Northerly winds, a very choppy ocean (sea state >4 on the Beaufort Scale), combined with medium swell meant that today’s usual New Quay land-watches and boat-watches could not go ahead. This is because these conditions make spotting dolphins very tricky, so our ability to detect these animals if they are nearby is much lower than usual, which throws off the reliability of our data. Therefore, on windy days, we enjoy the views and catch up on our office work!
Video of Bottlenose Dolphins from Sea Watch Dolphin Hub’s window. Video credit: Jordan Williams.
Here at the Dolphin Hub however, we received visits from some lovely groups of dolphin fans who came to tell us about their sightings throughout this week and for some shelter from the wind and rain. Luckily a few people braved the elements and managed to spot a mother and calf resting in the harbour, a known refuge spot for when the open waters are too rough for young calves. Other than this lucky sighting, we have unfortunately not seen any other dolphins in New Quay today. But fear not! On the 28th we had front row seats to some dolphin activity and managed to capture some footage from right here in our Education Hub. So we hope you enjoy this short video of a playful pod, showing off in-front of the Dolphin Spotting Boat. Look out for our next update and upcoming virtual presentations, meanwhile we’ll keep our fingers crossed for more cetacean action tomorrow.
If you are feeling the need for some sugar and spice to insulate yourself against the cold, please visit our fund-raising bake sale in the Dolphin Hub this weekend (we may even venture onto the pier if weather permits, but we will always be offering refuge and treats in the Dolphin Hub – Rock Street Car Park, New Quay, West Wales.
See you soon and enjoy the last weekend of 2021’s National Whale and Dolphin Watch Week!!!
Jordan W. & Fran F.
Education and Outreach Assistants