Cheeky dolphin gatecrashes family's morning swim and asks for 'tummy tickles'
A family were left gobsmacked when a playful dolphin decided to join their morning swim, leaping around them and seemingly asking for belly rubs.
Lynda MacDonald, 50, along with her partner, son and his girlfriend, embarked on their early morning dip at Lyme Bay, Dorset on 3 August. Just moments after they dived off their boat for a splash, they found themselves joined by a massive bottlenose dolphin.
Photos reveal the cheeky mammal appearing to ask for cuddles, and even guiding swimmers through the waves with its snout.
Lynda, who works in marketing and splits her time between West London and Dorset, commented: "It was a magical moment, I'm so glad I caught it on camera.
"Out of nowhere, the dolphin immediately approached us and wanted to join in on the action. It was friendly and playful. It even started guiding members of our group along the water with its beak," reports the Mirror.
"It was not distressed by our presence and was very confident around us. I've seen a dolphin before, but this is something I'll remember forever."
While they're usually seen in holiday snaps from sun-drenched destinations, dolphins are actually quite common on UK shores, according to the Dorset Wildlife Trust.
There are 28 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises that call British coastal waters home, several of which have been spotted in Dorset.
Bottlenose dolphins tend to spend more time closer to shore than other species, making them easier to spot both from land and sea.
"The sea belongs to dolphins- we were lucky to spend a moment with it," Lynda shared. "You can hear the footage audio that the dolphin was happy to interact with us. But we were mindful; we played for five minutes and then let it go on its way."
Lynda and her family's extraordinary encounter with the dolphins follows a recent incident where a large pod of the creatures caused quite a commotion when they appeared off the Yorkshire coast. The group, estimated to be around 225 dolphins, emerged in late July just off Scarborough, believed to have journeyed south from Moray Firth.
Fred Tiles, an amateur naturalist who observed the group as they frolicked in the water, told the BBC they had come "really close to shore and Marine Drive is filled with people with binoculars and cameras watching them breaching and throwing fish".
Grant Ellis, from The Sea Mammal Research Unit, suggested to the broadcaster that sea conditions were likely the reason they decided to travel down south. He stated: "There have been a lot of marine heatwaves going on and it could also be that environmental conditions in Yorkshire are improving - it's something we're investigating."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Wales Online
an hour ago
- Wales Online
Canary Islands issue rare 'black alert' for British tourists at popular holiday beach
Canary Islands issue rare 'black alert' for British tourists at popular holiday beach The European Union holiday hotspot has issued the rare warning for British holidaymakers at one of the most popular beaches on the popular La Graciosa which is just off Lanzarote The Island of La Graciosa is one of the most popular holiday destinations for Brits heading to Canary Islands (Image: Iñigo Fdz de Pinedo via Getty Images) A Canary Islands destination has issued a rare "black alert" for UK tourists and holidaymakers. The European Union holiday hotspot has issued the uncommon warning for British visitors at one of the most sought-after beaches on the popular La Graciosa. The latest warning comes after Brits were recently warned with a man facing up to a €200,000 fine for breaking a little-known rule about drone use in Spain. However this is not the only warning issued to UK tourists this season. UK tourists have also previously been warned to check their travel insurance policy before travelling as 12 Spanish airports are facing strikes. Graciosa Island, or more commonly La Graciosa, is a volcanic island in the Canary Islands of Spain, situated two kilometres north of Lanzarote across the Strait of El Río. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . The environmental organisation has released its yearly Black Flag list for Spain. Featured on this year's list is the Playa de Caleta de Sebo, the "town beach" of La Graciosa's capital, alongside the Playa de la Francesa, positioned a little further along the coastline. Article continues below Ecologistas en Acción's yearly report, which has been spotlighting environmental mismanagement in Spain since 2005, catalogues the beaches awarded a black flag this year. According to Ecologists in Action, the beach in Caleta de Sebo is in a "poor state of conservation" with rubbish from vessels, beachgoers, and eateries adding to contamination, reports BirminghamLive. At Playa de la Francesa they caution of the issue of catamaran excursions that arrive at the location "holding parties, meals, games, and contests with loud music and leaving waste behind on the sand and in the water". They allege that catamaran passengers toss chicken scraps to birds, primarily seagulls, which can strike the hulls of the boats while attempting to catch them, and discard leftover rice into the sea to feed the fish. Lanzarote, along with other Canary Islands such as Tenerife and Gran Canaria, is a popular destination for British tourists. However last year Playa Blanca town beach was given a black flag by Ecologists in Action due to incidents of sewage leaks. Article continues below Despite this Playa Blanca remains one of only two Lanzarote beaches to retain its Blue Flag status this year.
Telegraph
6 hours ago
- Telegraph
The foreign phrases you keep using on holiday – but really shouldn't
Some British tourists have a propensity to eschew attempts at the local language in favour of simply speaking English more loudly, with frantic hand gestures to match. So it seems churlish to mock those who at least make an effort to parler français on their holidays. But we're doing it nonetheless. Here, four of our overseas experts reveal the most common linguistic cock-ups made by tourists trying to speak the lingo in France, Spain, Germany and Italy. Skip to: France Spain Germany Italy France Sacré bleu! If you'd normally cry 'gadzooks' in English, then certainly express surprise or annoyance with a sacré bleu. The French will be charmed by your apparent arrival from the 19th century (when, incidentally, they said 'bleu' to avoid blaspheming by saying 'dieu'). Much the same goes for zut alors, which is rarely heard these days by anyone under the age of 97, and then only ironically. Ooh-la-la For English speakers, this denotes a reaction to French flirtiness, generally involving ostrich feathers, winks and relatively few clothes. For the French, it's oh-la-la (knock off one 'o'), and rarely a good sign, indeed, almost invariably negative. If you hear 'oh-la-la' from the mouth of, say, a mechanic or a surgeon as they survey your car or heart monitor, tough times lie ahead. Je ne sais quoi Used by English speakers to suggest an undefinably appealing quality, 'there's a certain je-ne-sais-quoi about that fellow', but especially to imply that the speaker is more cultivated than you. In French, by contrast, it generally just means 'whatever', and indicates no particular sophistication, since all French people, of course, speak French. Je suis chaud This could mean that one is warm, because of the sun or indoor heating, (chaud meaning warm or hot). But it doesn't. It means 'I am horny'. To indicate non-horny hotness, you need to use avoir, as in j'ai chaud. Je suis plein Tempting to say at the end of a meal when refusing seconds, since plein means 'full', it seems to mean 'I'm full.' In truth, it means 'I'm pregnant,' but in the crudest possible way, used almost exclusively for animals. J'ai assez mangé, merci ('I've eaten enough, thank you') works much better. Garçon! Despite what you've heard, this is no way to address a waiter, unless you enjoy being summoned as 'Boy!' or 'Girl!' Try Monsieur for a waiter and Mademoiselle for a waitress, whatever her age. Embarrassment will also be avoided by knowing that: Preservatif means 'condom'. Asking for food without preservatives will confound. Say sans conservateurs. Slip refers to underpants ('un slip'), not to a tumble on an icy pavement (glissade). Liquide – as in payer en liquide means paying in cash rather than by card, cheque – or water. Les waters refer to the WC, not to the spas, as in Vichy. It's the French mangling of 'water closet'. They just hack off the second word – as they do with le smoking, a 'smoking jacket'. Un car is a bus; voiture is a car. Chips are crisps; frites are chips and important can mean 'important' but also 'big'. (Une foule importante usually means a big crowd, not one comprising ambassadors.) Parfum means 'perfume' but also 'flavour' as in 'what flavour would you like?' asked by the ice-cream man. (Quel parfum voulez-vous?). Assister means to attend or be present at something, not to help; blessé is wounded, not blessed; actuellement means currently or now, not actually; passer un examen means to take an exam, not to pass it; affaires are business, not illicit relationships; rester is to stay or remain, not rest. Anthony Peregrine Spain Any attempt to speak Spanish is usually well received, and people are not out to make fun of you. No one will be molestado (bothered). But there are certain words you might slip up with now and again, particularly if you're a bit nervous. Here are just a few things to watch out for: As well as churros, you might see people eating a bigger, thicker version of the batter strips for breakfast. These are usually called porras, but I have often heard people ask for porros instead, which means cannabis joints. Pollo, meaning chicken, is all too easy to mix up with polla – a slang word for penis. While we're on the subject, pene is the standard word for penis, not to be confused with peine, which is a comb. Want another cushion? Need to get something out of a drawer? Don't confuse cojines and cajones with cojones (testicles). Feeling embarrassed? Then you are vergonzado/a rather than embarazada (pregnant). Got a cold? You are constipado/a. If you are actually constipated, tell the pharmacist you are estreñido/a. Want to check if there are preservatives in your food? Stick to aditivos, otherwise you might be asking for condoms – preservativos. Feeling hot in that blazing sun? Remember to say tengo calor, rather than estoy caliente (horny). Excited about your holiday? You are ilusionado/a and not excitado/a (sexually aroused). If all this is making you afraid to even open your mouth, just quietly chant ' sopa is soup, jabón is soap, jamón is ham, mermelada is jam' to calm yourself down. Annie Bennett Germany Achtung! Thanks to Second World War movies, English speakers think Germans yell this all day. In fact, Germans save it for warning signs and those rare moments when their toddler tries to climb a chandelier. Chef Nope, not someone in a tall white hat whipping up a risotto, but boss in German. Hence asking your 'chef' to cook dinner is an excellent way to switch jobs. Gift Another false friend, gift means poison in German, ie almost the opposite meaning to English. If a German offers you a 'gift', it's best to smile politely and back slowly away. Schwül This means muggy, humid weather. But mess up that tricky 'ü' sound and you might accidentally say schwul, which means homosexual. Stein At Oktoberfest, it's a beer mug but everywhere else, it's a rock. Order a stein in Berlin or elsewhere outside Bavaria, and you're likely to get a confused stare and perhaps a handful of pebbles. Fräulein It might sound charming in old black and white movies, but in 2025, calling a woman Fräulein is like asking if her dowry includes goats. Just use Frau if you don't want to be wearing your drink. Vorsprung durch Technik A phrase made famous by a decades-old Audi advert that has somehow lasted until today. It means something like 'advancement through technology' – and absolutely nobody says it, unless in relation to said ad. Wanderlust Despite being adopted by global Instagrammers with a 'yoga pants and mountain' aesthetic, it's actually considered quite old-fashioned by Germans, who prefer to say something like Reisefieber ('travelling fever'). Rindfleischetikettierungsüberwachungsaufgabenübertragungsgesetz True, you were unlikely to use this one anyway, but it was a real word that meant 'beef labelling supervision duties delegation law.' It was retired in 2013, presumably due to an abundance of mouth injuries. Italy Italians are generally much more forgiving than the French (or at least the Parisians) towards any straniero who makes an attempt to speak their native tongue. But there are a few common errors that can be relied on to amuse or annoy them: Relentlessly ciao -ing everyone from small children to the carabiniere that has just stopped you for speeding (with adult strangers, always use buongiorno or buonasera. Believing that Italians actually say Mamma Mia! Assuming that Italian is just Spanish with a Super Mario accent – a habit of some American visitors in particular. Even worse, assuming it's enough to stick an 'o' on the end of an English word, like a friend of mine who once asked a grocer for 'milko'. Talking of milko, asking for a latte in a bar and expecting a caffe latte – whereas what you will actually get, unless the barista is used to odd foreign ways, is a glass of milk. Taking prosecco to mean sparkling wine in general. Prosecco is a single variety from a specific region and other (sometimes better) Italian bubblies are available – ask instead for un vino frizzante. Pronouncing grazie as 'GRAAT-see' instead of 'GRAAT-see-ay'. Pronouncing Capri like it's a car with furry dice (the island is 'CAP-ree', not 'cap-REE'). Not being able to pronounce double consonants, so buon anno ('happy new year') comes across as buon ano ('good anus'). Lee Marshall
Daily Record
7 hours ago
- Daily Record
Scotland's 'Balamory town' where homes are affordable as iconic series returns
Property prices are actually lower than the national average. Scotland's seaside towns and villages all benefit from coastal views, and are all wonderful places to live. However, there is nowhere in the country quite like Tobermory. The capital town of the Isle of Mull, Tobermory was originally built as a fishing port in the late 18th century. Today, it is a popular tourist destination and is considered among the prettiest ports in the UK. Tobermory is perhaps most famous as the location of the beloved 2000s children's television series Balamory. The town's colourful seafront buildings feature prominently in the show. As reported by the Daily Record, the BBC has announced the return of Balamory after its last episode aired in June 2005. New episodes of the programme will debut next year, with original stars reprising their roles. Julie Wilson Nimmo, Andrew Agnew, Kim Tserkezie, and Julie Cadzow are set to return as Miss Hoolie, PC Plum, Penny Pocket, and Edie McCredie respectively. The revival will be available to watch on BBC iPlayer and CBeebies in 2026. In anticipation of Balamory's comeback, property experts at Sell House Fast have revealed how much homes in the area cost. They also investigated how prices have changed in the years since the show has been on air. According to Sell House Fast, the average cost of a detached house in Tobermory is £300,083. Meanwhile, semi-detached houses are priced at £255,000 on average. The experts also found that most homes sold in Tobermory over the past year were flats. These cost an average of £139,750. Overall, in the past year, property in Tobermory sold for an average of £221,947. This is slightly lower than the national Scottish average of £223,657. Sell House Fast stated that property prices in the town peaked in 2008. According to the experts, this indicates that the popularity of Balamory had "little impact" on prices, as the show ended years earlier. Jack Malnick, MD of Sell House Fast, commented: "With the filming of Balamory returning to the vibrant Scottish seaside town of Tobermory, residents and prospective buyers will be wondering if the show will impact the housing market. "Whilst homes can indeed increase in value when they feature in TV shows, it isn't always the case—and I don't see it being the case here. "House prices in Tobermory peaked in 2008, years after the show originally aired, which suggests that it had little impact on property prices in the town. "However, the show's return may well lead to an increase in a demand for short term accommodation in the town. Balamory had two million weekly viewers at its peak, and if the reboot has the same success, many young fans may want to visit the real-life town, offering an increase in tourist revenue and leading to more homeowners to capitalise on this demand by renting out their properties as holiday homes." For those looking to visit the charming town, in terms of holiday lets, there are plenty of options to choose from around Tobermory. One of these is a "beautiful bothy with sea views" that sleeps up to two guests, which can be booked for £375 for two nights through Airbnb. The traditional stone cottage sits high up in the town, with views out over the sea from the garden patio. Inside, there is a double bed "in a cosy nook" and a wood-burner for chilly evenings. Elsewhere, there is a flat to rent in one of the iconic buildings along Tobermory's waterfront. Also available through Airbnb, it can be booked for £280 for three nights. Sleeping up to two visitors, the apartment features one bedroom with an en-suite shower room. There is also a large living room, kitchen, and dining room at front of the building that offers "fantastic views" according to the listing. Average house prices in Tobermory per property type Detached house — £300,083 Semi-detached house — £255,000 Flat — £139,750
