg) and measuring 1.34m in length they said it was a "very unusual find."
The tuna, which was put into deep freeze at a Swansea fish firm after being brought ashore, has since been passed on to the university's department of biological sciences.
WHere I understand, the best sushi chefs are to be found :)
no nicking our exotic fishies u lot! ya hear :p
Great, now my lame attempt to edit out my lame joke looks even more lame now you've quoted it :)
haha, and ddraig, im sure that aint no dolphin :D
Great, now my lame attempt to edit out my lame joke looks even more lame now you've quoted it :)
i've had 2 cuppas so am super fast today :p
haha, and ddraig, im sure that aint no dolphin :D
read it! (the bold bit) it's a blydi tuna mun
munkeeunit
31-08-2006, 12:30
Any dolphin sitings round the mumbles?
I'll be keeping an eye out for them next week anyway. :)
RaverDrew
31-08-2006, 12:36
I've never understood why we don't have Great White Sharks off our coastline ?
We seem to have the perfect conditions for them to live
its still too cold for them here isnt it?
i mean they have started to appear off cornwall but that is alot warmer than the coasts of wales.
RaverDrew
31-08-2006, 12:59
They like the cold water
You get them off the coast of Alaska
Plus you have the gulf stream as well, which warms the water up, and brings much of their prey to these coasts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_white
munkeeunit
31-08-2006, 15:17
They like the cold water
You get them off the coast of Alaska
Plus you have the gulf stream as well, which warms the water up, and brings much of their prey to these coasts.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_white
Might still be lucky then If I keep my eyes peeled next week.
hrmm, im gonna have to be carefull next time im swimming down the sea in penarth, dont wanna get eaten by a great white,.
munkeeunit
31-08-2006, 15:38
hrmm, im gonna have to be carefull next time im swimming down the sea in penarth, dont wanna get eaten by a great white,.
I find the sea scary, period. Still like looking at it for ages though :)
Snorkelboy
31-08-2006, 19:04
Get some binoculars. Head out to Limeslade (if you don't know it ask for the Castellamarre restaurant which is on the headland which makes the Western arm of the bay) It's walkable from Mumbles.
You've then got the choice of going round the back of the restaurant and Coastguard station (Tutt Head), going to the end of the Eastern Arm of the Bay, or best of all walking 10 mins East on the coastal path until the path climbs steeply, as it reaches the brow of a little hill and makes a turn there's some railings. Sit on the other side of them.
Scan with your eyes and only use the binoculars once you've seen them. Theyre usually arounf the tidal race (which appears as a big strip of water that looks rougher than the rest of the sea). If you're in Limeslade it's slightly to your right, if you're on the coastal path it's to your left.
If the sea is choppy don't bother, you'll never see them unless they're right under your nose.
BTW - that guy in the tuna pic is a mate of mine - lovely bloke and sure knows his stuff.
(This si for porpoise mind, not dolphin - unless you're very very lucky)
<snip>
(This si for porpoise mind, not dolphin - unless you're very very lucky)
what porpoise?
<gets coat>:o
munkeeunit
31-08-2006, 22:14
Get some binoculars. Head out to Limeslade (if you don't know it ask for the Castellamarre restaurant which is on the headland which makes the Western arm of the bay) It's walkable from Mumbles.
You've then got the choice of going round the back of the restaurant and Coastguard station (Tutt Head), going to the end of the Eastern Arm of the Bay, or best of all walking 10 mins East on the coastal path until the path climbs steeply, as it reaches the brow of a little hill and makes a turn there's some railings. Sit on the other side of them.
Scan with your eyes and only use the binoculars once you've seen them. Theyre usually arounf the tidal race (which appears as a big strip of water that looks rougher than the rest of the sea). If you're in Limeslade it's slightly to your right, if you're on the coastal path it's to your left.
If the sea is choppy don't bother, you'll never see them unless they're right under your nose.
BTW - that guy in the tuna pic is a mate of mine - lovely bloke and sure knows his stuff.
(This si for porpoise mind, not dolphin - unless you're very very lucky)
I know exactly where you mean :D
Can you put in a good word for me? seeing as you're so in with the dolphins, I was hoping they'd come up close and go 'clickety clackety' at me in person.
Acorrding to Ian Brown dolphins were monkeys which went back to the sea, but it's been a few million years since we chatted up close and personal, so a go between would be great to reintroduce us like.
If you don't believe me I have evidence in these here lyrics....
"So I'm caught in the middle, you're next to me
I swim with the fishes, you come from the sea
The dolphins were monkeys, that didn't like the land
Walked back to the water, went back from the sand
The dolphins were monkeys, that didn't like the land
Should I be walking the beach, and I'll be holding your hand
Yeah"
Nostradamus eat your heart out :D
for everything a reason munkee ;)
u shall be reunited i'm sure :)
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