[Adastra] National Whale and Dolphin Watch

[Stephen Savage]

Hi all

 

This week 23rd June to 1st July is National Whale and Dolphin Watch.

Yesterday, I organized the Sussex manned watch from Shoreham Beach 

Local Nature Reserve. Past years I have run the Sussex manned watch

from the Brighton Marina. This year I planned to make it a bigger affair 

by including a seabird watch and vegetated shingle walk. I was therefore 

very disappointed that it poured with rain for most of the day. 

 

Along with a small hardy band of people we watched from 10.00am until 2.40pm
(originally 

planned to end at 4.00pm but we were all soaked to the skin by then). I
managed to give out 

leaflets and talk to some hardy dog walkers and fisherman and a few local
people came along 

to find out about the event.

 

No dolphin sightings either sadly, but the terns seem unconcerned about the
weather and 

we observed them diving just in front of us on and off during the day and a
flocks of

oystercatchers 

 

During last years event we had 4 sightings off Sussex during National Whale
and Dolphin 

Watch and 613 sightings around the UK involving 8 different species, so
fingers crossed 

for this year.

 

It would be great to hear from any of you who may be lucky enough to spot a
dolphin, whale 

porpoise or seal during the week (or any other time).

 

It would also be great to hear from anyone undertaking any other
sea-watching (e.g. seabirds) 

and do not see any sea mammals as negative data is also vital to this
snapshot event.

 

Many thanks

Steve Savage