[Steve Babbs]

There's only one space available, so it's probably a thing for another year, but has anyone been on the Naturetrek cruise for white-beaked dolphin:

http://www.naturetrek.co.uk/itins/GB...y_Lyme_Bay.pdf

I've seen white-beaked dolphin, but only once, and rather distantly so it's quite appealing. It'd be good to hear from someone who's done it.

Cheers

[MarkHows]

Steve,

I did this in 2010, John Dixon was on same cruise, this was the only trip that connected in 2010.

Great trip though, photos and report

http://www.hows.org.uk/inter/birds/apr-jun2010.htm

Mark

[peter.jones]

Yeah, be sure to pack a short lens

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/z.../IMG_7106b.jpg

Actually, this wasn't with Naturetrek, but on the same boat (taking part on a Marinelife survey). I've only seen them once in about 4 trips.

Peter

[Farnboro John]

Book a June trip or forget it: you must have a flat sea to have a decent chance of connecting and June is the most dependable for calm days.

If you do connect they are awesome.

I went twice, the first time being a trip later in the year which was too rough for cetacean spotting, hence a dip.

Pix on one of the older John's Mammals threads.

John

[Steve Babbs]

Originally Posted by peter.jones

Yeah, be sure to pack a short lens

http://i837.photobucket.com/albums/z.../IMG_7106b.jpg

Actually, this wasn't with Naturetrek, but on the same boat (taking part on a Marinelife survey). I've only seen them once in about 4 trips.

Peter

Wow to that picture!

[Steve Babbs]

Very appealing, but rather pricey if you have to allow for a few dips. I certainly put it on my 'to do one day' list. Cheers for your replies guys. And another wow to the picture!

[peter.jones]

Cheers Steve, a very lucky picture as the left and bottom edge was the edge of the full frame. I could have done with less than 70mm!

One option could be to volunteer with Marinelife to survey. If you can be flexible with the dates. I'm sure they would appreciate survey time on a boat on a calm day. (You'd have to record seabirds as well as look for dolphins, but it is all good stuff). I've been on a couple of diving trips out of West Bay, sat on the bridge all day scanning!

http://www.marine-life.org.uk/charm-iii-project

Peter

[Farnboro John]

70-200mm worked fine for me!

http://www.birdforum.net/showpost.ph...&postcount=235

2010 June trip - really really excellent!

John

[pandachris]

The departures in the pdf are all in July. We'll be "in the area" at the start of June. Does anyone know of any other alternative? We had a look for White-beaked Dolphins off NE Scotland last year with no luck and we're going up there in April so will give it another try but I'm increasingly feeling the absence of this species from my list.

[MallardHarrier]

I've been on plenty of boats and seen plenty of WBDs, and calm weather isn't necessary to observe this species. With respect, I think John's statement "June or forget it" was rather crude, go whenever you are able.
You could try off Newbiggin in the summer - regular, though often distant.

http://www.marine-life.org.uk/media/...%20england.pdf

[Farnboro John]

Originally Posted by MallardHarrier

I've been on plenty of boats and seen plenty of WBDs, and calm weather isn't necessary to observe this species. With respect, I think John's statement "June or forget it" was rather crude, go whenever you are able.
You could try off Newbiggin in the summer - regular, though often distant.

http://www.marine-life.org.uk/media/...%20england.pdf

I wasn't suggesting for a moment that WBD cant be seen in rough weather. However, the Lyme Bay trips cover the whole of Lyme Bay from Start Point to Portland Bill. If the weather is remotely bouncy and the sea less than flat, then short of falling over the WBD you will not find them as you totter about with one hand for the ship and one for yourself trying to scan a heaving horizon and spot a distant dorsal fin while the boat motors briskly from one end of the bay to the other. Have you seen how long the sweep of Lyme Bay is?

Once you have contact it is a piece of cake, you just home in from any distance and the dolphins are pleased to see you.

If you are looking from terra firma the bouncing about doesn't apply, and if you are looking from the elevation of a cliff the sea state is less important.

But I stand by my statement about the weather in the specific case of boating in Lyme Bay.

John

[Jhanlon]

Originally Posted by pandachris

The departures in the pdf are all in July. We'll be "in the area" at the start of June. Does anyone know of any other alternative? We had a look for White-beaked Dolphins off NE Scotland last year with no luck and we're going up there in April so will give it another try but I'm increasingly feeling the absence of this species from my list.

I've heard they're the commonest dolphin in the North Sea. I'd suggest Shetland, which is where I've had both my sightings and where I've seen all manner of other cetaceans - orcas, minkes, etc (though missing white-sided!). Saw them once distantly from Sumburgh Head and once from the Good Shepherd, the boat to Fair Isle. There are plenty of web pages detailing cetacean sightings which can help you get an overview of the most likely areas for sighting.

[Steve Babbs]

I have seen them before, it's crippling views and photos I'm after!

[pandachris]

Thanks Jhanlon. We'll be looking for them in the North Sea in April and later this month off Iceland too, but we're 'down south' at the start of June so it's info about any trips in Lyme Bay or thereabouts that I'm interested in. I'm reasonably familiar with the sightings sites but a bit of local info is always useful.

[martin kitching]

Can never be guaranteed :-)

cheers
martin

Originally Posted by Steve Babbs

I have seen them before, it's crippling views and photos I'm after!

[Steve Babbs]

Originally Posted by martin kitching

Can never be guaranteed :-)

cheers
martin

Yep, that's what I'm after!

[Andy Tucker]

As Steve says, all this year's fixed departure trips are full. Last year we had a disappointing run with these trips, having to cancel a series of departures due to poor weather. The 2011 British summer did us and Marinelife no favours. For 2012 therefore, so that we do not miss the best periods of settled weather, we will be arranging additional 'ad hoc' cruises whenever the weather is suitable for dolphin viewing and research. To take advantage of these impromptu cruises, you will need to register your interest with Dave Shute (01962 733051 or email davidshute (at) naturetrek.co.uk) in order to subscribe to an email 'alert' which Dave will issue whenever the weather is suitable. We already have 80+ signed up to this list, so we're hopeful of getting a few ad-hoc cruises out to sea, skipper availability and Olympics pressures permitting. I've also alerted James Phillips and Tom Brereton of Marinelife to to this thread.

[THE WANDERER]

Naturetrek currently have space available on Lyme Bay cruise for Wednesday and Thursday this week (8th & 9th)

[snlw]

I went on the Naturetrek Lyme Bay cruise today and was rewarded with great views of between 10-15 White-beaked Dolphins. They appeared to be feeding during the time we had them & unfortunately only a couple very briefly were bow riding. Plenty of action around the boat though. Also had one Ocean Sunfish.

[snlw]

Pictures from yesterday are on here - www.flickr.com/photos/sinlw

[skink1978]

Originally Posted by snlw

Pictures from yesterday are on here - www.flickr.com/photos/sinlw

Nice one Simon.

[Farnboro John]

Cracking stuff Simon, you have been lucky with the weather and the dolphins!

John

[snlw]

Originally Posted by Farnboro John

Cracking stuff Simon, you have been lucky with the weather and the dolphins!

John

I was due out earlier in the year but it was cancelled due to the weather. Got a call on Monday saying weather forecast was good (light winds), so thought give it a go as they recently had 23 WBD, 10 Harbour Porpoise & a Minke.
Weather was a bit cloudy to start with but visibilty was good. Once out in the deeper water weather was great & a calm sea. Only way it could have been better was if they stayed to bow ride instead of a couple doing so very briefly.
I would be interested to see how they got on today as again weather forecast was perfect.

Cheers, Simon

[snlw]

Really happy I went out on Wednesday & not Thursday! I received this e-mail today about Thursdays trip -

Very different day!
Weather calmed through the day to make perfect viewing conditions by early afternoon but no dolphins to be seen!?!???
However a Minke Whale and 3 Harbour Porpoise were seen – the Minke attracting around 1500 Manx Shearwaters as well as Gannets and a few Bonxie as well as 2 Pom Skuas.

[MarkHows]

Not from Lyme Bay but saw some last week near St Kilda


Mark