2hr survey, Start time 12:00
Weather conditions: sea state 2-3, visibility >10km, light swell
8 bottlenose dolphins
Our first sighting was of a group of 6 bottlenose dolphins including four adults and two juveniles off of birds rock. They were travelling in an easterly direction. A further two dolphins; a mother and calf, were sighted travelling south east out to sea between birds rock and New Quay headland.
2hr survey: Start time 10:45
Weather conditions: sea state 1-4, visibility >10km, light swell
15 bottlenose dolphins and 5 Atlantic grey seals
The first sighting was of three female Atlantic grey seals hauled out near bird rock. Another female Atlantic grey seal was seen in the water near Ynys Lochtyn, with another being seen also in the water near by. Off of Ynys Lochtyn headland 15 bottlenose dolphins were seen foraging, leaping, tail slapping and bow riding. There were a number of calves and juveniles in this group and 7 adults. There were also gannets seen associating with the group.
2hr survey: Start time 12:45
Weather conditions: sea state 3-4, visibility >10km, light-medium swell
One Atlantic grey seal
One Atlantic grey seal was seen in the water between Ynys Lochtyn and Llangrannog.
2 hr survey. Start time 11:00
Weather conditions: sea state 2-3, visibility >10km, light-medium swell
2 bottlenose dolphins
During the last minutes of the survey two bottlenose dolphins were seen in the harbour area, one adult plus one juvenile. They were travelling fast in easterly direction.
2 hr survey, Start time 11.15
Weather conditions: sea state2 to 3, visibility >10km, low swell
No sightings
2 hr survey. Start time 11:10
Weather conditions: sea state 3. visibility >10km, light swell
One Atlantic grey seal
One female Atlantic grey seal spotted at the surface 10m from the boat slightly offshore from Cwmtydu.
2 hr survey. Start time 13:15
Weather conditions: sea state 3, visibility >10km, light swell
Two bottlenose dolphins
One bottlenose dolphin and its calf were seen foraging at Ynys Lochtyn
2hr survey, start time: 11:11
Weather conditions: sea state 2-4, visibility > 10km, light-medium swell
Three bottlenose dolphins and one Atlantic grey seal
Three bottlenose dolphins were sighted right at the beginning of the survey in New Quay bay. They were seen foraging by the cardinal buoy. The second sighting was on the way out past Cwmtydu where a single Atlantic grey seal was seen in the water.
1.5hr survey. Start time 11:16
Weather conditions: sea state 2-4, visibility 1-10km, 0-1km, light-medium swell
11 Bottlenose dolphins
All sightings of bottlenose dolphins occurred in New Quay bay. The first was at the start of the survey of one individual seen foraging. The second sighting followed soon after and was of two individuals seen foraging and feeding. The third and fourth sightings occurred on the way back in to New Quay bay, the former of two individuals seen foraging, the latter of six individuals seen foraging, leaping and socializing. Large colonies of herring gulls and guillemots were also sighted flying and feeding at New Quay bay.
All day survey. Start time 09:02
Weather conditions: sea state 1-4, visibility >10km, light-medium swell
39 Atlantic grey seals and 7 Harbour porpoise
The first sightings were not seen until we reached Aberporth, with two sightings of harbour porpoise offshore. One group of two animals were travelling south towards the cost while the other group of three were foraging. A male Atlantic grey seal was also seen offshore at Aberporth. There was one sighting of one grey seal bottling at the surface at mwnt. There were eight separate sightings of seals at port cardigan. A total of eight seals were seen in the water either bottling or swimming and 23 were hauled out on the beach. On the return journey past mwnt one female grey seal was sighted swimming in the water. There was one female grey seal seen bottling in the water at Aberporth. A further three separate sightings of grey seals were recorded at Pen-y-bodell, including two individuals and one male and female pair. Offshore Pen-y-bodell two harbour porpoise were sighted travelling west at high speed.
1.5hr survey. Start time 10:01
Weather conditions: sea state 1-2, visibility >10lm, light-medium swell
Two bottlenose dolphins
The first bottlenose dolphin sighting of the survey was off the fish factory upon leaving New Quay harbour. The adult dolphin was seen foraging. The second sighting was off a bottlenose dolphin foraging off New Quay headland.
1.5hr survey. Start time 11:54
Weather conditions: sea state 1-2, visibility 1-10km, light swell
Nine bottlenose dolphins
Two adult bottlenose dolphins were seen off the fish factory at the start of the survey. Three bottlenose dolphins were encountered off New Quay headland on the return journey. The group consisted of two adults and one calf. Four more bottlenose dolphins including two calves were encountered a few minutes later off the fish factory.
1.5hr start time: 10:41
Weather Conditions: sea state 2-3, >10km, swell light.
A total of six bottlenose dolphins were seen during the first survey trip. The first group of three was sighted ahead of the boat at a distance of around 1000m, leaping and tail slapping. A further group of three were sighted 400m ahead of the boat shortly afterward, foraging, with an associated group of herring gulls.
1.5hr start time: 12:09
Weather Conditions: sea state 2, >10km, swell light.
The second trip of the day yielded multiple sightings, with 11 bottlenose dolphins and three grey seals in total. The first group of four bottlenose dolphins was sighted, foraging and occasionally leaping off New Quay, shortly after another pair was sighted foraging only 80m from the boat. Travelling on toward Castell Bach there were two sightings of Atlantic grey seals, firstly a pair of females hauled out on rocks, and second and individual swimming only 40m off the port side.
The return leg of the survey provided further views of bottlenose dolphins, a lone individual leaping off Castell Bach and a further group of four foraging near Carreg Draenog.
1.5hr start time: 13:48
Weather Conditions: sea state 1-2, >10km, swell light.
A total of six bottlenose dolphins and one Atlantic grey seal were seen during the last survey trip of the day. Firstly a group of four adult bottlenose dolphins were seen leaping and tail slapping off New Quay fish factory, followed shortly after by a pair of adult dolphins travelling northeast toward Aberaeron. The final sighting of the trip was of a female Atlantic grey seal swimming 35m off the starboard side of the survey boat. Carreg Draenog.
2hr survey. Start time 14:59
Weather conditions: sea state 1-4, visibility >10km, light-medium swell
Seven bottlenose dolphins
Seven bottlenose dolphins, including three calves, were seen later on in the survey on the return to the harbour, just off New Quay headland. They were observed to be feeding, tail-slapping and socialising.
