Wildlife Sightings 2007

February
An early start to the season very cold and only a few trips over the half term. Lots of seals around Ramsey returning to shore for a moult
Some Guillemots and Razorbills back early and the one solitary Puffin again

March
Large numbers of seals around Ramsey Islands beaches for their moult and there are lots of porpoise in Ramsey Sound.
Early nesting birds such as chough, ravens, peregrine falcons and the auks showing lots of interest around their nesting sites

April
Perfect weather and sea conditions through the month mean lots of trips.
Lots of seals and porpoise sightings and even a pod of 25 Bottlenose Dolphin appeared around the Southern end of the island. Lots of bird activity around the cliff nesting sites. Also some rare sea urchins appeared in some of the caves for a short while.

May
The puffins have returned to their burrows on the north bishops
All the birds on their nests, seal numbers around the 200 mark.
The first offshore trips heading out and seeing lots of activity from the gannets on Grassholm, puffins and shearwaters rafting further out and good sightings of common dolphin and the first sighting of Minkie whale.

June
The first chicks have appeared on some of the nests. In Ramsey sound the first newborn porpoise calf has been sighted and good numbers of seals still in residence around the island.
Offshore voyages in full swing with daily sightings of common dolphin, several hundred being reported as the best sighting, also some Risso’s dolphin, at least one pair of Minkie whales, as well as a basking shark. And most spectacular of all, a pod of 8 Orca (Killer Whale)

July
Oh dear, what happened to the glorious weather we were promised? Still marine wildlife is waterproof!!
The nesting activity on Ramsey is in full swing lots of chicks on the nests.
Good numbers of seals around for the time of year and plenty of porpoise in the sound.
The inclement weather curtailed a lot of the offshore voyages however those we ran saw lots of common dolphin, and lots of sea bird activity.

August
Offshore voyages common dolphin sighted on every offshore voyage some with young calves swimming alongside the adults.
There is plenty of sea bird activity around Grassholm Island, Auks and Shearwaters rafting in huge numbers. Ramsey island seal numbers begin to increase in readiness for the breeding season and the first of the seal pups begin to appear on the beaches. By the end of the month every beach and cave is occupied.

Sept
The Atlantic Grey Seal breeding season is at its peak with activity on all the beaches and new pups every day. One of our vessels rescued a seal pup in difficulties; unusually the female was jet black. After a few weeks recovering at the local seal sanctuary she was released back to the island waters.

October
A mild spell allowed us a few more offshore voyages at the start of the month with some decent sightings of common dolphin
A rare treat of a family group of five Rissos Dolphin spending a couple of hours in Ramsey sound
Seal breeding season coming to a close and numbers starting to drop off

November
Seal numbers continue dropping off as the adults and young head out to sea to feed leaving a few dozen around the island. These numbers should remain fairly constant over the winter months.
Porpoise sightings holding up well and a few migratory birds passing through the area

Wildlife Sighting 2006 - Click Here
Wildlife Sighting 2005 - Click Here
Wildlife Sighting 2004 - Click Here