Latest news with #TheSeaMammalResearchUnit
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Incredible moment dolphin joins family and asks for cuddles in unforgettable swim
A family from West London were on a morning swim in Dorset when they were joined by a giant bottlenose dolphin - which appeared keen on eliciting belly rubs from the group A family were left stunned after a cheeky dolphin gatecrashed their morning swim - leaping about them and begging for tummy tickles. Lynda MacDonald, 50, and her partner, son and his girlfriend, headed out for their 6am dawn dip at Lyme Bay, Dorset on August 3. Moments after they plunged off their vessel for a splash they were accompanied by the enormous bottlenose dolphin. Images show the mischievous creature requesting cuddles, and even shepherding swimmers across the waves with its snout. Lynda, who operates in marketing and divides her time between West London and Dorset, remarked: "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. "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 typically feature in photos of families at sunkissed holiday destinations, dolphins do often appear on UK shores, according to the Dorset Wildlife Trust. There are 28 species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises residing in British coastal waters, a number of which have been recorded in Dorset. Bottlenose dolphins tend to spend more time inshore than other species, making them easier to spot from the land as well as from the sea. "The sea belongs to dolphins- we were lucky to spend a moment with it," Lynda said. "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 incredible experience with the dolphins comes after a pod of the mammals caused "quite a stir" when they surfaced on the Yorkshire coast. The pod, thought to number 225 dolphins, surfaced in late July just off Scarborough, and was believed to have made its way south from Moray Firth. Fred Tiles, an amateur naturalist who watched the group as they danced through the water, told the BBC they had travelled "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, told the broadcaster sea conditions were likely behind the reason they decided to travel down south. He said: "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."
BBC News
30-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Pod of hundreds of dolphins causing 'quite a stir' in Scarborough
Hundreds of dolphins have been causing "quite a stir" by frolicking and fishing in the North Sea off pod of bottlenose dolphins, thought to number 225, is believed to have made its way south from the Moray Firth in naturalist Fred Tiles, 70, said the pod had come "really close to shore and Marine Drive is filled with people with binoculars and cameras watching them breaching and throwing fish".Meanwhile, Grant Ellis from The Sea Mammal Research Unit, said: "The population has been increasing in Scotland, so it could be that they're finding new areas of habitat and that the Yorkshire coastline is good for them." Mr Ellis, a conservation ecologist who has been studying the group, said: "This is one of the largest pods around the UK "We've definitely seen them foraging in the area, so we know that they are fishing and they are finding the prey that they need."The population that we find here are the largest of their species in the world and it's thought this is because of the cooler waters in the North Sea, they have thicker blubber reserves."He added: "There's been increased sightings of bottlenose dolphins of the coast of Yorkshire over the past decade or so. We have about 225 in this east coast population in Scotland and we believe they have expanded their range." Mr Tiles, who set up the Scarborough Dolphins Facebook Group, said: "I saw one throw a huge salmon yesterday. "I think the richer seas we have here now because of fishing restrictions are responsible for luring this pod down from Scotland. I think that's what's bringing them." Mr Ellis agreed sea conditions might be behind the dolphins presence near the famous resort."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."Mr Ellis said each dolphin could be individually recognised through "unique markings"."One of the things that we're looking at is which animals are present on the Yorkshire coastline and how they are moving between Scotland and England," he added. As to whether the huge pod's stay in the area was set to continue, both men agreed the future looked bright for dolphin spotters along Yorkshire's east Ellis said: "It's really encouraging that they are being seen on a regular basis and in quite large group sizes."Mr Tiles added: "Five years ago you were lucky if you saw a group of five or six, now it's in the hundreds.""They're here to stay I think - they'll definitely be back." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
