Sea Watch News
23 June - Report on Common Dolphin Mass Stranding, Cornwall
;)
Somewhere between 30 and 40 common dolphins came into Falmouth Bay on the Cornish coast on 9th June, and 32 of these stranded. Attempts were made to re-float those that were alive, but sadly 26 animals died. Post-mortems were conducted on all the dead dolphins by the Institute of Zoology. There were no obvious signs of ill health, and their stomachs did not contain fish, suggesting that their stranding was probably not related to pursuit of prey into shallow waters. Further analyses may give an indication of the cause of this mass stranding, but at present this remains a mystery. Mass strandings of whales and dolphins are unusual in the British Isles.
21 June - NWDW 2008 FIRST SIGHTINGS!!
First sighting for the NWDW was reported by Nigel Smallbones doing watches at Berry Head National Nature Reserve, Brixham. Nigel started watches at 6 am this morning and saw 3 harbour porpoises 6am-7am and another 3 at 8am-8.30am. Well done Nigel!!
Edita Magileviciute, the sightings officer for the Sea Watch Foundation, was the second person to report a sighting- 1 bottlenose dolphin in New Quay feeding close to the Fish Factory at 12:05 this morning.
Then Alan Airey reported his sightings at 12:15 on Saturday morning. He had a very interesting sighting at 06:45 of 40 common dolphins (5 calves) in the Moray Firth, 2 km north of Burghead. The dolphins were travelling west.
What a great start to NWDW week!!
19 June - CLARE DICKINS REMEMBERED
by Wendy Necar
The sudden and tragic death of Sea Watch Communications Officer Clare Dickins has touched many.
Together Clare and I (Wendy Necar) have promoted National Whale and Dolphin Watch for the past four years and it was a task which Clare, we both, enjoyed tremendously.
Many people have written to say how friendly and warm Clare was, accessible and helpful, and I will be passing all your thoughts on to her family.
Clare died following a fall in Cumbria whilst out walking with her boyfriend Michael Spann. Michael had brought a lot of joy into Clare’s life over the past few years and was injured trying to reach her. They were experienced walkers and I know Clare would have been exhilarated by the route they were undertaking.
Clare also leaves a son Joe Wright, of whom she was immensely proud. Joe finished university a year ago and is exploring various career opportunities. My thoughts are very much with him and Michael.
On a personal level, I have lost a fantastic friend who I have known for more than 20 years. As well as working together, we have discussed life, the universe and everything, played tennis together, enjoyed coffees out and supported one another through life’s trials and tribulations. Her loss is enormous.
Clare believed strongly in the work of Sea Watch and worked with great enthusiasm and energy. I know she would not want it to impact on this year's National Whale and Dolphin Watch.
She was, as my own partner Philip put it, ‘simply a lovely lady’, and it has been a privilege to have been her friend.
A message from Dr Peter G.H. Evans
“For the last five years, Clare has worked tirelessly with Wendy Necar to promote the National Whale & Dolphin Watch. She was actively arranging for various marine related organisations to publicise it on their websites just a few days before her death. Full of energy and always happy to help our cause, Clare was a very special person. We will sorely miss her. Our thoughts and sympathies go out to all her family and friends.”
17 June - Win a chance to go on a whale survey off Madeira!
www.whalequest.org.uk
As part of an EPSRC funded public understanding of science project, the University of St Andrews has teamed up with the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) to produce a website dedicated to the statistics/biology behind whale surveys.
Visitors (aged 16 -21) can play a computer game which takes them on a whale survey and explains how whale population numbers are actually estimated.
The winner of the computer game (and a friend) can win the chance to go on an actual whale survey in the IFAW sail boat "Song of the Whale" at the end of the summer. The competition closes on the 30th June.