2hr start time: 10:13

Weather Conditions: no data available

It was an hour and a half before the first sighting on the return leg of the boat trip; a group of 3 dolphins including one juvenile were seen off New Quay Head travelling in a westerly direction. Two more dolphins were spotted 10 minutes later travelling in the same direction. The final sighting was two minutes later and was of a single adult bottlenose dolphin, it was exhibiting foraging behaviour just off the New Quay Head.

2hr start time: 12:04

Weather Conditions: sea state 1-2, visibility >10km becoming 1-10km, swell light.

Just as the boat was leaving the harbour a single bottlenose dolphin was spotted at 12:14, travelling in a north easterly direction. Three minutes later another dolphin was spotted travelling in a southerly direction. The next sighting was of an Atlantic grey seal hauled out on the rocks between Cwmtydu and Trwyn Crou. The rest of the trip was quiet until coming back around New Quay Head where two bottlenose dolphins were spotted travelling in a westerly direction.

2hr start time: 14:04

Weather Conditions: sea state 1-3, visibility 1-10km, swell light.

Just after leaving the harbour two bottlenose dolphins were spotted exhibited performing aerial and foraging behaviour. Not long after a single individual was seen also thought to be exhibiting foraging behaviour. An Atlantic grey seal was the next sighting, spotted between Cwmtydu and Trwyn Crou hauled out on the rocks. A single harbour porpoise was seen between Castell Bach and New Quay Head travelling east followed by a quiet half hour until 15:51 when two bottlenose dolphins were spotted exhibiting foraging behaviour.

2hr start time: 16:31

Weather Conditions: sea state 2-3, visibility 1-10, swell medium becoming light

The first sighting of this trip was of two female Atlantic grey seals at 16:47. They were seen just passed Cwmtydu beach. One was hauled out on the rocks while the other was in the water. Another female seal was seen 10 minutes later further down the coastline, also in the water. The next sighting came just after the boat had turned round at Ynys Lochtyn and was starting her return leg. A group of four bottlenose dolphins, one of which was a younger individual, were seen travelling together towards the Ynys Lochtyn headland, which is an area often frequented by the dolphins for foraging purposes. The final sighting was at 17:51 as the boat was coming round the New Quay Head back towards the harbour. A group of five gannets were seen diving into the water, which was quickly followed by the sight of dorsal fins in the water. Two bottlenose dolphins were seen, and were exhibiting foraging behaviour.

1.5hr start time: 18:12

Weather Conditions: sea state 1-2, visibility >10km, swell light

The first dolphin sighting came as the boat was leaving New Quay harbour and was of an adult and a juvenile exhibiting foraging behaviour. Luckily the dolphins were close enough to the boat to allow for taking pictures to be used for photo identification. After this encounter the boat continued on its journey and at 18:29 there was another sighting. This was of a group of four adult bottlenose dolphins, also thought to be foraging. Once again the dolphins were close enough to take photos. The photo identification work done by CBMWC has led to the creation of a database containing more than 280 individual animals that have been seen in Cardigan Bay. Another area of research involves the use of a hydrophone to record the dolphin vocalisations. As this group of dolphins was moving around the boat, the engine was stopped, the hydrophone dropped and recordings were made! After this the boat continued on its trip with a final sighting occurring at 19:14, which was of two adult bottlenose dolphins, once again off the New Quay Head and exhibiting foraging behaviour.