Saturday 27 September 2008
Friday 26 September 2008
DOLPHINS DOLPHINS - EVERYWHERE!
Here I am, back in Gardenstown again! After offering to help with the last Earthwatch team of the season, I have to say, news of 3.5M waves, and the thought of taking on the formal title of 'staff' for the next 11 days, I began to wonder what I'd let myself in for.
But here I am, the sea has flattened out, and the whitecaps subsided. We've been able to take to the water in full force with both survey vessels, to effectively cover the study area. The harbour porpoise are in tight groups, congregating to breed. We're regularly encountering groups of 10 to 20 porpoise - how lucky for us, when previously they've only been spotted in ones or twos.
But this Wednesday was amazing! We were just east of Lossiemouth in Spey Bay, searching for Minkes, when we came across the most humongous group of bottlenose. Previously, the largest group size encoutered was 44 animals, but on this occassion there were in excess of 60 animals - in fact, there were just too many to be able to record them all. We did manage to formally identify 54 individuals. Among them 14 calves and 3 neonates. We didn't know which way to look, it was like being in a dolphin playground. One calf, bow riding and banging into the boat for the fun of it. Leaping and playing, males showing off - ever hopeful, another youngster, right in front of the boat in a vertical position under the water, looking straight up at us - what a show they put on for us - amazing!
I have to say though, I've never been so cold in my life! But I wouldn't have missed the experience for the world; who cares if the odd finger or toe falls off! (I've been accussed of over dramatising the cold!)
After earlier working with the amazing mostly american team, then the energetic and enthusiastic teacher team, I thought for certain there couldn't be a group to match them. But how wrong I was! I'm working with an awesome, all female group from the US to Europe. Including Suzanne, who has completed 20 Earthwatch projects, and this is her second time with CRRU. The only person I've met who has tasted a dolphins milk!
But here I am, the sea has flattened out, and the whitecaps subsided. We've been able to take to the water in full force with both survey vessels, to effectively cover the study area. The harbour porpoise are in tight groups, congregating to breed. We're regularly encountering groups of 10 to 20 porpoise - how lucky for us, when previously they've only been spotted in ones or twos.
But this Wednesday was amazing! We were just east of Lossiemouth in Spey Bay, searching for Minkes, when we came across the most humongous group of bottlenose. Previously, the largest group size encoutered was 44 animals, but on this occassion there were in excess of 60 animals - in fact, there were just too many to be able to record them all. We did manage to formally identify 54 individuals. Among them 14 calves and 3 neonates. We didn't know which way to look, it was like being in a dolphin playground. One calf, bow riding and banging into the boat for the fun of it. Leaping and playing, males showing off - ever hopeful, another youngster, right in front of the boat in a vertical position under the water, looking straight up at us - what a show they put on for us - amazing!
I have to say though, I've never been so cold in my life! But I wouldn't have missed the experience for the world; who cares if the odd finger or toe falls off! (I've been accussed of over dramatising the cold!)
After earlier working with the amazing mostly american team, then the energetic and enthusiastic teacher team, I thought for certain there couldn't be a group to match them. But how wrong I was! I'm working with an awesome, all female group from the US to Europe. Including Suzanne, who has completed 20 Earthwatch projects, and this is her second time with CRRU. The only person I've met who has tasted a dolphins milk!
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