Bottlenose Dolphins again.

Iv'e been very lucky this week and had the same pod twice in a week.

It was Thursday afternoon that they were spotted again and this time in the middle of Staple Sound and they were there for more than 3 hours.

Nearly every boat in the harbour got a chance to see them and there was a lot of happy guests around.

When we arrived a few boats were already there and enjoying good views and they did not disappoint us when we arrived. Our guests were really happy to and after about 20 mins with them we took our guests over to the Inner Farne to land.

After we dropped them off, Andy (my crewman) just looked at me as if to say "come on lets go back", so of we went.

We had them around the boat for an hour and it was the best show by far. What really amazed me more than anything was that they were not really bothered about the boat as they were on the tide line feeding and then they popped up they seemed to be more pleased with their catch, but saying that they were showing off a good bit.

I would like to thank Ron (our skipper) for bringing out Sue, as she has never seen any dolphins before and boy oh boy did she love it. Oh sorry, Sue works in the booking office for us so next time you see her, she will probably still have a smile on her face.

Anyway, I have put a lot of pictures up here but I think they are worth it so enjoy everyone.

Bottlenose Dolphins

Yesterday myself and a few guests were lucky enough to see about 50 Bottlenose Dolphins just south of Seahouses.

I got a call from a friend who was hauling his pots to say that he had dolphins around his boat so we steamed towards him.

Just a little bit past him there they were and they looked like they were in a good mood too. They were jumping out of the water and we also noticed 2 very young ones to.

After about half an hour they headed south and we headed back to the harbour with massive smiles on our faces.

Pilot Whales

I could not help myself and I had a sneaky week away in Cape Verde again.

While I was there I booked myself trip on a rib to go whale watching, but I had it my head that the birds would be better as they has never seen any whales for about a week and a half and 2 trawlers had been in the area for a while so they might have been frightened away.

How wrong was I... We had only been out about 20 minutes before we spotted Pilot Whales in the distance and the next thing they were around the boat. I counted at least 30 and they were having a bit of fun in the waves to.

I also noticed some young calf's swimming close the their mothers and when the mother did a tail slap on the water the young calf tried it to. Most of the time without any success but at least it was trying. To be honest with you they could have done anything they wanted for my liking, but for me it was just a pleasure seeing them.

I also noticed a few females with a lot of scratches on them and this must have been the males getting a bit horny during the breeding season or just a good old fight.  I also noticed a lot of the dorsal fins were either damaged during a fight or some other way, but whatever the reason I'm going to send my pictures away to see if anyone knows the answers or if they recognise them. It will be a very interesting to find out either way so if I get anymore info I will let you know.

Anyway here are some pictures and I do hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

Enjoying the waves

Having a splashing time

This one turned completely over

 

This one decided the games were over and left in a huff

 

Notice the nicks in the dorsal fin 

 

Showing off now

Totally showing off

I've got my eye on you

Mother and her calf

The calf trying to catch up

 

They are all joining in the fun now

  

Last but not least my favourite shot. A good old tail slap

I must admit I love the Cape Verde Islands and people think there is not much there but it has more to offer than you think, so keep an eye on my next blog as I will show you what it has to offer.

Cream-coloured Courser

I've been to the Cape Verde Islands for my holidays this winter and it was just what the doctor ordered.

We stayed on the island of Sal and I know its not the best island for birds but for a barren island its better than you think. It has golden sands, beautiful sunshine and a nice culture. Most of the Island is barren with hard ground from the lack of rain but there is something about it I love.

I never really went birding as it was about chilling and being with the kids, but one day we hired a car to go and had a look around the island, but we ended up stopping all over the place looking at birds.

The kids got sick but my wife started spotting things before me, which was really surprising as she is not into birds at all.

At first I was driving but then she took over so I could jump out the car quickly if we spotted something.

We spotted a lot of Cattle Egrets at first, which was great as it was the only second time I have seen them but this time I was a lot closer.

We also spotted a raptor and I did not know what it was, but a friend thought it might be a juvenile Montagu's Harrier but he couldn't rule out a Pallid Harrier, so if anyone could help that would be great. Sorry its a very distant shot.

The Islands gets lots of wind to and you can tell by the way the trees and brushes are bent over.

A lone bull in the middle of know where.

We saw lots of Iago Sparrows and a cracking Hoopee Lark.

We worked our way back to the apartment we saw a few Black-Winged Stilts, Ringed Plovers, Turnstones, Lesser Yellowlegs all on a small salt plain just a we approached Santa Maria itself.

By the time we had done all the Island the kids were sick so I did not want to push my luck anymore. I will have to take a trip over on my own and then I will not have to think about the kids.

Anyway the Cream-Coloured Courser stole the show for me as I was just impressed by the plain but natural colours, the long legs and the way it could blend into the background so easy. I also liked the black and white strip above and behind its eye with the slate grey on the top of its head to finish it off.

Over all I was pleased with what I had seen and this has just wetted my appetite for the next time I go over and hopefully I will be able to visit other Islands to. 

The Mighty Catamaran

After being out of the water for a week or two, Serenity II is now back in the water ready for action.
We done a good few jobs to her this year as she really needed it. She's been buffed on the hull and wheelhouse, a couple of patches been fixed where she had been knocked. Engines oils, filters and few other jobs done. Some new valves replaced and her hull anti-fouled.

We have the MCA coming tomorrow to inspect her in the water and all being well, we will be fully coded from the 1st April.

We are still sailing of course but we are limited to numbers through the winter period which means people get a big boat all to themselves.

Fingers crossed everything goes OK tomorrow but for now here is a few pictures of the before and after, then back into the water.

The sunlight was making her go green underneath but it came off really easy. I was a little worried about the height she was off the ground but thankfully we never had to much wind to worry about.

The green all removed.

You can see the difference as we buffed her.

Peter washing down all the mess I had made but what a difference.

Hull painted. Props looking good and I don't twang them on the bottom.

 

A bit of a tight squeeze past Serenity and the other boats.

Loads of room. (Not)

Going passed the Bamburgh Castle Inn and all the people inside watching.

Slowly down the slipway

And finally back into the water. Job well done.

 

Danio... A Year Today

Its hard to believe its a year on Sunday past when the Danio hit the rocks at the end of the Blue Caps. Where does a year go to and this time last year the weather was dreadful.

I remember all the sheep being stuck in the snow in the middle of the lambing season and the seas were unreal.

I still to this day can't believe how lucky the Danio was, as if the winds had been in a northerly direction she would have been ripped to shreds and be lying on the bottom today, but because they were in the east the Longstone Lighthouse and the island came to her rescue.

At least no harm was done and only the pride of the Captain, Captain's Mate and the owner of the ship was dented. Plus the ship.

This story will be talked about in the village for years to come.

Out and About

I have been around the Islands over the last few days and it has been a total pleasure. Calm seas and beautiful sunshine topped of with thousands of seabirds.

Over the last few days the number of seabirds have increased greatly and it great to see. It feels a bit early for them to be here but they seem to be settled and if this weather keeps up I can't see them leaving. I just hope they know the weather better than I do and they will be okay.

As I was looking around today you could see the Shags building their nests and they looked beautiful in the sunlight. The Fulmars are all pairing off and I love watching them fly around the blue skies with little effort.

The Eider Ducks are in full summer plumage and are in the mood for some courtship as they patrol the harbour looking for love. I must admit I do love them and if you have been to Seahouses you will know how tame they are and love a bit of bread. They are very intelligent to as they know the noise and colour of one particular fishing that come into the harbour as they follow it everyday looking for some scraps of food.

The cliff faces were covered in Guillemots and it looked very settled until I revved my engine and then they all flew off in a big circle and then landed again.

The Razorbill were rafting and the water around the Farnes and those little Tommy Noddies (Puffins) were back again. They are cracking birds and no wonder they are the nations favourite with their colourful bills and bright orange feet. They do put a smile on my face.

We still have loads of seals around and they are really enjoying basking in the sun. Its not very often you see as many on the Inner group of Farnes but today we saw loads on the West Wideopens.

We were also treated to 6 Harbour Porpoise going around the boat and it looked as though they were feeding which is a good sign that the water visibility is improving.

All in all and great few days around the Farnes and hopefully this is just the start of it.