Lancashire cetaceans

[Stephen Dunstan]

Although my last thread on the sea watch forum was almost completely ignored I thought I'd try one more before sticking to other parts of the site.

I arrived on Blackpool Promenade at 7.00 this morning to find a flat calm sea, not great for seabirds but ideal for dolphins and porpoises. In the event not only were two different pods of porpoises on view at the same time but I also got a distant but still very satisfying view of a breaching whale. In Lancashire terms this is a remarkable haul in a one hour watch.

Unfortunately not able to clinch the ID of the whale.

Stephen.

[Andrew]

Amazing what you can do in Blackpool, watch Whales then go on the Big Dipper!

[birdman]

It's something I've never managed to see, cetaceans.

That sounds like a great sighting from (in my expectation) and unusual location.

[peteh]

could be minke whale I saw one off isle of man a few weeks back

[Stephen Dunstan]

Pete,

I am no great whale expert but my leaning was towards Minke on the basis of apparent size and fin shape / position.

It will have to go down as 'whale sp' though I think.

Stephen.

[Johnny1]

Thats great Stephen, the only thing I've ever seen from the Lancashire coast was a seal off Formby. Although I've seen harbour Porpoises off South stack, Anglesey.
Did you make the report to Birdguides? as I was reading it with interest earlier. Where on the prom do you watch from?

[Andrew]

If I saw some cetaceans on a sea watch I'd be having a Whale of a time! (Sorry, that was poor)

[Stephen Dunstan]

Johnny,

I watch from the extreme southern tip of the Promenade, just before it returns to sandy beach and starts curving into the Ribble mouth. Seals are fairly regular off here, cetaceans are much more unusual. In the winter you can get 2-3000 scoter past in a couple of hours, which is quite a sight.

In the past people have had great success further north towards the piers, so I don't think there is a right place to be. If you ever come this way and want to know what's about or sit with someone let me know.

Stephen.

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Stephen,

It'd be worth getting hold of a marine chart with sea depths mapped. Then choose the point nearest to deep water. I get the impression that the sea off Blackpool is pretty shallow for a long way out (the 25m submarine contour is about 15 miles out), whales don't really like to be in shallow water as they're more vulnerable there.

The only whales I've seen in British waters were three Minkes, on a pelagic trip out of Tynemouth (Northumberland), about 12 miles offshore, in water about 60m deep. Even that is on the shallow side for them, they're quite rare this far south in the North Sea.

Michael

[Tannin]

And here was me thinking that Lancashire was well and truly inland, probably somewhere near Manchester. I actually opened this thread expecting it to be about fossil whales.

[Stephen Dunstan]

Michael,

Yes it is indeed very shallow off Lancashire, which is why we don't get too many whales. Possibly also why we don't get too many Sooty Shearwaters also, for example, as I don't think they are too happy in shallower waters either.

Stephen.

[Stephen Dunstan]

Me again, I have had some contact with the experts on such things and the following are apparently present in north west England waters in better numbers than usual:

Northern Bottle-nosed Whales
Harbour Porpoises
Basking Sharks (particularly these - up to 20 together at favoured sites)

So keep your eyes open.

Today was too choppy for cetaceans at Starr Gate, there were a couple of Arctic Skuas attacking gulls together though.

Stephen.

[pauco]

stephen
I woudent mind taking you up on your offer of a seawatch
in your patch I only live 25mins drive away, in leyland, have not been out birding for 10 days. helping daughter move home.
dont yer just luv em.
bert

[Stephen Dunstan]

Bert,

I'll e-mail you privately.

Stephen.

[Gerry Hooper]

"
whales don't really like to be in shallow water as they're more vulnerable there." Posted by Michael Francis.
Well that's what I thought until we went to Brandon Head and Smerwick harbour (S.W.Ireland) on honeymoon 6 years ago.
A minke whale was so close inshore I nearly fell off the cliff getting a good view of it .
The cliffs are nearly vertical there so maybe there is deep water close inshore.
Fabulous area and a memorable sighting. Not a bad Honeymoon either!

[Michael Frankis]

Hi Gerry,

They'll come into shallow water, if they're in a place where they can get into deep water in a hurry. Reason being, deep water is their best escape route from Killer Whales (which can't dive as deep as baleen whales, but can swim faster)

Of course there's not many Killer Whales around these days, so that might make them more confident about exploring shallow water with good feeding.

Michael

[Gerry Hooper]

Cheers Michael,
I seem to remember a story about a blue whale going so far up the Thames that it couldn't turn around!!!
mmmm, probably more likely to see one perched in a tree.

[Dave Sherry]

Hi Stephen,

Do you get to the prom every day? I live in Preston and work shifts so I have time at odd hours of the day. I have never 'sea-watched' before but find the idea enthralling. Any chance you could give a few pointers. Is early morning the best time or is dusk ok?

Cheers,

Dave

[Stephen Dunstan]

Dave,

I tend to get to the Prom before work or at lunchtime most days, and also sometimes at the weekend if the conditions look promising.

Early mornings are definitely best, not least because the sun is behind you. There may be similar movement of an evening, but if there is sun you are then looking into it.

I am out of the country from tomorrow until Saturday, but if you are interested in meeting up on site mail me privately and we can sort something out.

Regards,

Stephen.

[Onurb]

Hello,

Last weekend I was on the Isle of Man and saw quite some nice Basking sharks there, despite the weather not being very good. It seems indeed to be a good year for them.
I wondered however where you could see Northern Bottle-nose whales in England this year?

Bruno from Belgium, currently in Liverpool for a training

[christineredgate]

yes there have been several reports re whales off the West coast.There was an item on the North west news,only a week ago.We get lots of families of grey seals off this stretch of the coast,but only when it is warm ,they come and lie on the sandbanks in the harbour here at Haverigg.But have not seen as many this year as last.
Christine.

[James Armstrong]

Hi folks,

Read this thread with much interest. Used to live in Lancaster. Spent 6 very happy years in the North West! This website you would find very interesting:- www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk/data.htm In the recent sightings section it lists all recorded sightings of cetaceans around the shores of the British Isles, region by region. Has lots of other fascinating info as well. Well worth a visit!

[Dave B Smith]

Stephen,

Glad to see I'm not the only Birder who will get distracted by a Cetacean! Attached is my Whale of a tail -

We were on a small boat in Glacier Bay, Alaska and I was photographing this whale with a long lens. When he next surfaced, he was right alongside us and sooo close, I couldn't get a picture with my big lens.

[Stephen Dunstan]

A good week from Blackpool with Bottlenose Dolphin and Harbour Porpoises seen. Have set up a website if anyone is interested - details on the Lancs forum I think, otherwise just pm me for details.

Stephen.

[Jane Turner]

I've seen a fair few Pilot Whales from here and a possible Risso's Dolphin, but never anything Rorqual-like. Porpoises are scarce here but frequent by the time you get to Anglesey.

[sparrowbirder]

saw a pod of harbour porpoise off Fedw Fawr in july!! weent even looking for them they were just there! must be quite common around the Anglesey coast.

[Gill Osborne]

Dave.....WOW!!! What a beauty!What wouldn't I give to see something like that!!!
Only seen very occasional sightings of cetaceans...Freddie at Amble Harbour a month or so before he disappeared in 1992 and another dolphin/porpoise that the papers named Charlie that was in the mouth of the Tyne in August(i think!)1998. Seen a few Grey Seals which are brilliant but would love to see more cetaceans!!!

[CollingwoodHote]

We were sitting in our sun lounge, Hotel on North Promenade, Blackpool with the telescope all set up looking at boats when a black blob caught my eye. Zooming in we saw a lovely old sea lion just watching us, about 400 yards off the sea line. He's been back every day over the last week, so we decided to search google and see if there was anywhere to report the siting....and found you lot...lol. We've only just moved up, and reading the thread on whales, dolphins, porpoise and seals, we will be at the window even more in future. If anyone needs a great viewing spot for a few days, send us a mail.
Paul

[Stephen Dunstan]

Hi Paul,

Seal rather than sea lion I guess? My website has quite a bit of info on porpoises if you want to delve a little more re Blackpool.

Regards,

Stephen.

[Katy Penland]

Hi, Paul! Just saw this was your first post to BirdForum, so a warm welcome to you from all of us on staff here!

Stephen, I wish I were back in CA and going on whale watch trips again. I really miss seeing cetaceans on a regular basis and have thoroughly enjoyed catching up on your thread here. Next time I come to north Wales for research, I'll look you up since you're not that far away. I wanted to get out into Cardigan Bay to see my first "European cetaceans" the last two times I was there but just ran out of time. I'd give my eyeteeth to see any of the bottlenose whales -- that'd be a "lifer" for me. ;)

[ed keeble]

Cheers Michael,
I seem to remember a story about a blue whale going so far up the Thames that it couldn't turn around!!!
mmmm, probably more likely to see one perched in a tree.
You've reminded me of one of my most regretted childhood dips- many moons ago (1970s?) there were 3 Blue Whales for several days quite close in (for a whale...) off Mersea in Essex and I just couldn't persuade my parents to take me down there. I suspect that if the same thing happened now there would be quite twitch.

[Stevie babe]

It's something I've never managed to see, cetaceans.

That sounds like a great sighting from (in my expectation) and unusual location.

Strangely there's plenty around the coasts of the UK. But the best bet is the "mini cruise" from Portsmouth to Bilbao. It goes wice a week, usual captain very cetacean friendly and there are reports of dolphins, porpoises and whales, as soon asthey are seen. Common Dolphins always head for the bow. I go every year, often good birding as well.

Keep the pressure up to stop twin trawling and the cetaceans will always be there.

If interested , send me a message and I'll give more info, good contact, etc.

Eagle - did you get to go?

Steve

[Stevie babe]

"
whales don't really like to be in shallow water as they're more vulnerable there." Posted by Michael Francis.
Well that's what I thought until we went to Brandon Head and Smerwick harbour (S.W.Ireland) on honeymoon 6 years ago.
A minke whale was so close inshore I nearly fell off the cliff getting a good view of it .
The cliffs are nearly vertical there so maybe there is deep water close inshore.
Fabulous area and a memorable sighting. Not a bad Honeymoon either!

SW ireland is relatively close to the continental shelf and there is thought to be a colony of blue whales around the area

Steve

[Stevie babe]

Stephen,

Glad to see I'm not the only Birder who will get distracted by a Cetacean! Attached is my Whale of a tail -

We were on a small boat in Glacier Bay, Alaska and I was photographing this whale with a long lens. When he next surfaced, he was right alongside us and sooo close, I couldn't get a picture with my big lens.

Now that's a picture

Steve,

[Stephen Dunstan]

I have actually been fortunate enough to meet the captain and crew on the bridge when I went on the Portsmouth-Bilbao as we were 'VIPs' (competition winners) and they were very nice, but to be fair it is volunteers who are cetacean friendly and do all the observation and broadcast the news around the boat.

[CollingwoodHote]

Hi Paul,

Seal rather than sea lion I guess? My website has quite a bit of info on porpoises if you want to delve a little more re Blackpool.

Regards,

Stephen.

Stephen,
Thanks for that, just had a peak and didn't realise you were also sunny Blackpool. Have to pop up sometime and show us how to tell the difference between the seals etc. Not into the birds yet, but open to persuation. North Prom, and the name gives us away. Coffee??
Cheers
Paul

[Stephen Dunstan]

Resurrecting this thread to say to anyone in the Blackpool area (just possibly even on holiday) that there were three porpoises off Starr Gate this afternoon. Really good views through the scope. Also a Grey Seal and loads and loads of scoter.

Stephen.

[ikw101]

Resurrecting this thread to say to anyone in the Blackpool area (just possibly even on holiday) that there were three porpoises off Starr Gate this afternoon. Really good views through the scope. Also a Grey Seal and loads and loads of scoter.

Stephen.

Great news Stephen hoping to call up that way on Sunday. Have you ever seen any further north eg. Wyre estuary? Hilbre island on the Dee estuary is normally reliable for Grey Seals - see attached and almost anything can turn up on a high tide up in Arnside.

[Stephen Dunstan]

Hi,

Not normal to get either in the Wyre, though there was a porpoise reported this summer or maybe last. Worth a diversion though, as a Ring-billed Gull showing well there tonight.

Stephen.

[Stephen Dunstan]

I thought I would resurrect this ancient thread given I continue to see seals and porpoises fairly regularly in the Red Rose county and there are a lot of Lancs residents on BF.

Today I saw two porpoises very close in at Starr Gate, and a Grey Seal so close that I could count its whiskers through the scope.

Regards,

Stephen.

[JWN Andrewes]

and a Grey Seal so close that I could count its whiskers through the scope.

Regards,

Stephen.

Go on then, don't leave us hanging....How many??

James

[Stephen Dunstan]

Ok John, I confess it is a turn of phrase.

I could have done had I chosen to, that was the point I was trying to make...

Regards,

Stephen.

[Jane Turner]

24 i bet!