Wild life Sightings Record 2004

February
Early trips around Ramsey Island noted a large increase in the resident seal population for the time of year, a mild winter having helped lower the seal pup mortality rate.

The Resident pod of Harbour Porpoise made regular appearances in Ramsey Sound.

March
Seal numbers around the island pretty constant, with some adult Bulls and cows as well as juveniles hauled out on rocks for moulting. As well there were excellent Harbour Porpoise sightings in Ramsey Sound.

April
Seal numbers around the one hundred mark, on several occasions a particularly curious juvenile coming right up to the side of our vessels (who watching who?).

Porpoise sighted on a regular basis.

May
At the end of the month our first Offshore Voyages of the season take place.

Pods of twenty to thirty Dolphin sighted. Both Common and Bottlenose varieties sometimes mixed in the same pod.

June
Increase in sightings on the Offshore Voyages with successful trips observing plenty of Dolphin, with large pods up to fifty plus, converging on our Vessels with several instances of individual pods coming together and appearing to work as a team when fishing the mackerel shoals.

July
Dolphin sightings are again significant through out the month with large pods of a hundred plus being seen. Including many mothers with young calves, some in ‘nursery groups', seemingly being gradually introduced to contact with our Vessels, whilst the rest of the adults in the pod concentrate on fishing.

The first Seal pups are born around Ramsey Island

August
A Warm spell of weather brings spectacular sightings on the Offshore Voyages.

The usual Common and Bottlenose Dolphin are sighted on every Voyage, as well as Harbour Porpoise closer in-shore.

A pod of Risso's Dolphin produces some of the most dramatic pictures in addition Minke Whale, Pilot Whale as well as Orca and Basking Shark are all sighted.

Seal numbers increasing daily as the ‘pupping season' gets full swing.

September
Dolphin sightings continue some very large pods numbering several hundred at a time, including mothers with newborn calves some still with foetal folds visible.

Some courtship behaviour was also noted amongst the adult Dolphin.

Seal numbers around Ramsey reach their peak with the majority of the pups now having been born.

October
Unfortunately bad weather curtailed the Offshore Voyages, however the Ramsey Island Voyages continued throughout the month, Seal numbers reducing as the pupping season draws to a close

Wildlife Sighting 2007 - Click Here
Wildlife Sighting 2006 - Click Here
Wildlife Sighting 2005 - Click Here