One month with the Sea Watch Foundation!

One month of volunteering at the Sea Watch Foundation has already passed. The beginning of this season has already given us – the volunteers – some unforgettable experiences with many sightings and some impressive dolphin behaviour. The events ahead, such as the World Oceans Day, and the regular monitoring sessions, which will continue until early October, will surely bring more exciting surprises and special moments.

Daily land-watches and regular one or two-hour casual watch boat surveys (done when the weather conditions are favourable) have allowed us so far to spot many grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in Cardigan Bay, West Wales. Studies have shown that Cardigan Bay harbours semi-resident groups of bottlenose dolphins. While on duty, the close and clear photos of dolphins taken during a land-watch session or a boat survey, which provide a good lateral view of the dorsal fin showing its unique marks and nicks, are used for identification and the tracking of individuals.

It is truly impressive to experience relatively close contact with these beautiful marine mammals. The curious grey seals, for example, which usually stick the head out of the water just for a few seconds before continuing their slow and gentle swim, can get very close to the pier, the place from which all land-watches of marine wildlife in the area are carried out. Similarly, the bottlenose dolphins, which are usually seen in small groups performing long dives and sometimes showing the fluke while looking for fish in shallow waters, can also get very close to the pier. Furthermore, while on a boat survey, bottlenose dolphins can be seen swimming really fast alongside the boat and even performing some aerial behaviour. On one occasion, when I was doing a boat survey, I was lucky enough to witness a couple of bottlenose dolphins – a mother and its calf – swimming very fast and close together less than 50 metres away from the boat.

All this wonderful experience is particularly touching to me, a Brazilian biologist who had never had any experience in Marine Biology prior to arriving in Wales. Everything is new, interesting and exciting. The beautiful surrounding landscapes and the harmony of nature only make my volunteering at the Sea Watch Foundation even more special. I am looking forward to learning even more about marine wildlife in Great Britain.