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Dolphins spotted up-Channel
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A large pod of bottlenose dolphins was spotted off the Isle of Wight recently, a rare occurrence as they are rarely found so far up the English Channel.
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The pod of about 30 was observed by wildlife charity Marinelife from the deck of the P&O ferry Pride of Bilbao, four miles off St Catherine's Point. Marinelife conducts regular cetacean survey trips aboard ferries plying routes in the western Channel and Bay of Biscay.
'In over 10 years of research in the English Channel, Marinelife have never before recorded bottlenose dolphin in this location or in such large numbers in the central part of the channel,' said Clive Martin, Marinelife Director.
When bottlenose dolphins are spotted so far up-channel, they are usually lone adolescent males, which roam large areas and sometimes head for busy coastal or harbour areas.
Common dolphin are more regular up-Channel. Marinelife recently observed a group, again off the Isle of Wight. Other recent sightings have included a pilot whale off Portland in Dorset; and, in the western Channel, a Risso's dolphin off Plymouth, and various instances of common dolphin and harbour porpoises offshore.
Photo: Clive Martin/Marinelife
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