Today those delightful little Harbour Porpoise came to play :-) giving everyone onboard Free Spirit, some truly memorable and very special views ... :-) What an absolutely glorious day it was too, apart from one brief passing shower, we were under blue skies throughout our 4 hour cruise . With a stiff WNWesterly breeze offshore, we headed West over towards the stunning Lizard Peninsula . Which acts like a huge natural breakwater and wind barrier, heading due South for 18 miles. Giving us here in Falmouth Bay the most perfect shelter and flat calm waters to cruise in .... Joyful .... Even though further offshore, it was white caps and blowing some . Peregrine Falcons and the ever present, Pelagic Seabirds just adore a good stiff breeze, to stretch their wings and zoom about the sky .. Some amazing views were had today, as a male Peregrine, was showing off his skills high up in the sky, above his sitting female, perched on the cliff below :-) ... Manx Shearwaters and Fulmars, continually passed us by on stiff wings, thoroughly enjoying the breeze, allowing them all to shear effortlessly, for miles, without a single wing beat just inches above the sea.. :-) Every single bird, being thoroughly checked over, to double check their ID ,,, As now is the time of year, for many of their other relatives ,,, Balearic, Sooty, Cory and Great Shearwaters, to pass through this rich and productive area .. Continually searching for fins ,, it didnt take long before I spied not one but four Harbour Porpoise feeding in some powerful Upwellings and tidal rips ... These normally shy cetaceans were about to completely surprise us all ... When out of nowhere, an individual broke away from the main feeding group. To head our way as we were stopped, to come right over to Free Spirit and do a complete lap around us ,,,!! :-) Literally just inches below the surface, popping up twice, on its way, all around Free Spirit :-) just a foot or two away. WOW . .. :-) This is a very unique and incredibly special interaction with these tiny animals ... We often get some brilliant close up views. However, we are normally talking,,, about them being about ten metres away !!! Not just one or two feet !!! And to then to do a complete lap of honour . Swimming completely around Free Spirit ,,, unbelievable !! Giving everyone onboard, the clearest and most incredible views ... :-) ... Squeals of joy and gasps of amazement coming from all ... And YES haha ,,, that included me :-)... Very, very exciting and a ONE OFF event .. In my long and exciting career as a wildlife guide ... Looking back ,,, I can only recall on one hand ,,, having had ,,, a similar experience and encounter like this, with Harbour Porpoise ... One just never knows what you are going to encounter and what will happen next, on these our fun filled and exciting wildlife adventures offshore ... Fabulous ... Absolutely fabulous :-) .... To all of our absolute amazement,, several miles away,, from this above very special and unique encounter ... I located two more feeding Harbour Porpoise , who again, whilst we were completely stopped . Came over again, to give us all, a very close and special view, in the very colourful, bright Aquamarine sea. Not as close as before but certainly very, very close, in terms of a Harbour Porpoise encounters. Being just about four metres away ... :-) Wow, two close up and very personal encounters with Harbour Porpoise and all within half an hour of each other :-) Seven Harbour Porpoise were encountered along with Oceanic Sunfish and hundreds upon hundreds, of passing Manx Shearwaters, Fulmars and squadrons of big and beautiful Gannets ... Certainly making it all, a very special, unique and incredibly memorable day to be out on Free Spirit, searching for all our truly special and glorious wildlife ... What will we locate today :-) I ask myself ,,,, as I prepare Free Spirit for another voyage offshore ... Its fun exciting and pure adventure ,, sharing our passion and love of wildlife with you all . Looking forward to seeing you all soon ... :-) CK :-)
Posted on: Fri, 15 Aug 2014 06:24:08 +0000
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