Dolphins? Whales? where are they?
Posted: Saturday, 14 June 2008 |
Having lived on Mull for over a year now and prior to that visiting for holidays, we have seen a huge amount of wildlife - but we have never seen dolphins or any whales - we have seen dolphins over on the east coast but we have never seen any on our home shores.
So I saved up my hard earned pennies, organised for the little one to be looked after when school finished (the trips dont taken children under 14 as its an 8 hour trip) - the weather has been fab for about the last 8 weeks so went ahead and booked the trip for last Monday. Oh dear! On the Sunday we had spent a fabulous day at Calliach Point, blue sky and sun - we saw the Whale watch boat and thought "that will be us tomorrow" all excited anticipating what we were going to see.
We awoke Monday morning to grey, damp skies and a fairly strong rustle in the bushes. It will brighten I said as I took my sea sickness pills! We set off from Tobermory in a slight drizzle, very grey and threatening skies - we donned our survival suits on top of the 25 layers I was already wearing.
It got rougher and wetter, windier - any wildlife out there? dont be silly - they are all tucked up under the duvet!! I have come to the conclusion I am destined not to see a dolphin here - I took part in the whalewatch survey last year at Ardnamurchan - mid June - the rain was horizontal then - should I take the hint??
I managed to take a couple of shots in between the rain to prove we did go out - we did see a basking shark - not sure how well it will come out here but at least I can tick that one off! Lots of seabirds and green faces!
This huge cruise ship had been moored in Tobermory - thought dolphins might have ridden the bow waves - but no!
I love watching gannets - luckily there were some about!
Its a basking shark - honest!
theme to "Jaws" playing in the background - basking shark looking mean!
Guillemot
Just a wee flower looking beautiful, taken the day before the fateful whalewatch trip
Jessie - the famous spaniel mermaid
Oh well- will just have to save up again - or just find myself in the right place at the right time!
So I saved up my hard earned pennies, organised for the little one to be looked after when school finished (the trips dont taken children under 14 as its an 8 hour trip) - the weather has been fab for about the last 8 weeks so went ahead and booked the trip for last Monday. Oh dear! On the Sunday we had spent a fabulous day at Calliach Point, blue sky and sun - we saw the Whale watch boat and thought "that will be us tomorrow" all excited anticipating what we were going to see.
We awoke Monday morning to grey, damp skies and a fairly strong rustle in the bushes. It will brighten I said as I took my sea sickness pills! We set off from Tobermory in a slight drizzle, very grey and threatening skies - we donned our survival suits on top of the 25 layers I was already wearing.
It got rougher and wetter, windier - any wildlife out there? dont be silly - they are all tucked up under the duvet!! I have come to the conclusion I am destined not to see a dolphin here - I took part in the whalewatch survey last year at Ardnamurchan - mid June - the rain was horizontal then - should I take the hint??
I managed to take a couple of shots in between the rain to prove we did go out - we did see a basking shark - not sure how well it will come out here but at least I can tick that one off! Lots of seabirds and green faces!
This huge cruise ship had been moored in Tobermory - thought dolphins might have ridden the bow waves - but no!
I love watching gannets - luckily there were some about!
Its a basking shark - honest!
theme to "Jaws" playing in the background - basking shark looking mean!
Guillemot
Just a wee flower looking beautiful, taken the day before the fateful whalewatch trip
Jessie - the famous spaniel mermaid
Oh well- will just have to save up again - or just find myself in the right place at the right time!
Comments
Great photos, WF. Pity about the nonexistent whale, but how brilliant to see a basking shark!
Jill from EK
Wonderful shot of the plummeting gannet WF. And the d.o.g. with the seaweed hair...
Flying Cat from hola! parliamo spanielo?
Oh what a shame Wild Freckle, I know how much you were looking forward to your trip. The Basking sharks are out and it is indeed much easier to spot them when the sea is calm. Lovely photos though and better luck next time.
Squidgy the Otter from Isle of Coll
Three from top: wonderful shot. # It's an English spaniel, FC: why on earth would he speak a foreign lingo!! # I shall order calmer waters for your next trip Wild Freckle.
mjc from NM,USA
Need to start saving pennies again! calm seas would be good but today is our first rainy day for weeks! We are struggling here on Mull, the burns are dry and those of us on private supply have been told only about a week left! bizarre when you think we are surrounded by water! Meant to say, Squidy didnt see any shipping hazards (double D cups) if you know what I mean!!!!
Wild Freckle from Mull in the rain at last!
WF - go to Croggan and walk round the headland until you get to a very nice beach at Port nan Crullach. On a calm May,June or July day you are almost certain to see dolphins & porpoises off shore here! good luck.
Don from Whitley Bay
May all of you in Mull have a nice long soak. We could use such a good rain here too, in Albuquerque, Nuevo Mexico.
mjc from NM,USA
We went out on the Flow yesterday, to see one of the German Fleet courtesy of the Roving Eye. Plenty of wildlife : birds,seals, fishes but no sharks or cetaceans. Also no photos. The gannet is spectacular by the way.
Hyper-Borean from The Guide
Sorry you didn't get to see any dolphins or whales - have to say the shark looks scary - what if you get one who has decided to try a meat diet for a while - sort of Atkins for sharks??? Glad the rains have arrived - may your burn fill up quickly! Sounds like an olde Mull saying, doesn't it. We got back to grass about a foot high - took two cuts on two consecutive days to get it looking anything like normal. Sure there's a market for hiring out goats to people when they go on holiday. Maybe new business venture idea?? Great photos, as ever. Love the one of Jessie camoflaged with the sea weed.
Tindra from Sunny Sussex
Oh, I'm jealous, WF. I've seen lots of gannets but I've never managed to get a picture of one. I hope you get to see your dolphins soon.
Iz from Flintshire
Oh I may get another chance - I have volunteered to take part in Whalewatch on Monday! It is taking place at the lighthouse at Ardnamurchan and the idea is to monitor the whales/dolphins passing thru - oh keep everything crossed! last year I did it and it was torrential rain!
Wild Freckle from Wet Mull
Good luck WF. Wife had a look at that gannett photo of yours and thought it looked impressive. Any way you could get two or three of them at the same time, all diving?
mjc from NM,USA
how did your day go yesterday,WF,? see any whales? hope you had good weatherxx
carol from tuesday 24th june
finally - a glimpse of a minke - it was about 2km away but definately saw it come out of the water and was confirmed by a fishing boat nearby - the weather was fantastic yesterday and Ardnamurchan is a great spot - we could see as far as Barra, Skye, Coll, Rhum Muck and Eigg - its was a great day out - unlike today which is wet and chilly!
Wild Freckle from wet and chilly Mull
glad you had a agood day WF--as you say arnamurchan is beautiful--in fact off the coromandel in NZ there is a spot where me knowing ardnamurchan i cried when i first saw it-its identical-just so beautiful and peaceful--roll on the end of the year till i get back there!
carol from over here-
Hullo WF, pity you were not with us when we were motoring along the Nairn coast 27 June in the evening. 2 minkes blew about 50 m. from the yacht. Weather was calm so we couldd see them really well. Impressive!
Barney from Swithiod a minke, two minkes
How did the whale watching go? Say 'Hi' to Cally, Barbara and everyone at the HWDT from Gary & Steph.
Gary Sutherland from Carradale
Hi Gary - whale watching was fab at Chanonry Point - amazing how close they get to the shoreline! well worth a visit. Great views of the osprey too at Loch Garten and the fish farm - we were really lucky with the weather - lovely part of Scotland! will post some pics soon
Wild Freckle from very wet Mull
A new life on the Isle of Mull for my husband and daughter - an attempt to escape the ratrace, live simply and enjoy the simple things in life on this tranquil island!
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