Dolphins or Porpoises Thurso Bay tonight

[ragdollyanna]

There are loads (we think about 10) dolphins playing in Thurso Bay tonight! What a fantastic spectacle to behold!

[Seabird]

There are loads (we think about 10) dolphins playing in Thurso Bay tonight! What a fantastic spectacle to behold!

Great sighting. The species seen have been identified, they are Risso's Dolphins numbering about 10. Kas did get some pictures but she informed me they were taken at distance.
At the moment she is having trouble getting on line.

Risso's seen at noon yesterday by the Silverline angling boat near Dunnet and seen this morning 10.30am near Duncansby Head by the John O'Groats Ferry.

Colin
Caithness sea watching.

[ragdollyanna]

We live overlooking the bay and in the 4 years we've been here, we've seen nothing, then a basking shark and these dolphins in one week!! Does anyone know, is there a reason for this? There do seem to be alot of buoys in the bay at the moment.. could it be due to increase fishing activity?

[kas]

Hi there
The shark activity is really good this year but it was pretty good in 2008 too. Last year was poor. There was a large Basking at 8am this morning.

Ref the dolphins, it has actually been really quiet of late. Rissos are quite a common sight in the bay, but not normally as close as they were earlier.

They are also far easier to see if they are as active as they were this evening. You may have noticed the lifeboat coming in to the bay. I have found the Risso get very active if it is about, probably something to do with the noise.

PS The rissos are over towards Murkle now. There is a minimum of 7.

[Seabird]

We live overlooking the bay and in the 4 years we've been here, we've seen nothing, then a basking shark and these dolphins in one week!! Does anyone know, is there a reason for this? There do seem to be alot of buoys in the bay at the moment.. could it be due to increase fishing activity?

If you take a look at my web site you will see what you have been missing.
Risso's Dolphins migrate past during Spring and Summer usually in waves (you see lots then you see none) at the moment there is such a wave of Risso's in the area.

Colin
www.Caithness-sea-watching.co.uk

[Dog-eared]

Saw the dolphins tonight from the boat. They were at the Holborn Head side then moved round the bay and dissapeared off the sewage works past Thurso East. they were jumping out of the water and looking great. I've seen dolphins before off Holborn Head and Strathy Point.

[gleeber]

We live overlooking the bay and in the 4 years we've been here, we've seen nothing, then a basking shark and these dolphins in one week!! Does anyone know, is there a reason for this? There do seem to be alot of buoys in the bay at the moment.. could it be due to increase fishing activity?

When I was a boy, 50 years ago, Basking sharks were common visitors to the bay and although we called them porpoises there were often plenty of those dolphin type things strutting their stuff in the bay.