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Bottlenose Dolphins off Durlston

Latest Sightings

Sunfish in waterMarine Wildlife: report your sightings

 

 

If you have your own sighting to report please use the Marine Sightings Report Form.

2024 Sightings

Date

Species

Number

Direction

Seen from

Other Info:

14/1

Dolphins

3

n/a

St. Albans Hd

NCI Lookout
18/1 Grey Seal 1 n/a Ragged Rocks Durlston S.Titt

27/1

Seal

1

n/a

Tilly Whim

n/a

30/1

Seal

1

n/a

Durlston Bay

n/a
11/2 Grey Seal 1 n/a Tilly Whim n/a
24/2 Grey Seal  1 n/a Tilly Whim n/a
6/3 Dolphins 2-3 East St. Albans Hd Lookout NCI. Suggested feeding
16/4 Seal 1 n/a Tilly Whim n/a
30/4 Dolphins  3 n/a  Swanage Bay  100m off Lifeboat Slipway
30/4 Seal 1 n/a Swanage Bay  100m off slipway
30/4  Dolphin 1 n/a Durlston evening
1/5 Dolphins  3 n/a Swanage Lifeboat Slipway  
2/5

Bottlenose Dolphin

 1 n/a Off Durlston Hut  
2/5 Seal  1 n/a  Swanage Lifeboat Slipway  07:00 - 15:00
4/5 Seal 1 n/a Swanage Lifeboat Slipway noon + photograph
6/5 Seal 2 n/a Off Durlston Globe  
9/5 Dolphins 2 West Off Hengistbury Hd  NCI lookout
12/5 Dolphins 20 West  Off Durlston Castle 11:00 Video & witnesses many
12/5  Dolphins 2 n/a Off Durlston Castle 14:00-14:30  
15/5 Dolphins 10+ E then West  Turned before Peveril Pt. Juvenile leapt out of sea. 2-3 groups. 6 emerged at once.  Many witnesses
16/5 Dolphins 5-6 West

Off Peveril Pt at 09:15. 

 NCI
16/5 Dolphins 4 West Off Durlston at 11:30 seen following fishing boat Rangers + video
16/5 Dolphins 4 SW At 17:40: 1.5 miles off Hengistbury Hd NCI 
17/5  Dolphins 8 n/a At 17:30 Off Durlston Head  Following fishing boat "Sea Spray"
18/5 Dolphins 2 n/a Durlston Bay   
19/5 Common Dolphins 20-30 2 or 23 pods Off Durlston 10:48-12:34 Approached sailing boat. Also Gannets in area. Photo +
11/6 Dolphins 1 n/a Off Man O War Beach: Lulworth tbc
23/6 Dolphin 2 n/a Off Chapmans Pool 17:00   
18/7 Dolphins 3 west

12:00-12:30

Off Durlston Hd

  
19/7 Dolphins 3 west Riding Bow wave Poole city cruise. Shell bay. 1 with scars on back  Video & photos. Observed for 1/2 hour
24/7 Dolphins 3   Off Swanage Pier Fast spinning under boat & jumping
26/7 Dolphins 3 jumping & fishing?  Near Sandbanks / Studland  Ferry 

Observed 12:00-13:30

video & photo
28/7 Seal 1 "hunting" Poole Harbour 18:30 - 19:30
3/8 Blue Fin Tuna tbc "leaping"  Off Durlston Globe 20 metres off shore
4/8 Dolphin 1 East Off Tilly Whim Caves  
14/8 Dolphin 4+ chasing mackerel  Hive Beach  Burton Bradstock
25/8 Dolphins  2 Video:  breeching behaviour Off Swanage Pier 16:30- 17:00
7/9 Dolphins 15-20 Several Durlston ParkRunners saw Off Durlston Gallery Terrace 10:00 + 
8/9 Dolphins 6+ NCI Lookout In tidal race  11:40
15/9 Dolphin 1 Lulworth Cove close to cliffs. Jumped 3 times out of water noon

2023 

  2023 Date Time  Species Number Direction Notes: behaviour / photo etc Observer
1 04/02 n/a Grey Seal 2 n/a Off Tilly Whim B Holley
2 11/02 12:20  Dolphin +   1(or2) n/a Dorsal fins observed 300m off Marine Watch Shelter D.Sagar +
3 19/02 n/a Seal 1 n/a

Off Tilly Whim

 P Brooks
4 20/2 n/a Grey Seal 1 or 2 n/a Off Tilly Whim Fergussons
5 12/03 13:00 Seal 1 n/a Off Tilly Whim: close to rocky shore. Large seal Braithwaites
6 12/03 13:30 Seal 2 n/a 50m off The Globe but 100m apart  Braithwaites
7 14/03 11:30 Grey Seal 1 n/a Holes Bay: seen from Upton CP S Morris
8 13/4/23 15:45 Seal 1 n/a Durlston: off Tilly Whim R Salberg
9 16/4/23   Dolphin 1 n/a Portland Breakwater: followed swimmer D Whitlow
10 20/04/23 10:00 Grey Seal 1 n/a Brownsea Island quay  S Morris
11 22/04/23   Dolphins 4   Portland Harbour: followed paddleboarders. Photos   H Moore
12 01/05/23 17:00 Dolphins 2 (+?) Swanage Seen from Durlston Castle E. Dunkerley +
13 03/05/23   Dolphins ? Swanage  Dolphins following Poole City Cruise Boats inwards to Swanage Pier Swanage Pier
14 09/05/23 n/a Dolphins pod n/a Off Pier P Holmer
15 10/05/23 n/a Dolphins  pod n/a Off Pier P Holmer
16 11/05/23 n/a Dolphins 50 n/a Off Old Harry TS Royalst crew  
17 30/05/23 14:45 Common Seal 1 n/a Durlston: Tilly Whim A Freeman
18 21/06/2023 15:30 Dolphin 2 n/a Swanage Bay: bow wave tourist boat P Bergin
19 22/06/23 13:00 Dolphins 2 n/a Durlston off Dolphin Watch Hut TBC
20 25/06/23 ? Dolphins 10 West NCI Lookout: off Southbourne Beach NCI 
21 07/07/23 ? Dolphins 2 n/a 1/4 mile off Hengistbury Hd NCI?
22 15/07/23 16:00 Bottlenose Dolphins 2 n/a Off Swanage RNLI slipway. Concern expressed at proximity of a RIB L. Agass
23 20/7/23 11:40 Dolphin 1 North off Bow of WWII vessel Medusa NCI Peveril Pt
24 31/7/23 ? Dolphin 2 ? 50m off Swanage Pier M Hadley
               
25 4/8/23 9:00 Minke Whale? 1 West Off Tilly Whim. Film footage inconclusive. Witness said "nose" nor "dorsal fin" out of water. Does filter feed like a Basking Shark Stockle family
26 4/8/23 11:15 Dolphins  4 West Seen from Castle viewing point. One following angling vessel. Seen breech water.  Woolley family
27 9/8/23 12:30 Dolphins ? West From NCI Lookout, following Yacht  NCI Peveril Pint
28 16/8/23 13:35 Common Dolphins 8 n/a Hive Beach nr Bridport T Orbatron
29 19/8/23 8:30 Dolphin 1 tbc Durlston cliff top P Moore
30 20/8/23 17:00 Porbeagle Shark 1 n/a Durlston: west of Anvil Pt. Observed from Marmolata buttress climbing route

M Hallett

(climber)
31 21/8/23 16:30 Dolphin 2 n/a Swanage Pier then following small boats B. Speyer
32 22/8/23 16:50 Dolphin 2 n/a North of Swanage Pier following 3 small boats C Joint
33 25/8/23 9:30 Dolphins 4 n/a Off Houns Tout / Encombe: Seen from dive boat 4 miles off shore. 2 adults 2 calves.  P Mensikov
34 26/8/23 14:00 Dolphin  1 n/a Off Dancing Ledge: deceased Bruce.
35 28/8/23 TBC Dolphin 1-2 n/a ? Ray
36 28/8/23 TBC Dolphin 1 n/a Gully Mouth I,D,E
37 28/8/23 TBC Tuna 1 n/a Below Observation Pt (as big as a Dolphin)  F Holland
38 06/09/23 13:30 Dolphin 4 or 5 n/a Swanage Bay: near surface A. Preston
39 07/09/23 11:37 Tuna 1 n/a West of Durlston Bay: large fish or cetacean leapt out of water followed by small fish S&B Butler
40 07/09/23 12:06 Tuna?   E Durlston Bay  S&B Butler
41 08/09/23 15:00 Tuna? 1 n/a Off Old Harry: jumped out of water. Not a Dolphin P Brandt
42 08/09/23 TBC Dolphin 3 n/a Off Peveril Pt Visitors in Castle
43 09/08/23 15:06 Dolphin 2   Seen from Castle: bow riding a yacht. Photos S Shurlock
44 10/09/23 14:30  marine creatures 100? n/a Off Anvil Point A Beams
45 14/09/23 15:36 Tuna 1 n/a Off Tilly Whim: large H Arnold
46 29/09/23 14:35 Seal 2 n/a Off Tilly Whim D Hull
47 02/10/23 12:00 Tuna many... n/a Swanage Bay A Coram
48 03/10/23 09:38 Dolphins 8 west St. Alban's Hd lookout. 0.3 mile offshore. Seen leaping.  Rachel NCI
49 06/10/23 10:45 Bluefin Tuna 2 n/a 500metres off Old Harry. 100m from boat. breached 4-5 times. 6-8 foot long. Feeding upon Mackerel! N Anthony
50 21/10/23 15:00 Dolphin 1 n/a Off Durlston Hd with Gannets M Meakin

2022 Sightings 

  Time Species Number Direction Location Detail: behaviour / photo / film Observer(s)  
11/8 12:39 Dolphins 10 West St. Alban's Hd Off Lookout NCI  
11/8 07:45 Dolphins 4 circling Durlston Off Measure Mile Markers P. Jones  
12/8 15:00 Dolphins  4 east St. Alban's Hd Observed for 304 hours before heading east NCI  
12/8 07:30 Seal 1 n/a Ballard Down shoreline   H.Lewis  
24/8 13:30 Seal 1 n/a Chapman's Pool   M.Anderson  
17/11 13:30 Seal 1 n/a Swanage In bay & by Pier. Several hours J.Long  
1/12 16:00 Bottle Nosed Dolphins 6+ n/a Portland Bill 1/4 mile offshore circling NCI  
16/12 11:30 Whale 1 West 500m off Anvil Point

Huge plume of spray from blow hole every 3-4 minutes. Plume height 2-3m

 5 witnesses inc S.Wilkins  
18/12 11:30 Dolphins 3 West Off the Globe dorsal fins seen. 2 +1 formation Jackson  

2021 Sightings

  2021 Date Time Species Number Direction  Location Details: Photo/ Film / Behaviour Observer(s)
1 27/02 14:00 Seal 1 n/a Anvil Point Grey. Diving near gully mouth A. Coram
2 1/04 14:45 Seal 1 East Anvil Pt Black: briefly surfaced J.Kirwin
3 15/04 15:20 Seal 1 n/a Tilly Whim Dark grey, surfacing at foot of cliffs R.Mathison
4 18/04 10:51 Dolphins n/a n/a Hengistbury Hd 1 Nautical mile offshore NCI
5 20/04 09:01 Dolphins 5-6 East Durlston Off Dolphin Watch Hut: leaping G.Mitchell
6 21/04 tbc Dolphins 6 Varied Durlston Bay Bay to Durlston Hd then towards the Solent TBC
7 02/05 08:30 Common Seal 1 n/a Off Tilly Whim Adult male very dark head P.Jones
8 18/05 14:15 Dolphins 6 west Off Dolphin Watch Hut   n/a
9 18/05 15:10 Dolphins 7-8 ? Durlston Photo  M.White
10 22/05 14:00 Dolphins 6 West Durlston Off Tilly Whim A.Smedhurst
11 22/05 15:05 Dolphins 6 East Durlston Off Dolphin Watch Hut M.Meakin
12 22/05 15:45 Dolphins 8 West Durlston Breaching in 5+2+1 formation MANY!
13 27/05 10:30 Dolphins 2 ? Hengistbury Hd Leaping 1/4nm off Lookout NCI
14 30/05 09:15 Dolphins 7 east Durlston Hd Possibly 2 calves. Photo inc fin detail C.Jay
15 08/06 08:40 Dolphins 8 east Durlston 2-3-3 formation. Breeching & leaping. Underwater for a while P.Jones
16 13/06 TBC Dolphins 30-40 TBC St. Albans Hd  Photographed from a boat L. Agass
17 14/06 10:40 Dolphins 4 East Swanage Off Peveril Pt Several
18 27/06 15:00 Dolphins 12 ? Southbourne Beach Leaping between swimming E.Sheridan
19 30/06 07:30 Dolphins 2 ? Poole Bay Photos. Beside anchored cruise ship. Black / blue above, white underside. P.Desborough
20 14/07 11:30 Dolphins 2 east Durlston Seen off Dolphin Hut TBC
21 14/07 11:40 Dolphins 10 east Dancing Ledge   TBC
22 16/07 19:50 Grey Seal 1 ? Boscombe Beach Adult grey, 10 metres off shore M.Navey
23 19/7 15:12 Dolphins 6 West Peveril Pt Photos with clear dorsal fin view. Followed by jet skis Meakins & Webb
24 20/7 14:25 Dolphins 8 east Durlston Off Observation Pt. Rode yacht bow wave in 2 groups. Leaping. 25 minutes A.Bass
25 21/7 16:45 Dolphins 6 tbc St. Albans Hd 20 minutes inc. leaping A.Bass
26 26/7 10:50 Dolphins 3 East Durlston Observed breeching J.Evans
27 31/7 07:30 Seal 1 n/a Durlston Bay ? TBC


2020 Sightings

  2020 Date Time Species Number Direction Location Details: Photo / Film/ Behaviour Reporter
1 01 Jan ? Seal 1 n/a Off Tilly Whim n/a C/Fraser/A.Hurst
2 03 Jan  11:47 Bottle-nosed Dolphin 1 ? Durlston Bay TBC Z.Quil
3 19 Jan ? Seal 2 n/a Off Tilly Whim   J.Coletta
4 02 Feb ? Grey Seal 1 n/a Durlston Bay   D.Kiddell
5 05 Feb 08:30 Dolphins ? ? Durlston 3/4 mile off Globe K.Black
6 08 Feb ? Common Seal 1 n/a Durlston Off Gully Mouth. Photo C&H.Apsey
7 12 Feb am Common Seal 1 n/a Durlston Off Tilly Whim K.Black?
8 26 Feb 13:30 Grey Seal 1 n/a Durlston Off Tilly Whim Tyrrall
9 04 Mar ? Dolphin 1 ? Durlston Solo "feeding" Off the Great Globe D.Sagar
10 09 Mar 11:15 Grey Seal 1 n/a Durlston Off Anvil Pt. swim & surface.Long nose. S.Griffin
11 14 April 11:45 Dolphins 10 -12 East Durlston Off the Globe: 15 minutes observation. 2.5 mins video. Breeching. Close swim 4. P.Knight
12 14 April 17:00 Seal 1 n/a Purbeck Hedbury Quarry P.Jones
13 15 April ? Bottle-nosed Dolphin 2 ? Swanage Following Swanage RNLI Lifeboat A.Redout
14 23 April  am Seal 1 East Swanage Swimming close to shore off Peveril Ledges. Grey & male. H.Lewis
15 29 May 11:00 Sunfish 1   Swanage Off Old Harry rocks  M.Carson
16 23 June 20:00 Sunfish 1 North Swanage Small one near Peveril Ledges H.Lewis
17 28 June 16:00 Seal & Sunfish 1+1 n/a Purbeck Kimmeridge Ledges: Sunfish fin out of water. 30 minutes observation R.Turner
18 07 Jul 13:00 Grey Seal 1 n/a Purbeck Chapmans Pool: in the bay A. McPherson
19 11 Jul 11:30 Bottlenose Dolphins 6 tbc Durlston  Off Durlston Head  Ranger / TBC?
20 18 Jul 18:00 Seal 1 n/a Swanage Nr Ulwell Rd 2m off shore J.Lacey
21 4 Aug 08:15 Dolphins ?? n/a Durlston Small pod observed for 30 minutes possibly feeding of Durlston Head  Ranger?
22 24 Aug 16:15 Seal 1 n/a Durlston off Dolphin watch Hut: surface for air then submerging again. Observed 20minutes. Grey possibly speckled. L.Haddock
23 28 Aug 18:00 Sunfish 1 n/a Lulworth East Cliff of Lulworth Cove. fully breached surface twice. P.Henegan
24 30 Aug 14:00 Bottlenose Dolphin 1 ? TBC Leapt out of water twice. Grey A. wakefield
25 06 Sept 10:51 Common (?) Dolphins ? ? Hengistbury Head Pod 3 miles off Hengistbury passing for 1 hour. NCI Hengistbury H
26 10 Sept 15:30 Dolphin 1 ? Durlston off the Great Globe J.Legge
27 19 Sept 12:00 Seal 1 ? Swanage Swanage Bay K.Hunter
28 25 Dec 1300 Dolphins 5 ? Portland Off Portland Bill M McCleary

2019 Sightings

2019 Date Time Species Number Direction Location Details: Photo / Film / Behaviour Reporter
21-Jan TBC Dolphin 15 East St.Albans Head Observed for 2 hours. Appeared to feed along with many sea birds. 2 miles off shore. NCI St.Albans Hd
25-Jan ? Grey Seal  1 ? Tilly Whim   Sue Fisher
25-Jan ? Grey Seal  1 ? Tilly Whim   Marie Sanchez
27-Jan 12:30 Bottle-nosed Dolphin 2 West Durlston Between Lighthouse & Castle Lex Swallow
27-Jan evening Grey seal  3 ? Obs Pt -Tilly Whim Seal with two pups TBC
29 -Jan 12:25 Bottle-nosed dolphin 8-12 West Durlston Bay   NCI Peveril Pt
29 -Jan 12:30 Bottle-nosed dolphin 12 West Off Durlston Head Video: breeching, leaping. 3 groups. Angela Webb
23- Feb 16:30 Grey Seal 1 ? Off Durlston Observed from the "subliminal" climbing area "Watching climbers!" Adan Scotney
16 - Apr 07:30 Dolphins 10-12 West Swanage Initially heading toward Durlston then retuned back towards Bournemouth  again Peveril Pt NCI
17 - Apr 07:40 Dolphins 8 West Durlston Dolphin Watch. Slow -  normal swim Ann S
18 - Apr 09:15 Dolphins 12-15 ? St. Aldhelms Hd   NCI St Aldhelms Hd
18 - Apr 11:30 Dolphins 5-6 East Dancing ledge "jumping" in pairs. Gulls overhead F.Head
18- Apr 11:30 Dolphins 7 ? St. Aldhelms Hd   NCI St Aldhelms Hd
19 - Apr 12:00 Dolphins 10+ East St. Aldhelms Hd Cresting in groups of 3 or 4. Followed by / following 1 boat & 2 Jest Skis C.Jones
19 - Apr 13:43 Dolphins  6-8 East Durlston Dolphin Hut- 3 Jet Skis J.Fern
19 - Apr 14:30 Dolphins 12 ? Durlston Anvil Point C O' Neill
1 - May 20:35 Bottlenose Dolphin 1 ? Swanage Bay  Around both Lifeboats & other vessels near pier Adrian
1 - May  21:44 Bottlenose Dolphin 1 ? Swanage Bay Video of solo Dolphin alongside boat J.Hill
1 - May  evening  Bottlenose Dolphin 1 ? Swanage Bay touched scuba divers foot underneath pier TBC
1 - May 22:00 Bottlenose Dolphin 1 ? Swanage Bay friendly & not feeding P.Higgs
2- May 07:00 Bottlenose Dolphin 1 ? Swanage Bay Beside fishing boat  TBC
4 - May  08:00 Dolphins 7 East Southbourne Off warrens Edge Rd. Birds above them. Towards Hengistbury Hd Gale Heath
4 - May 11:15 Dolphins 15 East Durlston Tilly Whim. Rapid swim 5 minutes viewing TBC Bob Ford
4 - May ? Dolphins 20 ? Durlston Off Observation Point R ?
5 - May 14:00 Dolphins 12 - 15 ? Swanage  Off Old Harry Rocks. Observed from a boat E.Mayo
9 - May 15:00 Seal 1 ? Peveril Point Near outfall Swanage Bay NCI Peveril Pt
10- May 15:50 Bottlenose Dolphin 1 ? Swanage Bay Shep's Hollow S.Jessop
12 -May 13:35 Bottlenose Dolphin 1 ? Poole Bay Underwater @ 3 meters by Scuba divers then also appeared at surface K.Wright
13-May 11:00 Dolphins 2 ? Swanage Bay

Off North Beach. Feeding fish jumping out. Circling 30m of shore. Jet skis too. saw exposed tail. 

 J.Mitchell
16-May 19:15 Dolphin 1 ? Poole Bay from Chain Ferry S.Merchant
18 -May 10:50 Dolphin 1? ? Swanage Bay By Pier whilst scuba diving. Underwater photos & film A. Amieiro
19-May 09:45 Bottlenose Dolphins 10 to 15 East Durlston  Off Tilly Whim. 8 station keeping. slow movement. photos L.King
22_May 16:14 Dolphins 12 ? Swanage Off Old Harry Rocks. Pod swam towards alongside & ahead of sail boat. Jumping. C.Green
22 -May 10:00 Dolphins 10 to 12 East Southbourne Breaking not breeching. Appeared to  investigate fishing pots. Had a following of Gulls! up to 1nm offshore. Photos. NCI Hengistbury Head. C.Walker
23 -May 11:30 Dolphin 1 ? Swanage Bay Off Pier: swimming around and followed boat out of bay. Photos. J.Simmons
23-May 11:45 Bottlenose Dolphin 1   Swanage Bay 50m off shore. Slow breaching. Video evidence M.Drennan
31 -May 21:30 Dolphin 1 ? Poole Harbour Riding bow wave of boat at harbour entrance P.Lander
3- June 06:20 Dolphin 1 ? Poole Harbour Leaping near yellow kioske P.Burnett
3-June ? Dolphins 6 ? Durlston Off Observation Point K.Black ?
11- June 15:10 Dolphin 1 ? Poole Harbour Off Brownsea Island. Initially riding a bow wave, regular breeching & leaping!" M.McDonald
11-June 18:15 Dolphin 1 ? Poole Quay "Very playful around rowing club boat, full breach and holding head out of water M.King
13-June ? Seal 1 ? Durlston Off Anvil Point A.Bradfield
14-June 11:20 Dolphins 4 West Durlston Off Durlston Head C.Carter
15-June 16:00 ??Juvenile Orca??? 1 n/a Solent Hill Head, Hampshire.  Young Killer whale carcass on beach G.Gillam
15-June 16:15 Dolphins 12 West Hengistbury Head 0.2nm off Lookout. Circling before heading west. NCI Hengistbury Hd. F.Wills
16-June ? Dolphin 1 ? Swanage Bay The resident! C.Witts
16-June 15:18 Dolphin 1 ? Swanage Bay The resident again... M.Yau
18_June 16:00 Dolphin(s) 5+ West Durlston West of Tilly Whim: Leaping. 15mins observation A.Clark
18-June 16:30 Dolphins 8-10 West Durlston Leaping. Seen from Globe & Gallery area C.Tulk
24-June ? Dolphins 12 ? Swanage Seen from Ballard Down TBC?
29-June 15:30 Dolphins 11 East St. Albans Head From National Coastwatch Institute A.Seedall
29-June 16:10 Dolphins 10ish East Durlston From Castle Gallery Level: 1st  Pod close inshore of 5-6, 2nd pod further out offshore. Pup full leap out. Much  breaching in pairs. Fast travel towards Solent. P.Jones & many!
4-July 08:45 Dolphins 5 or 6 West Hengistbury Head Breeching. 180 degrees & 0.6 nautical miles. Hengistbury Head NCI P.Johnson
4 - July 12:40 Dolphins 6 West Durlston Near Dolphin watchers Hut  S.Robinson
7 - July 10:50 Dolphins 10 North East Durlston Passed Durlston Head TBC
23- July 08:42 Dolphins 3 East Hengistbury Hd Cruising at 150 degrees, 0.5nm from Look Out NCI Hengistbury
27- July 13:15 Dolphins  6 West Durlston First in Bay then rounded Head.seen from boats & gallery M.Hadley plus
8- Aug 11:00 Dolphin 20 East Durlston Just off Tilly Whim 

A. Rutherford.
20-Aug am Dolphins 20 TBC Durlston Off Durlston Head. Reported to be breeching. Various.
21-Aug 14:50 Bottlenose Dolphin 1 TBC Ringstead Bay 500m off shore. riding bow wave in front of boat & leaping out of water M.Carson
27-Aug 08:14 Dolphins 10+ TBC Hengistbury Hd  1nm off shore NCI Hengistbury
6-Oct 13:00 Grey Seal 1 n/a Durlston Off Tilly Whim K.Scott
8-Oct 11:05 Bottlenose Dolphins 10+ East Durlston Castle - Durlston Bay A. Webb +
9-Oct 11:00 Dolphins 6 East Durlston Off Tilly Whim: slow swim, feeding?, leaping / splashing R & J Tattum +
27-Oct 09:25 Dolphins 6 North Swanage 1/2 mile off Peveril Point  NCI Peveril Pt
3-Nov 08:00 Bottlenose Dolphin 6 East Swanage Peveril Point V. Saville
7-Nov 15:32 Bottlenose Dolphins 1 East Portland Bill Following a boat 1 mile off shore. Fast swim. NCI Portland
11-Nov 10:15 Dolphins 4 or 5 West Durlston Breeching off Durlston Hd G.Moore
9 - Dec ? Dolphins 6 ? Durlston Off Globe Tina
27 - Dec ? Seal 1 ? Durlston Off Tilly Whim: pup? R.Lofthouse
29-Dec 12:00 Grey Seal 1 west Durlston Off Tilly Whim T.Parsons

2018 Sightings

2018 Date Time Species Number Direction Location Details: Photo / Film/Behaviour WHO
2 Dec 13:30 Dolphin 9 ? Durlston Durlston Bay ?
30 Nov 10:15 Dolphin 7 East Durlston Off Durlston Head ?
18 Nov ? Dolphin 3-4? East Durlston Filmed  breeching Kelly O Connell
9 Nov 15:20 Dolphin 2 East Durlston Dolphin watcher Hut ?
28 Oct ? Seal 2 ? Durlston Off Tilly Whim Z.Spicer
24 Oct 13:00 Seal 1 ? Durlston Off Mile Markers D.Tyrrall
22 Oct ? Dolphins 2 East Durlston Off Observation Point & Globe Charlie & Grace
16 Oct ? Grey Seal 1 ? Durlston Off Tilly Whim Angela Webb
26 Sept ? Seal 1 ? Durlston Off Tilly Whim David Coates
03 Sept ? Bottlenose Dolphins 8 West Durlston Off Lookout by Durlston Dolphin Watchkeepers! Dickinsons & Copley
03 Sept ? Dolphins 14 West Durlston Groups of 5+3+3+3 M.Bell
03 Sept 11:48 Dolphins many South Peveril Point n/a NCI Peveril Pt ?
28 Aug ? Grey Seal 1 n/a Durlston Off Tilly Whim L & M Selaar
22 Aug 16:05 Grey Seal 1 n/a Durlston Off Tilly Whim 5 miutes obs. Carol Leahy
13 Aug 10:40 Grey Seal 1 n/a Durlston Bay close to rocky shore in bay Bill, Monica & Tina
3 Aug 13:00 Grey Seal 1 n/a Durlston Off Tilly Whim ?
3 Aug 15:00 Sunfish 1 ? Durlston Off Tilly Whim ?
30 July 13:30 Dolphin 1 n/a Durlston Off Tilly Whim- playing about fishing pot marker bouy ?
30 July 09:10 Porpoise 1 West Durlston Head Observed through scope Warren Claydon
26 July 13:15 Dolphin 10 East Durlston observed from Gallery then in Durlston bay. Breeching and following small boats. Rangers +
24 July

12:07

 Dolphin 15+ North Durlston Head Large pod of dolphins seen from Durlston Observation point heading toward Swanage/Poole O'Kelly
24 July 11:05 Dolphin Bottle Nosed 5-6 East Durlston Bay / Head Dolphin watcher on Duty! slow swim Angela Webb
19 July 10:45 Dolphin 20 ? Portland Observed 4.5 miles off shore around two stationary boats (Anglers?) NCI Portland

15 July

 5:30 Seal 1 East Eype Swimming by shoreline (heading East towards West Bay) with head above water before submerging and disappearing from sight
 		 C Collingwood-Hancock
14 July ? Seal 1 ? Blackers Hole Off Mile Marker visitors
27 June noon Seal 1 ? Durlston Durlston Bay: amongst seaweed A.King
26 June evening Grey Seal 2 ? Durlston Male & Female seen from boat off Durlston sea bird colony. Great Black Back Gull seen eating fledgling! H.Lewis
18 June 11:00 Sunfish 1 ? Durlston Off Observation Point. Photo. N.Gadenne
6 May 14:00 Dolphin 1 n/a Boscombe Pier Dead Dolphin reported in water RNLI Life Guards
29 Apr 15:00 Seal 1 ? Southbourne Beach Diving & surfacing 10m off shore. Observed for 2 hours. Appeared Black. S.Duncan
3 Apr TBC Dolphins 3 to 5 West Durlston 200 yds off coast path below the Globe Photo with gulls circling above B.Arnold
31 Mar 8:30 Harbour Porpoise 2 East Durlston ? H.Murray
31 Mar 15:30 Dolphin 10 ? Portland Off Portland Bill for "some time" NCI Portland
31 Mar 9:15 Bottlenose Dolphin 10   Portland East 20 minutes viewing. Grey: mix adults & juveniles K.Rooney
31 Mar 06:30 Dolphin 2 East Cogden, West Dorset Seen 06:30 - 11:30. Black. Swimming following anglers (from boat?) at a distance P.Wright
28 Mar 11:45 Bottlenose Dolphin 10 East  Durlston Bay Observed by many from Durlston Castle Rangers, Visitors & Vols.
28 Mar 11:07 Dolphin 4 - Durlston Bay 4 dolphins between Peveril point and Durlston Head about 1/2 a mile out to sea. NCI Peveril Pt
28 Mar 8:05 Dolphin 5 West Anvil Pt   A.Hughes
25 mar 16:48 Bottlenose Dolphin 5-6 East St Aldhelms Head Heading towards Durlston NCI St Aldhelms
25 Mar 15:20 Bottlenose Dolphin 1 East Portland Lookout 2 miles off Portland Bill bearing 125 degrees NCI Portland
25 Mar 09:30 Bottlenose Dolphin 5 West Peveril Point 2.5 miles off Bearing 110 degrees NCI Peveril Pt
23 Mar 10:10 Bottlenose Dolphin 12 West St Aldhelms Head 2 pods of 6 Bottlenose Dolphins 300meters from St Aldhelms Head. -
12 Mar 14:15 Seal 1 - Durlston Durlston Bay -
11 Mar 11:30 Seal 1 ? Durlston Off Tilly Whim M. Hadley
10 Mar 14:00 Grey Seal 1 ? Durlston in waves off Tilly Whim / gully mouth Mr Clarke
21 Feb 8:50 Harbour Porpoise 2 West Durlston From gallery terrace via telescope. Appeared to be feeding. 4 views. Warren Claydon
3 Feb 9:30 Harbour Porpoise 2 West Durlston From the Dolphin Hut Hamish Murray
3 Feb ? Grey Seal (deceased) 1 n/a Warbarrow Bay With Lulworth Ranges. Tan ring around mammals middle. 5 - 6 feet long. Iain Stainer
28 Jan 09:09 Dolphin 3 ? Portland Bill 2.5 nautical miles off bill. Gannets overhead. NCI Portland
14 Jan ? Grey Seal 1 ? Durlston Off Tilly Whim M & P Chamberlain
14 Jan ? Seal 1 ? Durlston Off Tilly Whim S & T Faithfull

2017 Sightings

               
1/2 13:20 Grey Seal 1 ? Durlston, Tilly Whim   Ferguson
5/2 ? Grey Seal 1 ? Durlston, Tilly Whim   Bull
7/2 11:00 Seal 1 ?

Durlston, Tilly Whim

   A. Langley
8/2 11:00 Seal 1   Durlston, Observation Point   M. Whaley
20/2 09:20 Dolphins 10 To Swanage Durlston Head   Unknown
20/2 09:34 Dolphins 8 To Poole Peveril Point Ambling along over ledges. Dorsal fins seen NCI Peveril Pt
20/2 12:55 Dolphins 8-10 To Weymouth Peveril Ledge 1 juvenile leaping NCI Peveril Pt
20/2 13:05 Dolphins ? To Weymouth Durlston Bay group quick across bay ???
20/2 13:07 Dolphin 8-10 ? Durlston, subliminal (climb) Breeching with 2 juveniles aoorox 10 minutes viewing. Kay Eyeington
20/2 13:10 Dolphins ? To Weymouth Durlston Hd - Tilly Whim group Shannon Dugdale
21/2 14:30 Dolphins 5 To Durlston Peveril Ledges   NCI Peveril Point
21/2 14:45 Dolphins 12 To Weymouth Globe - Observation Pt 2 groups one juvenile slow moving close in Katie Black
26/2 07:30 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 15-16 To Weymouth Durlston Head 250m off shore observed for 10 minutes. 2 groups of 8. 1 juvenile occasionally leapt out of water. Katie Black?
12/3 10:45 Porpoise 1 stationary Durlston Observed during a bird walk off Tilly Whim from the coast-path. Distinct angular dorsal fin Hamish Murray +
13/3 11:45 Seal 1 ? Winspit, Purbeck   Lisa Brown
19/3 10:30 Dolphin ? ? Anvil Point Photographs taken Julian Sawyer
2/4 10:30 Dolphin 1 ? Studland Studland Bay Wreck Buoy. Swam under yacht and surfaced to breathe Stuart Barsey
18/4 14:00 Common Dolphin 1 ? Portland Harbour   William Stazicker
4/5 ? Seal 1 ? Durlston   J. Kaplonek
7/5 am Seal 3 ? Dancing Ledge Also Puffins on the water Julian Swayer
7/5 13:00 Dolphins 20 Circling Durlston 20 dolphins seen breeching & circling J Munro
9/5 14:00 Dolphin 7 ? Abbotsbury Sub Tropical Gardens viewpoint. C.Witt
12/5 13:00 Dolphins 4 To Poole Off Old Harry   NCI Peveril
13/5   Bottlenose Dolphins 10 -12 ? Durlston Off Globe Julie Hanks
14/5 07:45 Dolphins ? ? Peveril Point Photographs Julian Sawyer
14/5   Dolphins 6   Durlston   ?
14/5 17:00 Dolphin 9 ? Durlston subliminal   Lee Tan
16/5 13:20 Dolphins 4 ? Peveril Ledges North of Ledges. 1 juvenile NCI Peveril
17/5 10:40 Dolphin 1 To Weymouth Durlston 30 minutes observed Castle to Anvil Point 25 metres off shore Bruce DW
18/5 ? Seal 1   Durlston   Hopwood
20/5 ? Grey Sea 1   Durlston   Kate Slone
22/5 ? Seal 1   Durlston   Bill, Monica & Tina
5/6 19:00 Seal 1 stationary Peveril Point In Swanage Bay Elizabeth Cairnes
9/6 11:00 Dolphin 1 ? Off Tilly Whim Breeching & leaping nr pot marker. 2 hours plus Tom ? + Elizabeth Cairnes + Angela Webb
9/6 14:15 Dolphin 1 stationary Off Tilly Whim Very much focused around pot marker bouy. Ranger Paul & Parkstone Grammar School
11/6 ? Grey Seal 1 various Swanage Bay Off stone jetty then Mowlem, caught fish 30 minutes viewed. Charlie Dooley
12/6 10:20 Dolphin 1 stationary Off Tilly Whim Solo Dolphin again fixated with pot marker bouy ?
3/7 ? Grey Seal 1   Tilly Whim Durlston ?
6/7 14:00 Grey Seal 1 local Southbourne Solent Point Beach just past groynes. Surfaced beside swimmers Yvonne Johnson
9/7 11:15 Bottle Nosed Dolphin 4 To Swanage St. Albans Head 3 miles out? "fishing" NCI St. Albans Head
20/7 14:05 Dolphins 15+ circling Anvil Point Seen "milling around" just off The Lighthouse ?
22/7 19:00 Seal 1 ? Southbourne Beach 10 minutes observed just of Groynes Peter Lander
27/7 07:50 Dolphin (trace) 7 East Durlston saw trace lines off Tilly Whim Ann Seedall
30/7 ? Dolphins 6 ? Durlston Bay ? ?
6/8 11:00 Dolphins 6 Playing Tilly Whim Breeching & Playing Tracey Taylor
29/8 12:00 Seal 1   From Dolphin Hut   M Wainwright
13/8 16:08 Seal 1 ? Swanage Seen from Ballard Down. Floating, diving & swimming over to people on SUP's R.Cake
30/8 17:20 Dolphin 8   Swanage 20 minutes observation off Durlston Head C.Holdaway
4/9 10:00 Dolphins 4 South Durlston Head Fast Swim NCI Peveril Pt
4/9 12:15 Dolphins 15-20 To Swanage Off Dolphin Hut 2 Pods with of 6. One calf seen full leap. C. Carter
5/9 15:30 Dolphins 7 To Lulworth Peveril Point 2 pods 7 cetaceans in total heading to Durlston Head NCI Peveril Pt
5/9   Dolphins 7   Guernsey Behind Island Wildlife Christine Arnold
12/9 14:30 Grey Seal 1 ? Off Tilly Whim   Sue Harrison
14/9   Bottlenose Dolphins 7 ? Condor ferry 1/2 mile off Guernsey Terry Bridgwood
14/9   Harbour Porpoise 2   Condor Ferry   Terry Bridgwood
18/9 am Bottlenose Dolphins 3 ? Off Dorset Coast From Condor to Guernsey. 100m of starboard side breeching & playing   Julie Hatcher
18/9 am Bottlenose Dolphins 4 ? Guernsey St Peters Port From Condor Liberation Julie Hatcher
18/9 pm Bottlenose Dolphins 4 ? Guernsey St Peters Port From Condor: just outside harbour walls riding vessel stern waves Julie Hatcher
22/9 10:40 Dolphins 6 Towards Swanage Off Portland Bill Reported 1.5 miles off Portland Bill NCI Portland Bill
26/9 9:30 Dolphins 6 Towards Bridport Off Portland Bill Clearly seen amongst fishing vessels off bill. NCI Portland Bill
27/9 17:00 Dolphins 6 Possibly  toward Purbeck Off Portland Bill Following vessel Wild Frontier II @ 5-6 knots. Breeching & leaping. Vessel heading NNE off Portland NCI Portland Bill
13/10 10:00 Dolphin 1   Burton Bradstock staying in same location. TBC
22/10 10:30 Bottlenose Dolphins 5 West (to Lulworth) Durlston Anvil Point: Film footage taken TBC
28/10 10:35 Minke Whale 1 West (to Lulworth) Durlston Observed off Anvil Point S.Butler
5/11 ? Dolphin carcass 1 n/a Chapmans Pool Assumed to be juvenile. Flesh & dorsal fin. Details forwarded to UK Cetacean Strandings Investigation Programme Martin Jones
8/11 ? As above 1 n/a As above As above Kate Edwards
10/11 11:00 Bottlenose Dolphin 1 West to  Lulworth Durlston Seen off Anvil Point Breeching M.Webb + 2
24/11 13:00 Grey Seal 1 n/a Durlston Observed off gully mouth Warren Claydon
29/11 13:30 Dolphins ? ? Studland Off Shell Bay Bov Fry

2016 Sightings

No Date 2016 Time Species Number Direction Location Details Who
59 5/12/16 14:55 Bottle-nosed dolphins 7 East  Off Durlston Head.  fast swim, breeching headed East Off Durlston Head. ?
58 5/12/16 14:45 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 5 North Peveril Point fast swim one group NCI Peveril Pt
57 5/12/16 11:40 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 9 West St Aldhelms Head  All bottlenose, all adults. NCI ?
56 7/9/16 16:35 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 2 North East Durlston Head Bearing 183, 0.6 nautical miles. "swept back fins" observed briefly breeching.

NCI Peveril Pt: Mike Oldman
55 7/9/16 16:00 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 7 West Durlston Initial seen heading West, West of Anvil Point. Close association breeching in a 4-1-2 formation. Oberserved changing direction then heading West. Observed for 30 minutes. No birds, fish or boats observed. Paul Jones,Ben Tolley, Dan Hickey + more.
54 4/9/16 ? Seal 2 ? Durlston Bay 2 observed morning and lunchtime. Photograph. Julian Sawyer
53 4/9/16 14:15 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 5 West Durlston, Lighthouse 3 in front 2 behind. Possible calf in rear pair. Dorsal fin photos. Andy Rushfort
52 4/9/16 14:15 Seal 5 ? Durlston, Anvil Point 15 minutes observation.Swimming and diving Marian Males
51 2/9/16 10:00 Seal 1 ? Swanage Bay 5 minutes observation from sailing club. Head observed eating fish. Emily Millar
50 29/8/16 15:15 Sunfish 1 ? Durlston 10 minutes viewing..Tilly Whim / Anvil Point Lighthouse Zoe Chappell
49 29/8/16 14:30 Sunfish 1 ? swanage TBC TBC
49 28/8/16 17:05 Bottlenosed Dolphin 5 East Southbourne one leapt out of sea Richard Heath
48 27/8/16 09:45 Bottlenosed Dolphin 8-20 East Durlston 30 minutes observed.Large group split into 2 after 6 minutes.Water full of macherel...feeding. Ricky Tart
47 22/8/16 12:30 Dolphins 2 West Swanage Off Old Harry- seen from Brittany Ferry  
46 21/8/16 ? Seal 1 ? Swanage Off Peveril Point  
45 13/8/16 07:30 Common Dolphins 12+ NW then W Durlston Observed from Globe fast swim, leaping, tight association up to 3 miles off shore until 08:00. Warren. Warren
44 11/08/16 15:00 Seal 1 ? Durlston Durlston bay. Head popping up- inquisitive! Observed 30 minutes R.Fiel
43 08/08/16 13:00 Seal 1 ? Durlston Off Tilly Whim for 10 minutes G.Hopkins
42 31/07/16 12:30 Seal 1 ? Bournemouth Observed near Boscombe beach.Swimmer in water (300-500m [sic] off shore) approached by seal! Nick D
41 24/7/16 no known Bottle-nosed dolphins not know not known Swanage Bay North Report from fisherman ?
  14/7/16 15:00 Unidentified Dolphins 3 not known Off St.Alban's Head 3 miles off shore Swam around yacht then jumped out of water. r minute encounter. John Skrine
40 13/7/16 14:00 Bottle-nosed dolphins 3 around boat Lulworth Cove 2 adults and calf. Adult 8 to 10 feet long. Penny J
39 3/7/16 11:00 Seal 1 n/a Chapman's Poole Bobbing Kate Edwards
38 19/6/16 06:00 Seal 1 West Burton Bradstock Cogden Beach- 10 minutes observation Jeffery Tipler
37 8/5/16 9:15 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 4 ? Burton Bradstock Hive Beach observed up until 16:00 Mark Wratten
36 28/4/16 12:30 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 11 West Durlston 11 Dolphins seen moving from Durlston Bay to Anvil Point ?
35 26/4/16 12:00 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 10 East Anvil Point Lighthouse 3 Groups: 1st- 3 or 4; 2nd 3 or 4; 3rd 2 or 3.Seen again in 1/2 an hour.Swimming & breaching. Sarah Humby
34 26/4/16 11:30 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 12 East Durlston 1st Group: 2 individuals tight association. 2nd Group: 3-4 individuals tight association. Slow swim but continuous direction. Observed between Anvil Point Lighthouse traveling on towards Old Harry Rocks. Ruth Eliis
33 25/4/16 10:50 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 11 West Durlston clifftop TBC Rolf Williams
32 25/4/16 10:45 Unidentified dolphins 8 West 200 yds off Dolphin Watch Hut Fast swimming pod formation 3-3-2 associated with Herring Gulls. All adults...good Pollack fishing at present! Bill & Monica Dickinson
31 25/4/16 10:40 Unidentified dolphins 6 West Durlston Formation 2-2-2 breaching Shannon Dugdall & Sam Aggass
30 25/4/16 10:15 Unidentified dolphins 10 East St.Albans Head Fast swimming NCI St.Alban's Head
29 24/4/16 16:30 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 10 ? Durlston Bay Slow swimming back and forth Feeding? Observed for 1 hour A. Wilkins
28 24/4/16 16:00 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 10+ East Durlston Bay Viewed until 16:30 moving slowly towards Peveril Ledges Bouy. Views of fins with Herring Gull associated. Katie Black & others
27 24/4/16 9:00 Bottle-nosed dolphins 4 ? Durlston Bay 4 still in view NCI Peveril Point
26 24/4/16 08:40 Bottle-nosed Doplhins 10 East Anvil Point 3 pods  in sight up to Durlston Head. Still sea state enabled their breathing to be heard! o still out there i could hear their breathes as they surfaced. Brent Dewstow-Newitt
25 23/4/16 12:00 Unidentified Seal 1 ? Sandbanks Ferry Observed for 1 minute moving seawrd with the tide Tom Vincent
24 14/4/16 13:50 Bottle-nose dolphins 10 West Durlston Heading towards Anvil Point lighthouse Jake & Miranda
23 14/4/16 07:45 Bottle-nose dolphins 7 West Durlston 0.25 miles off Tilly Whim. Losse association, slow moving. 2 together then space then solo. 30 minutes viewing Ann Seedall & Katy Black
22 13/4/16 19:00 Bottle-nose Dolphins 10 East Old Harry Rocks 3 groups heading observed in good visibility for 30 minutes Martin Grisdale
21 13/4/16 15:00 Bottle-nose Dolphins 7 West then East Durlston Durlston Bay: Initially 3 swam towards Durlston Head. Close formation & breaching.Turned around & head east and were followed by 4 more. 2 of 1st group full leaps out of water! No boats locally. NCI Peveril Pt / P.Jones
20 10/4/16 11:00 Unidentified Dolphin 6   Purbeck Winspit: observed for 10 minutes "coralling fish" Jane Davies
19 10/4/16 10:15 Bottle-nose Dolphins 6 West Durlston Pod observed from Castle heading west breeching between crest of waves Many
18 9/4/16 11:30 Bottle-nose dolphin 10 East Swanage Bay Observed 10 from Swanage Pier Angela Webb
17 9/4/16 10:45 Bottle-nose dolphin 10 East Durlston Observed on clifftop by Dolphin watch. Moving rapidly and breeching. Photographs taken. Thelma Deacon
16 8/4/16 11:30 Bottle-nose dolphin 6 West Durlston Durlston Bay: 10 minutes observed swimming around new Lifeboat & other vessels on trial! Jackie Temple
15 19/3/16 15:00 Bottle-nose dolphin 1 West Durlston Off Dolphin Watcher Hut ?
14 19/3/16 10:20 Bottle-nose dolphin 1 East Durlston Off Dolphin water Hut followed by 4 Herring Gulls Thelma Deacon & Julian Swayer
13 18/3/16 13:00 Bottle-nose dolphin 10 West Durlston Cliff top by watchers hut Steve & Jackie
12 18/3/16 10:10 Bottle-nose Dolphin 10 West Durlston Off Tilly Whim filmed breaching. Davison CE School for Girls
11 15/3/16 12:00-13:00 Bottle-nose dolphin 5 ? Sawnage Off Old Harry - playful around a boat C.Mace
10 15/3/16 11:15 Bottle-nose Dolphin 5 East Durlston Observed 1/2 mile off Durlston moving leisurely slight breaching. Dixie Dean
9 28/2/16   Bottle-nose Dolphin 5 to 6 ? Purbeck Dancing Ledge area: Arching  out of water (breaching) .Dorsal fin, beak, black / grey.15 minutes viewing Steph Allen
8 25/2/16   Bottle-nose Dolphin 6 to 7 ? Portland 3/4mile of Portland Bill NCI Lookout. Between 10:15 - 10:35.Circling including around boats, also leaping & breaching NCI Portland
7 20/2/16   Grey Seal 2   Durlston Just off Durlston Head D. Higgett
6 14/2/16   Grey Seal 1   Durlston Off Mile Markers Janna Courtenay
5 25/1/16 ? Grey Seal 1   Durlston Tilly Whim / Anvil Point Rosalyn Copestake
4 21/01/16 n/a Dolphin 1 static Swanage Beach North

Cracass complete with head, beak (teeth in upper jaw) and spine. Length 5'. Some dry flesh. Reported to strandings helpline for syudy / disposal.

 

  
3 20/1/16 11:15 Dolphin 2 East Off Durlston Head Amongst 60 Herring Gulls. Dorsal fins seen, second following first Margaret Whaley
2 9/1/16 09:45 Dolphin 2 East & West Durlston Head  many Gannets also Many Gannets also about Vicky Sawyer
1 7/1/16 ? Seal 1 ? Between Tilly whim & Anvil Point Lighthouse ? ?

2015 Sightings

Date Time Species No Direction Location Sighting notes
7/11/15 10:48 Bottlenose Dolphins 10 East    off Durlston Country Park
7/11/15 08:15 Bottlenose Dolphins 10 West    off Durlston Country Park
13/10/15 11.35 Botttlenose Dolphins adults 12 East St. Aldhelm's Head NCI St. Aldhelm's Head 1/4 mile out
26.09.14 14:40 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 3 East West of Anvil Point Lighthouse Durlston  
26.09.15 14:30 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 8 East to West Durlston Observation Point Observed breaching by Doplhin watchers & visitors
26.09.15 13:47 Unidentified Dolphins 12 East St. Aldhelms Head 200 yards out viewed by NCI Lookout
04.09.15 15 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 15   Durlston Head  
03.09.15 11:15 Unidentified Dolphins 6+ W Portland Bill 2 miles off The Bill : National Coastwatch Institute
29.08.15   Unidentified Dolphins 3 West Durlston Head  
27.08.15 14:30 Unidentified Dolphins 2 W Durlston From Coastpath between Globe and Lighthouse
26.08.15   Seal     Old Harry Rocks  
25.08.15 14:00 Grey Seal 1   Swanage Bay  
24.08.15 15:25 Unidentified Dolphins 5 E Durlston Bay Pod breeching
24.08.15 09:00 Bottle-nosed Dolphins 3 W Durlston  
14.08.15 08:15 Bottlenose dolphins  2-3 E Peveril Point Travelling fast from Peveril Point towards Bournemouth; large adult, smaller one seen leaping out of the water
13.08.15 14:30 unidentified dolphin not specified   heading east off Portland Bill pod of dolphins
27.07.15   unidentified dolphin 7 W heading west 5 adults, 2 calves
02.07.15   unidentified dolphin 6-8   St Alban's Head  
01.07.15 19:00 unidentified dolphin 2   Boscombe Pier 2 dolphins seen swimming and jumping off Boscombe pier. Description – grey, dorsal fin visible.
30.6.15 16:30 unidentified dolphin 6 W West of South Hook 6 dolphins seen a quarter of a mile off Poole Harbour entrance, a few hundred metres west of South Hook.  Dolphins were travelling west towards Old Harry Rocks. 
28.6.15 14:30 unidentified dolphin 10 E Swanage Bay A pod of 10 or so dolphins were seen heading across Swanage Bay from Durlston towards Old Harry Rocks - seen from boat.  
28.6.15 11:00 unidentified dolphin 10   Tyneham Tout A group of about 10 dolphins, mixed adults and juveniles, first seen off Tyneham tout, swimming in pod towards Swanage.   
15.5.15 15:23 unidentified dolphin 8   50˚39.44’N 1˚54.83’W - just outside the southern end of the Swash Channel into Poole, in 13m water depth. Approximately 8 animals were seen including 2 or 3 large adults and 1 relatively pale juvenile hardly larger than size of Labrador dog, swimming close to one of the adults.  They came alongside and under the boat (35 foot dive charter boat) briefly but did not stay to play.
12.5.15 13:45 unidentified dolphin 5   Tilly Whim 2 groups of about 5 dolphins were sent 100m off Tilly Whim. Three plus one dolphins were also reported at Blackes Hole, 100 yards from shore, between 1.35-1.45pm same day.
6.5.15 08:30 unidentified dolphin 6 W Durlston Head At least 6 dolphins seen off Durlston Head, 4 of them adults, 2 calves. The animals were moving west. 
1.5.15 14:00 Bottlenose dolphin 8-10 E Seen off the Globe, Durlston Castle A group of 8-10 dolphins, mainly adults, seen off the Globe, close to the headland.  They were moving east, towards Peveril ledges. 4-6 gulls were seen circling above.  
1.5.15 11:20 unidentified dolphin 6-8 W They were seen from Durlston, Tilly Whim and mile markers looking to lighthouse. A group of 6-8 dolphins were seen travelling from the headland in the direction of the Lighthouse, heading west. They were breaching, swimming normally in tight association.   
30.4.15 13:30 unidentified dolphin 4-5     Swanage Pier
28.4.15 15:00 Bottlenose dolphins  15 W 250m off the Globe; seen from the Castle A group of about 15 dolphins, including 1 juvenile, coming from Peveril towards the Globe, swimming normally, heading west.  
27.4.15 14:00 unidentified dolphin 4-5 W Bournemouth sea front A group of 4-5 dolphins were seen from Bournemouth seafront swimming west.  
27.4.15 15:00 unidentified dolphin 1 ? (not given) One dolphin seen playing with jetskies. Appearance – grey, approximately 2m in length, with chunk out of top of dorsal fin. 
27.4.15 15:30 unidentified dolphin 1   end of Swanage Pier A dolphin was seen at the end of Swanage Pier next to tall ship being circled and followed by 2 jet skis.  
27.4.15 16:00 unidentified dolphin 1   end of Swanage Pier One dolphin seen at the end of Swanage Pier, was swimming on its own, near to people.  Appearance – grey, length 1.5m, possible injury to dorsal fin. 
26.4.15 14:30 Bottlenose dolphin 15   Durlston Head  
26.4.15 12:15 Bottlenose dolphin 10-13 N Observation Point, Durlston Castle  Approximately 10-13 bottlenose dolphins were seen, including 1 juvenile, about 600 yards from observer.  They were breaching, in loose association, swimming fast, heading North.  About 15+ Herring gulls seen in the area. 
26.4.15 11:15 unidentified dolphin 12   Durlston Head  
26.4.15 11:30 unidentified dolphin 6   Swanage Bay Seen 1.5 miles out of Swanage Bay
11.3.15   Bottlenose dolphin 1     Poole Harbour
10.3.15   unidentified dolphin 2   Durlston  

2014 Sightings

Date Month Time Species Number Where Sighted
02 Feb   Grey Seal 1 Durlston Bay
23 March   Bottlenose Dolphin 12 Durlston Head
03 April   Bottlenose Dolphin 3 Durlston Head
04 April   Unidentified Dolphin 6 Durlston Head
05 April   Unidentified Dolphin 5 Anvil Point Lighthouse, Durlston
24 April   Common Dolphin 6 1 mile east of Old Harry Rocks
25 April   Bottlenose Dolphin 10 Ballard Point, Swanage
29 April 14.30 Bottlenosed dolphins  10 Off Durlston Head moving west
22 May   Grey Seal 1 Portland Bill
15 June   Sunfish 1 Anvil Point Lighthouse, Durlston
20 June 20.00 Grey Seal 1 Seen from Seabird Boat Trip, west of Durlston
21 June 20.00 Unidentified Dolphin 10 Durdle Door
12 July 11.00 Unidentified Shark, 4' long - possibly a Tope 1 Stone Pier, Swanage
12 July 12.00 Thresher Shark - juvenile 1 1 mile south of Bournemouth Pier
17 July am Unidentified Dolphins 30 - 40 Stair Hole, Lulworth
17 July 16.30 Unidentified Dolphins 30 - 40 1 mile north west of Portland Bill, 2 pods of 15 - 20 animals leaping and circling (fishing behaviour)
19 July 08.05 Unidentified Dolphins 3+ 1/2 mile off Durlston observation point, heading east.
21 July 07.30 Unidentified Dolphins 6 Fossil Forest, Lulworth
21 July 08.30 Grey Seal 1 Tilly Whim, Durlston
23 July am Unidentified Dolphin 1 Mupe Bay, east of Lulworth
28 July pm Sunfish 1 Halfway between Lulworth and Durdle Door
11 August 14.00 Seal 1 Swanage Bay
13 August pm Grey Seal 1 Swanage Bay
14 August 8.00 Grey Seal 1 Anvil Point Lighthouse, Durlston
14 August 15.30 Seal 1 Swanage Bay
23 August ? Unidentified Dolphin 100 Portland Bill - lots of sightings up until 27th August
27 August ? Juvenile Atlantic Bonito 1 Portland - caught and released by an angler
31 August 10.30 Bottlenose Dolphin 7 Durlston Head
6 Sept 8.00 Unidentified Dolphin 5 - 6 Southbourne Beach
6 Sept 15.00 Bottlenose Dolphin 8 - 10 Ballard Down, heading towards Durlston
6 Sept 16.00 Bottlenose Dolphin 8 - 10 200m off Anvil Point Lighthouse, Durlston
11 Sept 20.00 Grey Seal 1 Kimmeridge Bay
19 Sept 12.00 Grey Seal 1 Tilly Whim, Durlston
21 Sept 13.00 Grey Seal 1 Stone Quay, Swanage
23 Sept 15.00 Unidentified Seal 1 Portland Bill
14 Oct 13.00 Grey Seal 1 Tilly Whim, Durlston
23 Oct 08.30 Grey Seal 1 Swanage Beach, near Bull and Boat Restaurant
4 Nov 13.30 Grey Seal, possibly female 1 Buck Shore (near sailing club), Swanage

2013 Sightings

Date

 

 Month

 

 Year

 

 Species

 

 number

 

 Where

 

04

06

2013

Seal

1

Swanage Bay

04

05

2013

Bottlenose Dolphin

7

off OP DCP

16

05

2013

Bottlenose Dolphin

8

off DH

16

05

2013

Bottlenose Dolphin

6

 150/200m off D Hut

18

05

2013

Bottlenose Dolphin

5

off the Globe

19

05

2013

dolphin species

6

Pev Pt to Durlston

21

05

2013

Bottlenose Dolphin

1

Weymouth Chesil Beach

25

05

2013

dolphin species

 

off lighthouse

28

04

2013

Harbour Porpoise

4

off Bill

02

03

2013

Bottlenose Dolphin

3

off Durlton Head

08

02

2013

Seal

0

Lighthouse/Tilly Whim

23

02

2013

Bottlenose Dolphin

6

TW

16

02

2013

Bottlenose Dolphin

8

off St Aldhelms

28

02

2013

dolphin species

3

1/2 mile off Bill

13

02

2013

dolphin species

100

West Cliffs

2012 Sightings

Date

 

 Time

 

 Species

 

 Number

 

 Location

 

14th Feb

7.50

 Bottlenose Dolphin

2

 Durlston Head

19th Feb

15.15

 Bottlenose Dolphin

3

 Durlston Head to Tilly Whim, heading west

19th Feb

17.00

 Bottlenose Dolphin

3

 Durlston Bay

23rd Feb

13.10

 Bottlenose Dolphin

4 - 6

 Tilly Whim, Durlston

1st Mar

17.00

 Bottlenose Dolphin

4

 Durlston Head

3rd Mar

16.30

 Bottlenose Dolphin

6

 Durlston Head, heading west

19th Mar

11.35

 Bottlenose Dolphin

1

 East of Boscombe Pier

29th Mar

15.30

 Unidentified Dolphin

9

 Old Harry Rocks

31st Mar

12.30

 Unidentified Dolphin

7

 Between Old Harry and Swanage bay

2nd April

9.45

 Unidentified Dolphin

6 - 8

 Tilly Whim, Durlston

7th April

11.00

 Basking Shark

1

 St Aldhelms Head

7th April

11.30

 Basking Shark

1

 St Aldhelms Head

16th April

pm

 Unidentified Dolphin

'lots'

 Swanage bay

17th April

am

 Unidentified Dolphin

'lots'

 Swanage bay

17th April

6.45

 Unidentified Dolphin

8 - 10

 Southbourne

19th April

19.00

 Unidentified Dolphin

5

 Between Wytch Farm racing mark & no 3 buoy in Bournemouth bay - couple of miles offshore

21st April

10.35

 Unidentified Dolphin

5

 St Aldhelms Head

21st April

13.00

 Unidentified Dolphin

5

 St Aldhelms Head

21st April

14.30

 Unidentified Dolphin

5+

 Durlston cliffs

4th May

13.40

 Unidentified Dolphin

8

 St Aldhelms Head

4th May

15.00

 Bottlenose Dolphin

8

 Durlston, Tilly Whim and through into Durlston Bay

4th May

15.30

 Unidentified Dolphin

8

 Durlston Head

6th May

15.30

 Bottlenose Dolphin

2

 Durlston Head

9th May

08.00

 Unidentified Dolphin

8

 Hengistbury Head

10th May

11.30

 Unidentified Dolphin

?

 Peveril Point, Swanage

18th May

8.30

 Unidentified Dolphin

5

 Anvil Point Lighthouse, Durlston - heading east