An unusual sighting of common dolphins was reported in the vicinity of the Farnes Isles by kayaker, Neil Turnbull.
Neil explains:
At first we thought they were bottlenose dolphins but looked very small. We paddled out from the beach under Dunstanburgh Castle and were confronted by the small pod only 500 yards from the shore. They followed us out through the numerous tidal races to the outer Island of Longstone. The faster we paddled the more exited they would get, sometimes swimming under our kayaks upside down along side us. At one stage I paddled off from the group and noticed that the dolphins followed me and tried to ride the small wake in front of the kayak. As I turned back towards the group they followed on and re-joined us all.
A good hour of excitement was had by all our group and I’m sure the dolphins enjoyed the company as well. We were part of an organised trip guided by Ollie Jay form Active4 seasons who runs guided kayak trips out to Nothumberlands secret wildlife archipelago, the Farne Islands.
The photos that Neil managed to take of the animals enabled a positive species ID. The photos clearly show the tan coloured patch on the animals’ flanks.
Common dolphins are known to frequent the coast of North-East England but sightings are in the North Sea are rare.
