On the 21st July a total of 10 common dolphins were spotted 1 mile south of Portland Bill, Dorset, by David Head. Common dolphins are rarely seen this far east along the south coast of England, being more commonly found in the western waters of the British Isles.
The common dolphin is similar in appearance to the striped dolphin, and the two are often confused. However the common dolphin can be identified by the hourglass pattern on its flanks! To read more about the common dolphin, and plenty of other marine mammals, have a look at our species fact sheets.
A huge thanks to David Head for reporting the sighting and sending us this photograph! Don’t forget to report your sightings using our online form!
