CORNISH MARINE WILDLIFE REPORTS 2004

Reports received of Marine Creatures sighted, stranded or landed during 2004

A list compiled by Raymond Dennis

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2/1/04 On Westcountry TV this evening there were pictures of a pod of Common Dolphins off the Cornish south coast today. It was estimated that there were about 500 dolphins in the pod.

3/1/04 The carcass of a Common Dolphin was found on the Beach at Longrock SW5031. It was about 4 to 5ft long,

3/1/04 A small pod of 3 Bottlenose Dolphins was in Watergate Bay SW8464. One was large, another medium sized and the other small, thought to be male, female and baby. The largest was being very protective of the youngster.

3/1/04 Two playful dolphins were seen in Watergate Bay SW8464

4/1/04 A mixed pod of Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises numbering between 500 and 700 was seen well out off Enys Head SW728149 between The Lizard and Coverack. At least 10 porpoises were counted in the pod.

4/1/04 Two Triggerfish were found stranded on the beach at Gwithian SW579411. They were 37 and 39cm long overall and both had eyes missing and other scavenger damage.

4/1/04 4 dolphins were off Towan Beach, Newquay SW810620 at noon.

4/1/04 3 Harbour Porpoises were seen feeding from 1015 hrs to 1130 hrs and 5 were seen from 1530 to 1615 hrs between Brixham SX9257 and Goodrington SX8959

4/1/04 A pod of at least 10 Risso’s Dolphins was watched for over ½hr from 1300 hrs before they headed north off Botallack Head SW361338. The pod included juveniles.

4/1/04 A very large pod of over a thousand Common Dolphins, was seen scattered over a wide area, travelling west at approximately 25knots and appeared to be feeding whilst moving, about 5 miles east south east of Zone Point SW850310

4/1/04 A pod of about 10 Harbour Porpoises was seen about 3 miles south east of Manacle Point SW811204

5/1/04 5 harbour Porpoises were travelling east in the spring tide at noon off Manacle Point SW811204

5/1/04 A large pod of between 500 and 750 Common Dolphin was reported to be about 1½ mile off Looe SX2652 today from the Trawler ‘Girl Jane’

5/1/04 4 Harbour Porpoise were sighted ½ mile due east of The Manacles Buoy at 1400 hrs. The echo sounder showed 200ft depth and large shoals of fish in the area. 10 minutes earlier a single porpoise had been seen.

7/1/04 22 Grey Seals were in Mutton Cove SW584433. 20 were hauled out asleep on the beach, 18 adults close together at one end of the beach and 2 juveniles, not white coated, at the other. The other 2 were playing at the waters edge.

7/1/04 A dead Triggerfish, in fresh condition but with eyes missing was found on the tide line at Hayle Beach SW551382. It was 34cm from nose to tip of tail.

7/1/04 3 dead Triggerfish in fresh condition but with eyes missing were found on the tide line near Peter’s Point SW577411 Gwithian. All were within 3M of each other and length, nose to tip of tail were respectively 36cm, 34cm, and 31cm.

11/1/04 In the last couple of days11 dead harbour Porpoises have been found on beaches between Marazion SW5131 and Mousehole SW470263

12/1/04 3 Harbour Porpoise were seen playing and feeding off the main point at Berry Head SX948567 at 1100 hrs

12/1/04 There have been 37 small cetacean carcasses found on Cornish beaches so far this year.

13/1/04 A small pod of 3 or 4 Harbour Porpoises was seen passing northward through the channel between St Clements Isle SW474261 and Mousehole Harbour at mid-afternoon

18/1/04 Seven Harbour Porpoises were seen in Mounts Bay SW4723 during the morning. Also seen were 2 Slavonian Grebe and 3 Great Northern Divers.

18/1/04 A Fin Whale was seen about 2 miles south west of Lizard point SW694115 at 1340 hrs. It spouted four times near a boat and was seen

again in the same area about ½ hour later

20/1/04 A pod of 10 to 12 Harbour Porpoises were a few hundred metres off Porthpean Beach SX032506 during the morning.

20/1/04 A pod of 35 to 40 Common Dolphins were apparently following fish about 1 mile north east of The Manacles SW830220 at 1030 hrs.

20/1/04 2 Risso’s Dolphins, an adult and a half grown one, was seen ½ mile south east of Porthgwarra SW371216 at 1500 hrs.

21/1/04 A Harbour Porpoise was seen heading west ½ mile off Lizard Point SW694115 at 1000 hrs

21/1/04 A small pod of two or more small cetaceans, probably Harbour Porpoises, were watched for at least 3 hours during the morning between West Hoe and Drakes Island SX4753 Plymouth Sound.

21/1/04 Between 100 and 200 Velella velella, By-the-wind-Sailors were found stranded on the beaches from Hayle Towans SW551382 to Gwithian Towans SW579411. There was a dead Guillemot among them.

24/1/04 A Harbour Porpoise was ½ mile north east of St. Ives Island Lookout SW521411 at 1430 hrs.

28/1/04 A pod of at least 6 Bottlenose Dolphins including one or two juveniles was in St Austell Bay at 1500 hrs.

28/1/04 9 Grey Seals were on Towan Beach, St. Anthony SX871325

29/1/04 A pod of at least 5 dolphins described as dark grey in colour was moving around between the entrance to the Plym river and Drakes Island SX475532 Plymouth Sound from 0945 to1000 hrs or beyond

29/1/04 4 harbour Porpoises were just offshore at Gwennap Head SW367215 at 1100 hrs They looked like 2 adults and 2 juveniles.

31/1/04 Up to the end of January 64 stranded carcasses of small cetaceans have been found on the Cornish shore, 47 of which were Harbour Porpoises. There were 9 Common dolphin and 8 unidentified small cetaceans. Only 5 were on the north coast the other 59 spread out from Mousehole SW470263 to Treganhawke SX4051 near Rame Head.

31/1/04 A Harbour Porpoise was observed circling within the bay to the north of Hope’s Nose SX950637 in Torbay It was watched from the shore for at least 35 minutes about 400M offshore. Gannets were diving in the area where the sea was relatively calm compared with very rough conditions beyond the point.

3/2/04 A Harbour Porpoise carcass was found on the beach at Marazion SW5131 and 2 dead Conger Eeels at Tremmal Cove

4/2/04 A fresh carcass of an adult Grey Seal was found on the beach at PorthlevenSW6225 and the rotting remains of a smaller seal was found in the inner harbour.

7/2/04 A young Grey Seal made its way from the sea onto the beach at Porthcurno SW38722 and close to the cliff

8/2/04 About 150 Common Dolphin was seen travelling slowly in loose groups of 10 to 20, 3½ mile south east of Fal Bay SW8028 at 1430 hrs They were mostly large adults in 230ft of water with many fish visible on the fish finder.

8/2/04 A pod of about 12 Bottlenose Dolphin was seen off St.Agnes SW697515. There was much bird activity in the area with big flocks of Kittiwakes and Gannets feeding.

8/2/04 A juvenile Grey Seal was spotted lying on the beach at Mutton Cove SW584433 from the cliff top with monofilament fishing net wrapped around its body. Various organisations were alerted including The Cornwall Wildlife Trust, Gweek Seal Sanctuary and the Coastguard. Two coast guards abseiled down to the beach. Communication with those on the cliff top was maintained by two-way radio. The net was removed and the seal checked for injuries but none were found so the seal was released and it returned to the sea.

8/2/04 150 Common Dolphins were seen heading west at 1030 hrs about 5 miles south east of Black Head SW779162

8/2/04 170 Common Dolphins were seen travelling east at 1330 hrs about 5 miles east of Manacles Point SW811204

9/2/04 In the first 3 days of February 2004 thirty more cetacean carcasses have stranded on Cornish shores, 5 at Tregantle SX387526, 5 at Marazion SW5131 , 3 near Polruan SX1250, 5 at Carlyon Bay SX0552 and fresh carcasses washed up nearly every day near Par and Polkerris SX092520 and individual carcasses appearing in many other areas.

9/2/04 2 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Botallack SW361338

9/2/04 A Grey Seal swam up river as far as Boscawen Park Truro SW829445 at 1600 hrs and swam back again at 1700 hrs

10/2/04 A pod of 6 to 8 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen heading SE off Praa Sands SW5827 at 1245 hrs. At 1310 they were feeding off Porthleven Harbour SW627254 until 1345 when they headed back NW. They returned to Porthleven at 1410 hrs slowly moving SE while feeding but were disturbed by a small fishing boat at 1500 hrs and were not seen again.

10/2/04 A pod of 8 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen feeding 300 yards off shore in Whitesand Bay SW3527, at 0940 hrs.and then they headed toward Land’s End

10/2/04 Approximately 250 Common Dolphins were in loose pods of 10 to 30 about 4 miles south of St. Anthony Head SW846311 at 1500 hrs. There were many fish showing on the fishfinder but many of the dolphins followed the boat as it headed eastwards to 5 miles off Dodman Point SX000392. Some pods were mainly large adults spyhopping to get a better view of the boat. There was lively activity at the surface, possibly feeding, and also physical interaction between animals. The last pod encountered was a nursery group of mainly mothers and young, they were purposefully heading south. 2 youngsters had large wounds on their back, one had its dorsal fin missing.

10/2/04 Two Bottlenose Dolphins were south of Penzance SW476303 at 1150 hrs. A Harbour Porpoise was off Botallack SW361338 at 1710 hrs and a Minke Whale was off Botallack at 1720 hrs.

10/2/04 A pod of 8 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen heading north off Sennen SW3526 at 0930 hrs and the pod was seen later off Cape Cornwall SW352317

10/2/04 There were many pods of 10 to 15 dolphins within a 4 miles radius of the Eddystone Rock Lighthouse during the day.

10/1/04 250 to 300 Common Dolphins were seen travelling east at 1530 hrs about 3 miles south east of Porthmellin Head SW868320

11/2/04 60 to 70 Common Dolphin were sighted about 5 miles south of Dodman Point SX000392 at 1530 hrs. They were in loose pods of 10 to 15 mainly adults, not travelling or feeding but playing at the surface sliding past one another, raising their heads above the surface in an exaggerated arc and emitting a ‘quacking’ sound exactly like a duck. This was not a reaction to the presence of the boat because the behaviour was observed before the boat approached

12/2/04 A large pod of about 1000 Common Dolphin were in loose groups spread over 6 miles off Cadgwith SW722142 They were splashing, leapin, bow-riding and vocalizing. A hydrophone was deployed and many fish were detected. Many sea birds were active in the area including Gannets, Guillemots, Razorbills, Fulmars and Manx Shearwaters.

13/2/04 600 to 800 Common Dolphins were seen travelling west at 1030 hrs about 8 miles east of Manacles Point SW811204

13/2/04 800 to 1000 Common Dolphins were seen travelling west at 1445 hrs off Black Head SW779162

14/2/04 There were 8 to 10 dolphins or porpoises off Polruan Seawatch Lookout at 0945 hrs. They were scattered over a wide area, not playing about, but seemed to be intent on feeding

14/2/04 Four Fin Whales and a huge pod of Common Dolphins were seen about 18 miles off The Roseland Peninsula SW8632 during the morning.

14/2/04 A Grey Seal, had been seen from time to time over a period of several days on beaches in the Godrevy area with fishing net wrapped around its body but weather conditions did not allow rescue attempts. However the seal was finally captured on the beach at Mutton Cove SW584433 today and removed to the Gweek Seal Sanctuary. The netting had been around the seal for some time and as it grew the netting had cut deep through its blubber and muscles leaving a wound 3 or 4 inches wide and two inches deep. As the net was cut it made an audible “twang” and it measured 60cm in length. Despite these injuries the seal is lively and alert in it’s temporary home.

14/2/04 2 Dolphins were seen heading south east off Marazion SW5031

16/2/04 300 Common Dolphins, with 40 Harbour Porpoises and a Fin Whale were seen travelling west at1430 hrs about 8 miles south east of Zone Point SW850310

17/2/04 10 Common Dolphins and 4 Fin Whales, three adults and one calf, were seen travelling west at 1030 hrs about 15 miles south west of Dodman Point SX000392

17/2/04 6 Harbour Porpoises were seen about 5 miles south east of Manacles Point SW811204 at 1030 hrs.

18/2/04 50 Common Dolphins were seen travelling east at 1230 hrs about 7 miles south east of Nare Head SW916370

18/2/04 70 Common Dolphins were feeding on a large shoal of fish at 1630 hrs about 7 miles east of Lowland Point SW802195

18/2/04 There were 6 to 8 Harbour Porpoises in a feeding frenzy at 1110 hrs off Botallack SW361338

21/2/04 An adult Grey Seal was in the gully below the Coastwatch Hut at Cape Cornwall SW352317

22/2/04 There were many Sea Hares Aplysia punctata in the river at Trescore SW849715 plus numerous green egg sacs of the greenleaf worm

23/2/04 A large Leatherback Turtle was seen about 5 miles south of Mevagissy SX017447. It looked up at the crew and passengers of a crabber for a few minutes before slowly swimming off.

23/2/04 There were at least 6 Harbour Porpoises off Botallack Head SW361338 at about noon, including some juveniles.

23/2/04 30 Common Dolphins were feeding whilst travelling west at 1630 hrs about 3 miles south east of Nare head SW916370

24/2/04 60 Common Dolphins were milling around at 1430 hrs 3 miles east of Porthallow SW297232

29/2/04 A fin Whale was lunge feeding, associated with 60 Common Dolphins feeding on Sand Eelsat 1120 hrsabout 4 miles east f Nare Point SW799250

29/2/04 50 Common Dolphins were feeding about 2 miles off Dodman Point SX000392 at 1315 hrs.

1/3/04 There was a feeding frenzy with 30 Common Dolphins and 2 Fin Whales while travelling west at 10 knots at 1615 hrs about 2 miles off Dodman Point SX000392

1/3/04 On a Whale Watching trip out of Falmouth off the Roseland Peninsula SW8632 Seals were heard and a range of seabirds were seen before heading 4 miles out toward an aggregation of feeding seabirds where a pod of about 60 Common Dolphins were feeding in the company of a Fin Whale.

1/3/04 39 Grey Seals, including 3 juveniles, were seen at Godrevy Point SW581433 at 1400 hrs.

4/3/04 A Grey Seal, female or sub-adult male, was swimming around off Commercial Wharf and Mayflower Steps and into Sutton Harbour Plymouth at 1100 hrs

4/3/04 4 Harbour Porpoises were about 300 metres off Porthgwarra Cove SW371216 at 1030 hrs

4/3/04 80 Common Dolphins and a Fin Whale were travelling west at 1100hrs about 3 miles east of Porthoustock SW807218

5/3/04 Harbour Porpoises have been seen in St Austell Bay SX0449 virtually every day during Jan. Feb. and up to today.

6/3/04 A Minke Whale was seen travelling west at 1215 hrs 9 miles off Porthoustock SW807218

6/3/04 5 Harbour Porpoises were seen travelling north at 1530 hrs about 7 miles off Porthoustock SW807218

7/3/04 A pod of about 30 Common dolphins suddenly joined a boat heading south east about 12 miles east of Dodman Point SX000392 at 1345 hrs.

7/3/04 10 Common Dolphins were travelling south east 11 miles east of Dodman Point SX000392 at 1430 hrs.

10/3/04 A large Thresher Shark was caught by mid-water trawlers fishing for bass and landed at Plymouth Fish Market. It weighed 256Kg. (560lbs or 40 stone) The pre-caudal Length was 207cm (6ft 9½”) and total length 416cm.((13ft 7¼”)

12/3/04 2 Harbour Porpoises were 1Km south east of Porthgwarra Cove SW371216 during the morning

12/3/04 5 Bottlenose Dolphins, 4 adults and one juvenile, were seen off Marazion SW5031

13/3/04 4 Harbour Porpoises, 3 in a group and 1 a little way of were about 500M south of the Minack Theatre SW387220 at 1230 hrs.

13/3/04 There were 10 Bottlenose Dolphins off Marazion SW5031 and Sandwich Terns overhead. Bearded Tits were at the reserve on shore.

14/3/04 At least 3 Harbour Porpoises were seen in Falmouth Bay off Swanpool SW8030 from 1400 to 1500 hrs.swimming to and fro as if feeding 500 metres off shore. Only arched backs and fins were seen.

17/3/04 A pod of about 12 Bottlenose Dolphins were heading west off Porthleven Harbour SW626255 at 0915 hrs.

17/3/04 A pod of at least 6 dolphins was seen heading east about ½ mile off Black Head SW779162, probably the Bottlenose seen earlier in the day off Porthleven.

17/3/04 A pod of about 6 Harbour Porpoises, including two babies, were in the Runnelstone area SW369200 from 1000 hrs to 1100 hrs.

18/3/04 A pod of 6 Common Dolphins including one very small baby was seen off Newlyn SW467285

24/3/04 Two unidentified dolphins were seen in the mouth of the river Plym SX4853 off Mount Batten Water Sports Centre

25/3/04 2 Harbour Porpoises were about 500M south of Porthgwarra SW371216at 1515 hrs.

26/4/04 A pod of about 6 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen at the edge of thick sea-fog from the Charlestown Coast-Guard Lookout SX046516

27/3/04 A Pod of 8 or 9 Bottlenose Dolphins were in Plymouth Sound SX4651 about one third of a mile northeast of the western entrance at a350 hrs. They were heading north east.

27/3/04 A Minke Whale was seen in Mounts Bay SW4723

28/3/04 There were at least 10 Harbour Porpoises in groups from 1 to 4, between Porthcurno SW387222 and Gwennap Head SW367215 from 0930 hrs to 1100 hrs

28/3/04 A pod of 8 to 10 Risso’s Dolphins were about 1.5 Km south west of Gwennap head SW367215 at 1100 hrs..

28/3/04 A pod of about 14 Bottlenose Dolphins were just off Falmouth Harbour SW819327 at 1400 hrs playing and feeding. They were watched for about 40 minutes.

28/3/04 A Minke Whale was seen moving slowly west off Botallack Head SW361338 from 1730hrs to 1815 hrs and 9 Harbour Porpoises were in the area

28/3/04 A Harbour Porpoise was seen near The Brisons SW340301 at 1200 hrs

29/3/04 5 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Botallack Head SW361338

29/3/04 A Harp Seal was hauled out high up the beach near the rocks at Porthgwidden Beach, St. Ives SW522411at midday. Observers stayed watching the seal to ensure that people or dogs did not approach it, and after a couple of hours the seal headed back to the water. A small amount of blood seen on its right fore flipper was thought to have been caused by moving across rough rocks as it departed.

30/3/04 6 Dolphins were seen in Fistral Bay, SW7962 Newquay at 1900 hrs.

30/3/04 7 dolphins were seen swimming near a speedboat in the estuary from Stepper Point SW915784

31/3/04 A pod of 8 to 10 Bottlenose Dolphins were approximately 300 metres SW of Great Hogus Rocks SW510301 from 1045 to 1145 hrs. They approached a boat swimming under it, and one pair was leaping high in the air. Another pair was swimming together, one inverted, dorsal to dorsal and clicking noises could be heard. One dolphin in the pod was different with a strong resemblance to an Atlantic Spotted Dolphin, The front of its lower beak was white, and it was spotted in front of the flipper. The dorsal fin was more hook shaped and a greater part of the lower body was light coloured. There was no evidence of feeding and the dolphins were seen in the same area from shore at 1215 hrs..

3/4/04 A Harp Seal was seen resting among seaweed on rocks at the waters edge at low tide off Marazion Marsh SW5031. The observer watched through binoculars for 10 to 15 minutes until several Crows lands near the seal when it moved into the water and disappeared.

3/4/04 A Harbour Porpoise was seen in very rough sea 500 metres south of Porthgwarra Cove SW371216 at 1015 hrs

3/4/04 A Seal, considered to be a Harp Seal, was seen briefly at St. Michaels Mount SW515301

4/4/04 A Harbour Porpoise was seen about 700 metres south of porthgwarra Cove SW371216 at 1000 hrs

7/4/04 A dead Risso’s Dolphin was found at Trevone Bay SW890761

8/4/04 A large fin seen beyond the breakers off Perranuthnoe SW540292 was first thought to be a diver or surfer standing on something, but on closer examination the observers could see that it was a huge fin. This could only have been the fin of a large male Orca.

8/4/04 A pod of 10 to 12 dolphins swam beside a yacht heading SW for about 20 minutes 3 to 4 nautical miles off Dodman Point Sx000392. There were 2 adults, 5 or 6 adolescents and 3 or 4 juveniles. Jumping, playing and bow riding.

9/4/04 Three Harbour Porpoises, 2 together and a third a little way off, were close to the Runnelstone SW369200 at 1200 hrs

11/4/04 A pod of 10 Risso’s Dolphins, three very pale and one juvenile, was reported to be heading east off Newlyn SW467285 at 0800 hrs.

11/4/04 A harbour Porpoise was seen off Botallack Head SW361338

12/4/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen a few miles off Porthcurno SW387222. This is the first report of a Sunfish this year.

12/4/04 A pod of 10 to 15 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen and photographed from boats just outside Lyme Regis Harbour SY3492

13/4/04 3 dolphins were seen off Penberth SW404226 circling a small fishing boat at 1130 hrs.

13/4/04 A pod of about 20 dolphins was seen heading west, breaking the surface on either side of the wake of a small fishing boat heading east off Kemyel Crease SW457248. Described as being large and dark they were probably Bottlenose Dolphins.

13/4/04 A small pod of dolphins was in Sennen Bay SW3526 for a short period at about 1730 hrs.

16/4/04 A second Risso’s carcass has washed up, this time at St Agnes SW8431

16/4/04 A juvenile Minke Whale, about 12 to 15ft long, came to bow ride a boat travelling south west at 7 knots at 1245 hrs about 2 miles south east of Zone Point SW850310

16/4/04 200 Common Dolphins were travelling south west at 20 knots at 1545 hrs one mile south east of Zone Point SW850310. One was a white individual, possibly an albino.

17/4/04 A Minke Whale was seen heading south east off Marazion SW5131 at 0845 hrs

23/4/04 A pod of about 18 Common Dolphins was watched for about 30 minutes from a boat out fishing 5 miles south east of Fowey SX120510. The dolphins were within 20 metres of the boat and travelling west

23/4/04 2 Orcas, or Killer Whales were spotted north of the Brisons SW340301 at about 1245 hrs by local fishermen.

23/4/04 6 large dolphins, later confirmed as Risso’s, were seen in Sennen Bay SW3526

24/4/04 3 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Botallack Head SW361338

25/4/04 A pod of 25 to 30 dolphins were in playful mood a few hundred metres offshore at Penberth SW404226 between 1120 hrs and 1145 hrs. before moving off westward..

25/4/04 A pod of 5 dolphins was seen off Portheras Cove SW388358 at 2130 hrs

25/4/04 A dolphin was seen off Newlyn Harbour Pier SW467285 during the afternoon

25/4/04 A Basking Shark was reported to be off the Minack Cliff Theatre SW387220 by the Theatre Staff at 1140 hrs

30/4/04 A Basking Shark approximately 10 ft long was spotted off Cape Cornwall SW349318 at 1300 hrs.

1/5/04 A Basking Shark was seen in Gamper Bay SW3525

2/5/04 2 dolphins were seen off Porthtowan SW690482 at 1400 hrs. They were swimming in unison, but only the backs were seen as they arched out of the water

6/5/04 A newly born baby Harbour Porpoise stranded alive near Hayle Harbour SW556377 It was found by a fisherman who put it in his fishing net container on his boat, and filled it with water. Medics and a vet were notified. The baby’s eyes remained closed for most of the time, while efforts were made to save it. Parts of its umbilicus were still attached and foetus folds were noted. It was able to swim unaided in the tank, and taking an average of 8 breaths per minute, but was very weak and periodically rolled over on its side and arched its back. The baby was supported briefly when this happened, but handling was kept to a minimum because it seemed to stress the animal. It was thought that the baby had become separated from its mother in recent rough seas. It became weaker and rolled over more frequently and had two convulsions so it was decided that euthanasia was necessary.

6/5/04 A Basking Shark, about 12 ft long, was seen about 5ft below the surface in very clear water off The Manacles SW8120 at 1445 hrs. It was not feeding.

7/5/04 There were 4 dolphins in Helford River SW7926 at 1900 hrs. An adult and two younger Bottlenose Dolphins and another larger dolphin with a very mottled and Patchy skin

7/5/04 2 Basking Sharks were seen at Cadgwith Cove SW722142

9/5/04 A Basking Shark was seen in Sennen Cove SW3526 during the morning.

9/5/04 A pod of at least 12 dolphins headed north from Land’s End across the Bay at Sennen SW3526 at 0700 hrs.

9/5/04 2 Harbour Porpoises were seen 1 Km south of Porthgwarra SW371216 at 1000 hrs

9/5/04 3 Basking Sharks were seen in Sennen Bay during the day

9/5/04 A Basking shark was seen off Start Point SX830370

9/5/04 A 20ft Basking Shark was feeding in a small area with mouth wide open in water that was dark green with plankton at 1430 hrs off The Manacles SW8120

10/5/04 A Grey Seal was seen swimming in the cove at Butter Hole SW907779

10/5/04 A large Basking Shark was off Prisk Cove SW795278 at 1500 hrs.

12/5/04 2 Basking Sharks were feeding above divers working on underwater cables at Sennen Cove SW3526

12/5/04 A 12ft Basking Shark was seen off Coverack SW783182

12/5/04 A Basking Shark was seen near the Runnelstone Reef SW369200 at 1411 hrs

13/5/04 3 Basking Sharks were seen off Cape Cornwall SW352317 at 1500 hrs

13/5/04 2 Basking Sharks were feeding above divers working on underwater cables at Sennen Cove SW3526

13/5/04 3 Basking Sharks were off Bass Point SW716118 at 1745 hrs about half mile offshore. Watched circling and feeding for an hour, they were 15 to 20ft long.

14/5/04 A pod of 6 to 8 Common Dolphins was seen heading east about 400 yards off Porthgwarra SW371218 at 1230 hrs

14/5/04 A pod of 3 dolphins was seen off Cadgwith SW722142

14/5/04 A Basking Shark was 1½ m north west of the Pendeen Lighthouse SW377358 at 1630 hrs.

15/5/04 A pod of 7 porpoises was seen heading toward the shore about ½ mile off Bolt Tail SX667397

15/5/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen in St Austell Bay in position 50º16.08N 04º42.01W

15/5/04 A single healthy adult dolphin was seen about 1 nautical mile south of Zone Point SW850310

15/5/04 A 6 metre long Basking Shark was slowly circling feeding about ½ a nautical mile SE of Zone Point SW850310

15/5/04 A single dolphins was seen to breach about 2 miles off St Ives SW5241 at 0800 hrs.

15/5/04 A solitary dolphins was seen about 5 miles south east of Carn du SW457237 in position 49º59.40N 05º30.07W

15/5/04 About 10 Basking Sharks were feeding in the south of Falmouth Bay SW8028. The largest was about 26ft long the rest 15 to 20 ft long. There was a lot of organic sludge on the surface forming long thin slicks. The sea was flat calm and the sharks were following the boat as the wake seemed to be stirring up the soup making it easier to feed and the sharks showed signs of irritation if the boat was too fast for them to keep up.

16/5/04 A pod of about 10 dolphins was seen from the beach at Porthluney Cove SW973412 near Caerhayes Castle They were seen swimming too far out to identify the species.

16/5/04 A 6 to 7 metre long Basking Shark was seen off the mouth of the Helford River SW795265. from 1400 to 1500 hrs. It was about half way between Rosemullion Head and Nare Head.

16/5/04 A 20ft Basking Shark and a pod of about 60 Common Dolphins was seen in Falmouth Bay SW8028

16/5/04 A pod of 5 or 6 Dolphins was seen off Cadgwith SW722142 and 8 Basking Shark were seen in Kennack Bay between The Lizard SW695115 and Black Head SW779161

16/5/04 12 Bottlenose Dolphins were playing off Goodrington Sands SX8959 at 2000 hrs

16/5/04 A 15ft Basking Shark with two white spots on the right side of its dorsal was watched for 20mins one mile south of the Helford River mouth SW7926It came within 10ft of a stationary boat at 1430 hrs.

16/5/04 4 Grey seals were seen hauled out on Black Rock SW833317

16/5/04 A Basking Shark was 1 Km south east of Lizard Point SW694115 at 1230 hrs

17/5/04 A Basking Shark was 1½ Km south west of Carn Gloose SW353313 at 1100 hrs

17/5/04 An 18ft long Basking Shark was seen 1 mile off Porthoustock SW807218. It was feeding in clear water and swam under a stationary tug boat “Doris” and re-surfaced the other side.

17/5/04 A small adult Basking Shark was seen off Cadgwith SW722145 at 0800 hrs.

17/5/04 A pod of 7 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen heading north east about ½ mile off Kennack Sands SW739166 at 1030 hrs.

17/5/04 2 Basking Sharks, 20 to 25ft long were circling quarter of a mile off The Devil’s Frying Pan SW721140 at 1500 hrs. Watched for 40 minutes the larger one fed at the surface the other stayed just below.

19/5/04 A 15 to 20ft Basking Shark was ½ mile off Loe Bar SW6424 at 1445. Many small fish were breaking surface in the area.

19/5/04 A 10ft Basking Shark was seen about a mile off Kennack Sands, SW739166

19/5/04 A Basking Shark was reported to be in Kennack Bay SW739166 this morning

19/5/04 There were 4 Basking Shark about one mile off Kennack Sands SW739166. Video was taken and shown on Spotlight TV.

19/5/04 A Basking Shark was seen of the Minack Theatre SW387200 by the theatre staff.

19/5/04 A Basking Shark was seen off Cot Valley SW355308

20/5/04 A pod of 25 or more Bottlenose Dolphin was seen off The Manacles SW8120 during the morning. Two Basking Shark were also in the area.

20/5/04 An Octopus with a body 5” to 6” across was seen by divers off Penzer Point SW466249 near the wreck of the “Conqueror” Also suspended in the water just below the surface were many small jellyfish looking like small shuttlecocks about 1” long.

20/5/04 A 20ft Basking Shark was circling and feeding just off the car park at Coverack SW783182 from 1900 to 2030 hrs. A shoal of fish was sporadically “boiling” at the surface, possibly also feeding on the plankton.

21/5/04 6 or 7 Bottlenose Dolphins including one juvenile were playing excitedly, jumping clear of the water, off Torbay Marina SX9163 at 1900 hrs, then left the area in the direction of Berry Head SX948567

21/5/04 A Curled Octopus, Eledone cirrhosa was brought up in a crab pot off The Lizard SW694115 recently and was taken to The Blue Reef Aquarium, Newquay where it was measured and found to be a record size of 80cm. previous biggest recorded size was about 60cm

22/5/04 A 20ft Basking Shark was seen off Gurnards Head SW432387

22/5/04 Two Harbour Porpoises were seen from Carn Gloose SW353313 at 1500 hrs

23/5/04 Two Basking Sharks were off Cape Cornwall SW352317 at 1030 hrs

23/5/04 A 20ft Basking Shark was feeding in Coverack Bay SW783184 in a

3 ft swell.

24/5/04 A Basking Shark was seen between land’s End SW341253 and the Longships Lighthouse SW320253.

24/5/04 Two Basking sharks, one large, one small, were seen in Coverack Bay SW783182. The large one was found dead next morning, having become entangled in the ropes of lobster pots.

24/5/04 A 20ft Basking Shark with a white spot on the left side of its dorsal was swimming in circles, probably feeding, about 3 miles south of Looe SX2552 at midday

24/5/04 A large Basking Shark was following a sail boat in Falmouth Bay three miles south of Black Rock SW833317

24/5/04 3 Basking Sharks were off Porthgwarra SW371216 at 1300 hrs

24/5/04 2 Basking Sharks were a mile south of the Gwennap Head Lookout SW365217

24/5/04 A 15ft Basking Shark was about ½ mile off Polperro SX210509 heading west at 1330 hrs.

24/5/04 An 18ft Basking Shark was watched for 30 minutes in position 50º19N 04º30W off Polperro

25/5/04 Two 10ft Basking Sharks were breaching and feeding beneath diving Gannets a mile offshore in Fal Bay SW8028 at 0900 hrs.

25/5/04 Three 10 ft Basking Sharks were circling and feedinga mile off Pednvadan Coastwatch Station SW883360 for 4 hours from 0900 hrs.

25/5/04 A Basking Shark circled a boat several times about ¼ mile offshore in Gerrans Bay SW8937at 1630 hrs. Video footage was taken of the 18ft shark at 10ft range in very clear water. There were no distinguishing features on its dorsal.

25/5/04 3 Basking Sharks were in Coverack Bay SW783182 during the evening, and a carcass was found on the shore

25/5/04 There were 20 to 30 Basking Sharks between Black Head SW779162 and The Lizard SW694115 mainly in ones and twos. One large shark had prominent white scars on its back and dorsal.

25/5/04 A 20ft Basking Shark stayed close to a dive boat for about 2 hours about ½ mile off Pendeen SW388358. It seem to be completely unconcerned about the presence of the boat or divers and underwater video footage was taken.

25/5/04 A pod of about 6 Harbour Porpoises was feeding on Sand Eels or similar small fish that were jumping out of the water off Gurnards Head SW432387

25/5/04 Two large cetaceans, round headed with curved dorsal fins, believed to be Pilot Whales blew 3 times near the Low Lee Buoy SW481272 at 1630 hrs. They then headed east.

25/5/04 Two large cetaceans, believed to be Pilot Whales were observed by several people off Praa Sands SW5728 at 1800 hrs

25/5/04 Two Basking Sharks were seen in Coverack Bay SW783182

25/5/04 A small 2 metre Basking Shark was seen about ½ mile south of Fowey Harbour entrance SX120509 at 1900 hrs.

25/5/04 3 Basking Sharks were 100 metres offshore at Gwennap Head SW365217 at 1340 hrs

25/5/04 A13ft Basking Shark was seen off The Lizard SW694115 at 1400 hrs and another 16ft long off Men Hyr Rock SW700111 at 1445 hrs and an even bigger one at 22ft just south of Black Head SW779162 at 1520 hrs.

25/6/04 3 Basking Sharks were watched feeding from 0900 to 1500 hrs from the National Coastwatch Station at Pednvadan Point SW883360.They were some distance offshore in position 50º11.02N and 04º57.09W

25/5/04 Two Basking Sharks were off Longrock SW448308 at 1800 hrs

25/5/04 2 adults and one juvenile Risso’s Dolphins came close to the rocks at Carleon Cove SW728156 before heading offshore

26/5/04 2 Basking Sharks were 1 Km and 1½ Km south west of Carn Gloose SW353313 between 0830 and 0930 hrs

26/5/04 4 harbour Porpoises were 1½ Km south west of the Gwennap Head Lookout SW365217 at 1730 hrs

26/5/04 3 Basking Sharks were off Pendeen Cliff SW383358 at 1100 hrs

26/5/04 3 Harbour porpoises were seen heading west just off Gyllyngvase Beach SW808316 at 2130 hrs.

26/5/04 A Killer Whale and a Pilot Whale were spotted about 6 miles south of The Isles of Scilly on a bird watching trip. Also seen was a possible Albatross

26/5/04 A 12 to 15ft Basking Shark was seen off the mouth of the Helford River SW7926 at 2100 hrs.

26/5/04 Four Basking Sharks, 15 to 20 ft long, were about ½ mile off Bass Point SW716118 at 1510 hrs. They were heading south west in a group.

26/5/04 A dead Basking Shark was found at Messack Point SW841356

27/5/04 A 25ft dead Basking Shark was found Porthbear Beach SW882367

27/5/04 Two Basking Sharks were seen between the Plymouth Breakwater and Penlee Point at about SX454498 at 1900 hrs There was a pod of dolphins about 500 metres away.

27/5/04 A 15ft Basking Shark was feeding in a plankton bloom 100 metres north of the Rose Hill Wreck in position 50º19.52N 04º08.50W at 1950 hrs.

27/5/04 The carcass of a Harbour Porpoise was found on the wreck of the Alice Marie which is about 2 miles south of St. Michaels Mount at 26metres depth. It was rather bloated and had been seen on the previous two days when it was entangled in fishing net, today however it was free of the net.

28/5/04 A Basking Shark was seen off Nanquidno SW357294 at 1400 hrs

28/5/04 Two very large Basking Sharks, about 30ft long, were circling ,probably feeding, about 7 miles off Pendeen in position 50º15N 05º45W at 1830 hrs.

28/5/04 2 dead Basking Sharks were found on the shores of Fal Estuary SW8331

29/5/04 A 10ft Basking Shark was feeding in the plankton with Bass and Jellyfish, 30metres offshore, half way between Hope Cove and Salcomb in position approximately SX6936 at 1500 hrs.

29/5/04 A pod of 8 to 10 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen heading north off Polkerris Cove SW806226 during the morning and seen again heading south at 1600 hrs

30/5/04 A pod of 3 to 5 dolphins was seen by lifeguards at Chapel Porth SW696495 about 150 metres offshore heading east with much leaping.

30/5/04 A 3 metre Basking Shark was seen from a yacht in rough conditions about 3 miles off Bolt Tail SX667397

30/5/04 The carcass of a dead Basking Shark was found on the seabed between Cape Cornwall SW349318 and The Brisons SW340301

30/5/04 A 10ft Basking Shark was heading east 400metres off Treganhawk SX4051 at 1400 hrs.

30/5/04 A 10ft Basking Shark was seen about a mile out in Whitsand Bay in position 50º19,60N 03º14.72W at 1140 hrs.

1/6/04 A Minke Whale was about 500 metres off Porthgwarra Cove SW371216 at 1030 hrs

1/6/04 2 basking Sharks were off Cape Cornwall SW349318 at 1000 hrs

1/6/04 A small dolphin was seen off Hoe Point, Gugh, Isles of Scilly SV892079

2/6/04 2 Harbour Porpoises were about 300 metres off Lizard Point SW694115at 1200 hrs

2/6/04 A 10ft Basking Shark was found inside the closed gates of the Penzance Inner Harbour SW476303 early this morning and it is expected that it will swim free when the gates are opened later this afternoon. Basking Sharks and Seals have become trapped in the harbour before but they soon leave when the gates are opened.

2/6/04 A pod of 5 to 10 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen from a rowing boat about ½ mile off Porthtowan beach SW690482 at 2030 hrs

2/6/04 2 Basking Sharks were seen off Cot Valley SW355308

2/6/04 3 whales were spotted offshore by surfers at Hayle Towans SW557382. They were thought to be Minke Whales.

3/6/04 A Basking Shark and a Harbour Porpoise were seen off Botallack Head SW361338

3/6/04 2 Harbour Porpoises were off pendeen Cliff SW383353 at 1400 hrs

3/6/04 A 15ft Basking Shark was in Fal Bay in position 50º06.81N 05º01.50W at 0917 hrs

3/6/04 Eight Basking Sharks were watched for 20 minutes about 3 nautical miles off Portreath in position 50º17.18N 05º21.80Wfrom 1030 hrs.

3/6/04 The carcass of a dead Dolphin was seen and photographed well out in Mounts Bay in position 50º04.730N 5º27.534W. It had severe scratch marks along its body and was decomposing.

3/6/04 A small dolphin was seen between Woolpack and Spanish Ledges Isles of Scilly SV8909

3/6/04 A medium sized dolphin was seen off the Old Wreck Bouy, Annet, Isles of Scilly, SV8609

4/6/04 A 15ft Basking Shark was seen near the Eddystone Lighthouse in position 50º10N 04º16W at 1926 hrs

4/6/04 A Basking Shark was about 500 metres off Porthgwarra Cove SW371216 at 1300 hrs and an Ocean Sunfish was seen off the Cove at 1330 hrs

4/6/04 A Portuguese-Man-of-War was seen off Sennen Cove SW3526

4/6/04 A Grey Seal was in the water off Porth Joke SW770606 and 2 others were among the rocks.

4/6/04 A dolphin ws seen off Trenemene, Western Rocks, Isles of Scilly SV849054

5/6/04 An Ocean Sunfish, 4 ft diameter, breached 3 times close to a boat , jumping 2 ft clear of the water about 2 miles south of The Manacles SW8120

5/6/04 A 10 ft Basking Sahark was seen near The Eddystone Lighthouse in position 50º10N 04º16W at 1100 hrs

5/6/04 A Harbour Porpoise was seen near mooring JO1 in Mylor Yach Harbour SW823352 at 0943 hrs.

6/6/04 A Grey Seal was seen about 300 metres east of Greatwood Shore at Mylor Yacht Harbour SW823352 at 1338 hrs.

6/6/04 A Basking Shark was seen by divers visiting the wreck of HMS Scylla in Whitsand Bay SX4050

6/6/04 A pod of 10 to 12 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen heading south in Watergate Bay SW8464 then surfing the waves toward the shore at Whipsiderry SW831635

6/6/04 2 purple jellyfish, probably, Moon Jellyfish, Aurelia aurita, were seen just offshore at Towan Beach, Newquay SW810620 and some Grey Seals were seen in Newquay Harbour

6/6/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen on the surface flipping from side to side just off St. Clement’s Island SW474261 at 1500 hrs.

6/6/04 A 25ft Baskin Shark was about 500 metres off The Minack Theatre SW387220 at 1600 hrs

6/6/04 A Grey Seal was seen below the lookout at Stepper Point SW915785

7/6/04 2 Basking Sharks were seen circling off Porthcurno Beach SW387222. A 10ft shark had a white scar on the left side just in front of the dorsal, which may have been an attached fish, was just off the rocks near Minack Point and a 12 ft shark seemed to be enjoying itself in the breakers off the beach.

7/6/04 A pod of about 6 dolphins was seen off Pentire Point from 1300 to 1330 hrs One staying to an adult was probably a juvenile. Several Trip Boats were in the area affording the visitors a good view until the pod head north.

7/6/04 A pod of 8 dolphins including one juvenile, was playing and jumping around a catamaran off Newquay SW8162 between 1630 and 1700 hrs.

7/6/04 At least 8 Bottlenose Dolphins, including one juvenile, headed north around St Ives Island SW5241 and west close inshore at 1450 hrs They were last seen disappearing around Clodgy Point SW507413 at about 1525 hrs

7/6/04 A pod of about 6 dolphins was seen heading west off Botallack Head SW361338 at 1915 hrs

7/6/04 There was a pod of Bottlenose Dolphins in Sennen Bay SW3526 at 2000 hrs

7/6/04 2 Basking Sharks were seen about 11 miles off Padstow SW9279 at 1100 hrsThey were about 10 ft long and feeding beneath diving Gannets. A pod of dolphins was also in the area.

8/6/04 A Grey Seal was seen in Mylor Yacht Harbour between moorings KD1 and LO1 at 1220 hrs

8/6/04 An Ocean Sunfish was spotted on the surface just south of the Longships Lighthouse SW320253

8/6/04 A pod of 6 to 8 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen off Pentire Point SW923804 heading north with one juvenile.

8/6/04 2 Grey Seals were observed bottling and diving at Guglane SW932810

8/6/04 Four basking Sharks were feeding about 200 yards off the Beach at Sennen Cove SW352262 between 0900 and 0930 hrs. 3 were medium size and the fourth was quite large. They plied back and forth for a while before the Big’un and one other began a high speed chase disappearing behind The Cowloe SW348266. The other two moved into deeper water soon after.

8/6/04 A small dolphin jumped clear out of the water off Annet Isles of scilly SV8606

8/6/04 2 dolphins were seen in the Camel Estuary SW915785

9/6/04 4 Basking Sharks were reported to be off Sennen Cove SW3526 during the morning.

9/6/04 Two Basking Sharks were feeding close to the cliff between Short Island SX076908 and Firebeacon Point SX107923 from 1530 hrs to 1600 hrs.

9/6/04 5 Dolphins, thought to be Bottlenose and 2 basking Sharks were seen off the mouth of the river Camel SW9277

10/6/04 4 Basking Sharks were in Sennen Bay SW3526 during the day

10/6/04 A 10 ft Basking Shark was hit by a boat travelling from Penzance to Falmouth but did not appear to have been badly injured as it was watched for 5 minutes 3 miles offshore at 1400 hrs.

11/6/04 A Basking shark was circling and feeding beneath diving Gannets a few hundred metres off Stepper Point SW911785

11/6/04 A Grey Seal was seen off Porthcurno SW387222 from the Minack Rocks. It approached the beach but then headed west

11/6/04 3 Basking Sharks were off Pendeen Cliff SW383353 at 1330 hrs

11/6/04 A Grey Seal was seen among the moorings in Mylor Yacht Harbour SW823352 at 1610 hrs

12/6/04 4 Basking Sharks were seen off Port Quin SW971811

13/6/04 A Basking Shark was seen from the coast path about 2 miles from St Anthony Head near Killigerran Head SW871322. It was heading south west about 100Metres offshore.

13/6/04 A Basking Shark was seen from the coast path near Cam Head SW937807 heading north at 1200 hrs.

13/6/04 4 Basking Sharks were observed heading north in Newquay Bay SW8162. The largest was about 15ft long.

13/6/04 2 Whales about 12 ft long were seen in the morning about 300 metres off Mavagissey SX017447

13/6/04 A Basking Shark was off Carn Gloose SW353313 at 1000 hrs

14/6/04 3 Basking Sharks were seen off the Camel Estuary SW9277 from a Trip Boat out of Padstow

14/6/04 A single 4 metre long Bottlenose Dolphin breached once 50 yards from a boat which was about 200 yards off Doyden Point SW967806. The boat and dolphin were both heading west at 1845 hrs

14/6/04 Four Basking Sharks were seen about 250 metres offshore in Polzeath Bay SW9378 at 1630 hrs. One was about 10 ft long, the other bigger, up to 20ft long. There were Rootmouth Jellyfish and many Moon Jellyfish in the area.

14/6/04 A small dolphins was seen moving slowly off Trenemene, Western Rocks I.o.S SV849054

15/6/04 A Basking Shark was in Sennen Bay SW3526 at midday

15/6/04 8 Basking Sharks were seen between the Rumps SW933811 and The Mouls SW938815 from 1230 hrs to 1330 hrs. 2 Puffins were also seen at the east end of The Mouls.

15/6/04 A 10 ft Basking Shark was watched for 10 minutes between Dartmouth and Salcombe in position 50º40.5N 03º55.35W at 1825 hrs.

15/6/04 A Basking Shark was seen off Perranporth Beach SW756544

16/6/04 5 Dolphins, thought to be Bottlenose, and 2 Basking Sharks were seen off the mouth of the river Camel SW9277

16/6/04 3 Basking Sharks were seen off Polzeath SW9378

16/6/04 6 or 7 Basking Sharks were seen off the Camel Estuary SW9277 from a Trip Boat out of Padstow at 1700 hrs.

16/6/04 Numerous Basking Sharks were in Port Quin Bay at 0930 hrs. Two swam slowly between The Mouls and The Rumps about 100 yards from shore one of which was about 5 metres long. There were many others out in the bay, too numerous to count. Also seen were many Puffins on The Mouls.

16/6/04 A 25ft Basking Shark was seen near hands Deep about 7 miles off Rame Head SX4248 at1445 hrs

16/6/04 A 10ft Baskin shark was seen between salcombe and Hope Cove in approx. position SX6936 at 1700 hrs.

16/6/04 Two small dolphins were seen inside The Haycocks Annet, Isles of Scilly SV859089

16/6/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen 2 miles east of Fowey SX1251

16/6/04 A Basking Shark, and possibly a second, were seen in Padstow Bay SW914917

17/6/04 Six Basking Sharks were about 20 metres pentire Point SW923804 for 5 hours around midday. 4 were about 15ft lomg, the others bigger, up to 26ft

17/6/04 A 10 ft Basking Shark was about a mile off Lands End SW341253 at 1500 hrs

17/6/04 A large black fin of a Basking Shark, moving slowly 200 yards off, was seen by surfers at Harlyn Bay SW8775

18/6/04 7 Basking Sharks, two of them very big, were seen by trippers on “Jubilee Queen” out of Padstow, about a mile west of Stepper Point SW916785

18/6/04 3 dolphins, including one juvenile, were bow riding and playing alongside a yacht, turning with the boat when it tacked, moving at 6 to 7 knots from The Manacles SW8120 to the mouth of the Helford River SW7926 from 1710 to 1800 hrs. One dolphin had a white spot to the right of its blowhole. They were mottled on the back and white on the underside with a longish beak.

19/6/04 3 dolphins were seen near moorings off Porth Navas SW754277 in the Helford River.

19/6/04 A Basking Shark was seen cruising leisurly at the surface about 4 miles south west of Bolt Head in position 50º09.58N 03º49.56W at 1130 hrs. Watched for ten minutes by six members of yacht crew.

19/6/04 3 Dolphins, thought to be Commons, were reported to be in the Helford River between Calamansack Woods and Helford Passage SW760267 during the afternoon and evening; last seen heading for the sea. They were about 4ft long. There was a shoal of Mackerel in the river.

19/6/04 Five basking Sharks were between The Rumps and Mouls SW9381 at 1300 hrs One was 10 ft long, 3 were about 15ft long and the other nearly 25ft. A Peregrin Falcon was in the area.

20/6/04 3 Basking Sharks came together about 400 metres off The Rumps and Mouls SW9381 at 1900 hrs then parted and headed out to sea .One was about 10ft long, the others much bigger about 25ft. There was some breaching as they departed under diving Gannets.

20/6/04 A 10 ft Basking Shark was seen about 1 nautical mile off Perranporth SW756544 at 1215 hrs

20/6/04 A yacht which had stopped to collect rubbish floating on the surface discarded by another boat, south of Penzance Harbour in Mounts Bay SW4723, was surrounded by a pod of 10 to 12 Bottlenose Dolphins swimming zigzag below the boat and blowing bubbles under the hull. Two of the dolphins were very large. The pod was bow and wake riding when the yacht continued is journey

20/6/04 A 30 ft Basking Shark was seen near Gulland Rock SW978789 by trippers out mackerel fishing.

20/6/04 A 30 ft Minke Whale was seen from the Plymouth to Roscoff Ferry about 2 KM south east of The Eddystone Lighthouse 50º10N 04º16W at 1300 hrs

20/6/04 2 dolphins were seen off Deep Point, St. Mary’s Isles of Scilly, SV932112

20/6/04 A Harbour Porpoise was seen moving around a boat east of St. Mary’s Isles of Scilly

20/6/04 A dolphins was seen in the Camel Estuary SW915785

21/6/04 A pod of 8 or more dolphins, including at least 2 juveniles, was seen off Hayle Bay, Polzeath SW924795

24/6/04 A large Basking Shark, 25 to 30ft long, was seen off Pendeen Lighthouse SW377358 between 0900 and 1030 hrs. An Ocean Sunfish was also in the area

24/6/04 A Harbour Porpoise was about 700 metres south of Porthgwarra Cove 713216 at 1000 hrs and an Ocean Sunfish was in the area.

25/6/04 A pod of about 5 Bottlenose Dolphins were off Rock SW932757 swimming in the estuary during the morning.

25/6/04 A pod of dolphins was seen in the estuary off daymer Bay SW924775

26/6/04 A pod of at least 13 Bottlenose Dolphins, including one juvenile, was in Newquay Bay SW8162 at 1630 hrs. They stayed in the bay for at least an hour gradually heading toward Lusty Glaze SW822625 and then out to sea. A speed boat towing a rubber ring frequently intercepted their path as it circled around the bay and the dolphins breached and tail slapped as it drew near, possibly a warning gesture to protect the young one.

26/6/04 A Grey Seal was seen at Porth Askin SV88100740 St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly

26/6/04 About 50 dolphins were leaping and following a boat in 2 or 3 groups off Porth SW830629 near Newquay.

26/6/04 A Basking Shark was seen 150metres off Chapel Cliffs SX205504 from 1300 -1345 moving in various directions as if feeding.

27/6/04 A Basking Shark was seen between The Skerries Buoy, Dartmouth and Start Point, in approximate position SX8642 at 1310 hrs.

28/6/04 A Grey Seal was seen just west of St. Martins Head SV94061617

St. Martins, Isles of Scilly.

31/6/04 4 Grey Seals have been visiting Newquay Harbour SW808622 regularly this month, swimming in the harbour and taking fish from the fishermen. A small pod of dolphins have also been seen in the Bay.

1/7/04 A Harbour Porpoise was about 700 metres south of Porthgwarra Cove SW371216 from 0830 to 1030 hrs and there was an Ocean Sunfish in the area.

1/7/04 6 dolphins were seen on the seaward side of Doom Bar SW919779 surfing toward the shore and then leaping back over the waves.

2/7/04 3 Grey Seals were resting on Black Rock, Carrack Roads SW833317 at 1200 hrs

3/7/04 A Minke Whale was seen by birdwatchers from MV Scillonian III on her journey to the Isles.

4/7/04 On a pelagic trip out of St. Mary’s Isles of Scilly a pod of Risso’s Dolphins was seen as well as 4 Balearic Shearwater.

4/7/04 3 dolphins were seen swimming and jumping from St. Martin’s Isles of Scilly, SV9216. They were heading north east.

4/7/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen about 4 miles off Lamorna SW451240

5/7/04 Two Violet Sea Snail Janthina janthina were found on the strand line at Porthcothan Bay SW8572. 5 other local beaches were examined but no more were found.

5/7/04 A pod of about 200 Common Dolphins was seen on a pelagic trip out of Falmouth at 1200 hrs They were about 8 miles off Black Head SW779162. Also seen on the trip were 15 Manx Shearwaters and 2 Storm Petrels.

5/7/04 A pod of about 50 Common Dolphin was seen off The Manacles SW8120

5/7/04 A pod of 5 Bottlenose Dolphins moved westward between Godrevy Point and Godrevy Island SW576435 with some breaching during the afternoon.

5/7/04 A pod of 10 to 12 Bottlenose Dolphins were playing around a catamaran in Newquay Bay SW8126 during the day, heading in a south westerly direction.

5/7/04 2 Violet Sea Snails were found on the beach at Porthcothan SW8572

6/7/04 A pod of 10 to 12 Bottlenose Dolphins were behaving very playfully in Newquay Bay during the day

6/7/04 A pod of 6 to 10 dolphins were seen near a boat several mile south east of The Lizard in position 49º32.09N 04º57.03W at 1600 hrs

7/7/04 2 dolphins jumped out of the water 3 times off Stepper Point SW915788

8/7/04 A female Grey Seal was bottling off Halzephron Cliff SW6521 at 1630 hrs as an Ocean Sunfish passed by heading south east

9/7/04 A pod of 8 Bottlenose Dolphins including one juvenile was seen from the cliffs at Durlston Head SZ0476 during the morning.

9/7/04 3 Risso’s Dolphins were between SennenCove SW3526 and The Sharks Fin Rock SW3425 during the evening

9/7/04 2 Ocean Sunfish were seen off Pendeen SW377358 during the afternoon

10/7/04 A Harbour Porpoise was seen off Cape Cornwall SW349318 at 1115 hrs

10/7/04 2 dolphins were watched for 10 minutes about 40 metres off Godrevy Point SW581433 at 1400 hrs

10/7/04 A Grey Seal was watched for 20 minutes about 20 metres off Godrevy Point SW581433 at 1500 hrs

11/7/04 5 basking sharks were seen off Cape Cornwall SW349318 between 1600 and 1700 hrs

11/7/04 An Ocean Sunfish 2ft 6” to 3ft across was seen about 200 metres off Porthgwidden Beach SW521410 at 1400 hrs

12/7/04 A Harbour Porpoise was seen beneath Gannets about 1 Km south east of Porthgwarra Cove SW371216 at 1000 hrs

13/7/04 A large pod of dolphins, including many juveniles, were seen in Mount’s Bay SW5020

13/7/04 A 30cm Triggerfish was brought up in a pot baited with salt mackerel west of Towan Head in position 50º25.2N 05º06.9W

13/7/04 A 3 metre Ocean Sunfish was seen north west of Newquay in position 50º25.05N 05º09.02W. It was heading south west.

14/7/04 There were up to 100 Harbour Porpoises in the area between Land’s End SW341253 and Cape Cornwall SW349318 during the day

14/7/04 The carcass of a Harbour Porpoise was found at Gunwallow Fishing Cove SW654223

14/6/04 A large pod of dolphins, possibly a hundred or more, were jumping clear of the water in Mount’s Bay SW5020

15/7/04 Two Ocean Sunfish were seen off Pendeen SW377358 from 1600 to 1700 hrs

16/7/04 A Basking Shark was seen off Cape Cornwall SW348318 at 1300 hrs. and 4 Harbour porpoises , including one juvenile, were off the Cape at 1630 hrs. An Ocean Sunfish was also in the area.

17/7/04 About 50 By-the-Wind-Sailors, Velella velella were found freshly dead in rock pools on New Polzeath shore SW9378. They were quite small, only about 2 to 3 cm diameter.

17/7/04 50 or more By-the-Wind-Sailors, Velella velella, were found stranded on the beach at new Polzeath SW934796

18/7/04 Five Risso’s Dolphins were seen off Porthgwarra SW371216 during the morning. Also seen were a Bonxie, a Balearic Shearwater and 5 Puffins.

18/7/04 A pod of 12 to 15 Bottlenose dolphins, including at least 2 juveniles, was seen about 200m off St. George’s Island, Looe SX2551 They came close to a 6 metre fishing boat towing an inflatable tender and started playing with the tender eventually capsizing it. They stayed with the boat, heading east, for about a mile continuing to play with the dinghy.

19/7/04 A Basking shark was spotted heading west just off St. Ives Island SW521411 at 1045 hrs

21/7/04 5 Harbour Porpoises, 3 adults and 2 juveniles, were about 800metres SSW of Gwennap Head SW367215 at 1100 hrs An Ocean Sunfish was also in the area.

22/7/04 3 Harbour Porpoises , 2 adults and a juvenile, were 1 Km north of Pendeen SW377358 at 1030 hrs.

22/7/04 Seven Harbour Porpoises were off Cape Cornwall SW349318 at 1700 hrs

23/7/04 Three Harbour Porpoises, 2 adults and a juvenile, were seen 1Km SW of Gwennap Head SW367215

23/7/04 4 Harbour Porpoises were seen well out in Mounts Bay in position 50º2.120N 5º28.314W

24/7/04 A pod of 5 or 6 Bottlenose Dolphins was jumping and feeding off Paignton SX895609 between 1230 and 1330 hrs.

24/7/04 4 Harbour Porpoises were seen deep in Mounts Bay SW4723 at about noon

25/7/04 An Ocean Sunfish, a meter across, was seen about 10m offshore in Mother Ivey’s Bay SW8676 heading west along the shore.

27/7/04 A Trigger Fish was brought up in a crab pot off Polperro in position 50º19.07N 04º30.01W. It was 26cm long.

27/7/04 Eight Bottlenose Dolphins were seen feeding off Roundham Head SX898600 between 1030 and 1200 hrs

28/7/04 A pod of 15 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen playing and feeding in the middle of Tor Bay SX9260 and another pod of 5 was seen off Preston SX897617 from 1000 hrs onwards.

28/7/04 A pod of 40 to 50 Harbour Porpoises were seen swimming energetically past a boat about 8 miles south west of Hartland Point SS230279 at noon.

28/7/04 A pod of 50 to 100 Common Dolphins, including many babies, was seen heading east off Perranporth SW753645 at about 0845 hrs.

28/7/04 An 8 to 10 ft Basking Shark was seen off Godrevy Island SW576435 at 0745 hrs.

28/7/04 Two pods of Common Dolphins were seen with about 8 in each pod. The first, including 2 juveniles, was seen in position 50º56.06N 04º50 05W at 0900 hrs the second pod was a little further west at 1430 hrs. They were all travelling in a southwesterly direction in a flat calm sea.

28/7/04 A large pod of Harbour Porpoises was seen travelling south west in position 51º02N 04º54W between Hartland Point and Lundy Island

30/7/04 A dead Common Dolphin was found stranded at Bedruthan Steps SW848696

30/7/04 5 Bottlenose Dolphins were seen in Tor Bay SX9260

31/7/04 A Pilot Whale was sighted a couple of miles west of Rame Head SX419481 at 1400 hrs

31/7/04 A Basking Shark was seen by divers, off Pendeen SW377358

31/7/04 12 Bottlenose Dolphins were seen in Tor Bay SX9260

31/7/04 A Leatherback Turtle was seen about 8 miles offshore heading northwest toward Land’s End in position 49º59.81N 5º37.92W at 1330 hrs. It was 6 to 8ft long, head was 8” to 10” wide It remained underwater so the shell was not seen clearly

31/7/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen between Black Head SW779162 and The Lizard SW694115. Also seen were Mediterranean Shearwater and Sandwich Tern. The sea was teeming with fish of various sizes, breezing the surface, all the way from The Lizard to Penzance.

31/7/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen off Lamorna SW451231 and another off Tater du SW440230. Both were about 4ft across and 3 to 4 miles offshore and travelling north. They came close to a boat.

31/7/04 A Common Dolphin was seen half way between Wolf Rock Light House SW270120 and the Isles of Scilly .Diving Gannets were in the area.

31/7/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen off Godrevy SW583433 at 1555 hrs

31/7/04 A single dolphin was bow riding a boat in the Camel estuary SW919771 all the way in to Padstow.

31/7/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen off The Lizard SW694115

1/8/04 A pod of 30 to 40 Common Dolphins, including about 15 juveniles was travelling north, bow riding a boat and jumping, off Firebeacon Hill SX070918. Persons from the boat snorkelled and swam with the dolphins.

1/8/04 Three Grey Seals were seen in the water below The Rumps SW936813 and 20 to 24 dolphins were seen heading southwest well offshore at 1215 hrs.

1/8/04 Thousands of Heart Urchin cases were washed up on Carne Beach SW909381 yesterday and today.

1/8/04 A large male Bottlenose Dolphin sported around a stationary boat off The Mouls SW938815 for 20 minutes in position 50º35.8N 04º54.5W

1/8/04 A Grey Seal was seen at the right hand side of the cove at Butter Hole SW908779

2/8/04 A Compass Jellyfish Chrysaora Hysoscella was seen floating toward the beach at Carbis Bay SW528389 and 5 Grey Seals were seen at Godrevy Island SW576435

3/8/04 A pod of Bottlenose Dolphins was seen in Tor Bay SX9260

4/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen on a boat trip out of Padstow under the cliffs toward the Seal Cave SW9078

4/8/04 A pod of about 25 Bottlenose Dolphins including 3 juveniles, was seen travelling north east off Oddicombe SX627657. It was thought that they separated into two groups

4/8/04 A Turtle, 2 ft across and described as saucer shaped was seen ¾ mile off Hemick Beach SW993404

6/8/04 10 Bottlenose Dolphins with one juvenile, were seen from 1230 hrs onwards in Tor Bay SX9260 between Paignton and Torquay. 1 adult was about 16ft long.

6/8/04 3 Gilthead Bream, one 6 to 7 cm long the others 16 to 20 cm long were caught by an angler in the river Hayle SW5537. There were no signs of any parasites and all three were released There were probably many of the little Bream in the river because the anglers bait was attacked by small fish almost every cast. Other club members caught some Black Bream and a Couche’s Bream

6/8/04 A Harbour Porpoise was seen off Botallick Head SW361338

6/8/04 A Grey Seal was seen just north of St. Just Buoy, Carrack Roads SW8435 at 1830 hrs.

7/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish travelling east near Old Harry Rock off Swanage SZ0278 was about 1 metre across and came to a hand dangled in the water from a boat and stayed a while. Sea lice could be seen on its body.

8/8/04 A dead Harbour Porpoise washed up at the feet of an angler as he was fishing at the Hendra end of Praa Sands SW5728. It was taken to Polwhele for post mortem.

8/8/04 A Grey Seal was seen at Morwellham Quay SX446697 at 1100 hrs. Morwellham is nearly 20 mile up the River Tamar from the sea and the Seal was probably attracted to the area by Salmon seen, dead and alive in that stretch of the river.

8/8/04 2 Basking Sharks were seen from the cliffs near Port Issac SW997810

8/8/04 3 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Botallack SW361338

9/8/04 A pregnant male Maned Seahorse, Hippocampus ramulosus was spotted and photographed earlier this month off the coast of Dorset. A picture of it appeared in The Western Morning News today. Its exact location is being kept a secret for fear of disturbance.

10/8/04 15 to 20 Bottlenose Dolphins were playing in Tor Bay SX9260 from Paignton to Torquay at 2045 hrs

10/8/04 The carcass of a Striped Dolphin was recovered from Housel Bay SW7014 this morning and taken to Polwhele for post mortem. This was one of only 35 of this species reported to the Cornwall Wildlife Trust since 1937. In more recent years an average number reported to the Trust is around 2•5 per year.

12/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen in St Ives Bay by divers on a reef at a depth of 10m, about ½ a mile NE of St. Ives harbour. It was about 4ft long and was very curious about the divers, approaching them several times. It may have been feeding on the Compass Jellyfish seen around the reef.

12/8/04 3 Harbour Porpoises repeatedly came under a fishing boat using an echo sounder about 4 miles off Cadgwith SW722142 at 1600 hrs They continued to do so for about 40 minutes and the fisherman wondered if they were attracted by the echo sounder.

12/8/04 A pod of 10 to 30 Common Dolphins was jumping with acrobatics around a ship heading westwards off Porthcurno SW837222 between 1010 and 1015 hrs. with many Gannets diving in the area.

12/8/04 A pod of about 50 Common Dolphins was seen off Pendeen SW383358 at midday.

13/8//04 A pod of 5 to 10 Common Dolphin was seen off Land’s End SW310210 from 1130 to 1145 hrs.

14/8/04 6 Killer Whales were seen heading SW in sea state 2 about 3 miles SSW of Lizard Point SW694115

14/8/04 A 2ft long Ocean Sunfish was seen about 50M offshore west of St. George’s Island, Looe, SX2551

14/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish was caught by an angler using Sand-eel as bait at St. Ives Island SW521411, below the lookout at 2030 hrs. It weighed 10Kg and was released after it was photographed .

14/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen off Com Head SW939805 at 1515 hrs. It was on the surface with 2 Herring Gulls in close proximity

15/8/04 A small Ocean Sunfish, pale and silvery coloured with a pink belly was seen off Pendeen SW383358

17/8/04 Two Marine divers just starting their 2nd dive off Pendennis Point at 2000 hrs both surfaced and left the water immediately after seeing what they were convinced was a Great White Shark at a depth of 5 metres. It was described as uniformly grey with a large dorsal and small pelvic fins and about 4.5 metres long, so probably a Basking Shark.

17/8/04 A pod of about 100 dolphins stayed with a boat off Nare Point SW800251 all the way to The Lizard SW694115 and back to Falmouth SW8231. Described as silvery on top and white underneath with a yellow eye stripe they were probably a colour variation of Common Dolphins

18/8/04 A 3ft Ocean Sunfish was seen in the entrance of Fowey Harbour SX120509 at midday. May have been sheltering from the rough seas outside as the local boats were.

19/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen near Com Head SW939805 at 1615 hrs. It was on the surface with 2 Herring Gulls in close proximity.

20/8/04 Two Grey Seals were seen bottling at Porth Ledden SW355325 at 1100 hrs.

21/8/04 15 to 20 Compass Jellyfish Chrysaora hysoscella were found stranded at Harlyn Bay SW8775 at 0855 hrs.

21/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen well out in St Ives Bay SW5241 at 1600 hrs and three more large Sunfish were seen just off St. Ives Island SW521411 at 1615

21/8/04 8 Ocean Sunfish were photographed between the mainland and The Mouls SW936813. They were 2 to 3 ft long and heading west.

21/8/04 2 Grey Seals were seen off the Rumps SW933813 and over 200 Compass Jellyfish went past westward with the outgoing tidal stream

21/8/04 2 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Botallavk SW361338

22/8/04 11 Harbour Porpoises were seen at the Isle of Ornsey, Skye NG7112 near the Lighthouse, at 1300 hrs

22/8/04 2 harbour Porpoises were seen in Kinloch Bay NG 7114 at midday

22/8/04 5 harbour Porpoises were seen off Leitr Fuara and 5 opposite Kinloch NG7015 at lunchtime.

22/8/04 11 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Isle of Ornsey ,Sound of Sleat NG7112 at 1300 hrs

22/8/04 2 Harbour Porpoises were in Kinloch Bay NG7114 mid morning

22/8/04 5 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Leitr Fuara and 5 more opposite Kinloch NG7015 at lunchtime

23/8/04 5 or 6 Bottlenose Dolphins were feeding in the Paignton area of Torbay SX895609 at 0900 hrs

24/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen off Pendeen Cliff SW383358 during the late morning

25/8/05 2 Ocean Sunfish were seen off Pendeen Cliff SW383358 early in the morning

25/8/04 20 or more Buoy Barnacles were found scattered across the strandline at Porthcothan Beach SW8572, some still alive.

25/8/04 6 Bottlenose Dolphins were seen in the centre of Torbay SX9260 at 1700 hrs. and they headed off toward Brixham SX9256

25/8/04 2 adult Harbour Porpoises were seen in the Sound of Sleat off Isle Ornsey NG7213 in the afternoon.

25/8/04 2 Adult Harbour Porpoises were seen in the Sound of Slaet off Isle Ornsay NG7213 in the afternoon.

26/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen from the cliff at Portheras Cove SW384360. The metre long fish was heading northwest close inshore.

26/8/04 A pod of 20 to 30 Common Dolphin was seen about 150M out in the bay off Coverack SW783182 at 1020 hrs. They were in the area for about an hour before heading westward.

26/8/04 At least a dozen By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella were found stranded on the tide line at Sennen Cove SW3526 within a 3 metre stretch. A few gulls were feeding on them.

26/8/04 A pod of 50 to 60 Common Dolphins was seen heading west past the Runnelstone Reef SW369200 from the Gwennap Head Lookout.

26/8/04 A Harbour Porpoise was seen 1 Km SW of Gwennap Head SW383358 during the late morning

27/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen heading west off St. Ives Island Lookout SW521411

27/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish was seen off Pendeen SW383358

28/8/04 An Ocean Sunfish, and 4 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Carn Gloose SW353313 and a pod of about 80 Common Dolphins were seen jumping well offshore

28/8/04 2 Ocean Sunfish were seen in Port Quin Bay heading west 200 yards off shore between the Rumps and Mouls. SW933813 at 1630 hrs accompanied by small groups of gulls.

28/8/04 2 Harbour Porpoise were seen off Cape Cornwall SW352317 at noon.

28/8/04 3 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Pendeen SW383358 at 1800 hrs.

28/8/04 2 Grey Seals were resting on Black Rock Carrack Roads SW833317 at 1200 hrs

29/8/04 6 Common Dolphins, including a 3 to 4ft juvenile, were seen heading north east 3½nm SW of Gwennap Head in position 50º59.9N 5º45.0W There was a 3ft choppy swell in a north west 4 wind.

29/8/04 3 Ocean Sunfish were seen off New Polzeath SW934796. One was heading into a southwest wind on the surface and the two others wre receiving attention from gulls at 1735 hrs. One of the two gulls leapt from the water on its side and had red colour around its edge

29/8/04 2 White Beaked dolphins were around a sail boat off Nare Head SW916370 for half an hour between 1600 and 1700 hrs.

29/8/04 A pod of 6 to 8 Pilot Whales was seen 3 miles south of Zone Point SW850310 in Falmouth Bay. One had a sharp point to the dorsal fin and another had a nick-and-tag at the back edge of the dorsal fin

29/8/04 15 to 20 White Beaked Dolphins were interacting with, and bow riding a boat about 4 miles south of Falmouth SW8028. Some were very large males 9 to 10 ft long.

30/8/04 6 Pilot Whales, including one female with juvenile, were seen at The Wall 2 miles off St. Anthony Head SW846311

30/8/04 A pod of 6 to 8 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen leaping off Pentewan SX019472 in St. Austell Bay during the afternoon.

30/8/04 A pod of at least 5 Bottlenose Dolphins was observed for 15 minutes leaping clear of the water about 200metres south west of Porthpean Beach SX034503 travelling in a south westerly direction

30/8/04 6 Pilot Whales, including one female with juvenile, were seen at The Wall, 2 miles off St Anthony Head SW846311

31/8/04 A pod of dolphins was playing off Porthpean Beach SX032507 for most of the day.

31/8/04 A dead Gannet was washed up on the tide line at Pentireglaze SW797935. It was fairly fresh with no obvious cause of death.

31/8/04 4 Pilot Whales, 3 adults and a juvenile, were seen swimming south at 14 knots in two pairs 1½ miles south of the Mewstone Wembury, South Devon in position 50º16.85N 4º6.25W. They were watched from 1600 to 1630 hrs, diving and surfacing regularly unbothered by the boat.

31/8/04 8 Common Dolphins were seen off Botallack SW361338

31/8/04 A large pod of Pilot Whales was seen from 0930 to 1000 hrs just north of Hands Deep 50º13.6’N 04º20.5’W (north west of Eddystone Reef) They were travelling slowly eastwards. 7 to 12 of the whales were as large or larger than the 16½ ft boat. They came up to the boat and swam under it blowing bubbles and whistling could be heard. There were some solitary animals but mostly in groups of about 3, although in one instance 6 or 7 appeared to raft up together.

1/9/04 A pod of 8 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen travelling north east between Pentire Point SW923804 and Rumps Point SW931813. Photos were taken

1/9/04 A Grey Seal was seen at Guglane SW932811. It appeared to have an orange tag on its left rear flipper.

1/9/04 Disturbing news received today. The European Commission refuses to stop the Bass Pair Trawlers.

1/9/04 A pod of 12 to 15 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen feeding on a shoal of 4” to 5” mackerel whilst heading westward against the tide 10 to 12 miles south of Budleigh Salterton SY070815 at 0930 hrs. They appeared to be all adults.

1/9/04 An Ocean Sunfish was caught by an angler while fishing in Towan Bay Newquay SW8162 and was released after it had been identified.

1/9/04 A pod of at least 4 dolphins was seen off Stepper Point SW915788

2/9/04 A Minke Whale was seen at The Wall, 2 miles off St. Anthony Head SW846311

2/9/04 A Minke Whale was seen near The Wall 2 miles off St. Anthony Head SW846311

2/9/04 4 dolphins chased after and swam with a yacht for 10 minutes, 3 miles due south of the Manacles SW8120 at 1800 hrs

3/9/04 A Pilot Whale was seen 2½ mile south east of St Anthony Head SW846311 at 0820 hrs from the Tug “Valid”

3/9/04 A Minke Whale surfaced 5 times near a trip boat in Falmouth Bay SW8028

4/9/04 A Minke Whale and 4 Harbour Porpoises were seen in Falmouth Bay SW8028

4/9/04 A pod of 15 or more Risso’s Dolphins, including at least 3 babies, was seen travelling west past the Runnelstone SW369200 at 1700 hrs

5/9/04 A pod of 15 to 20 Bottlenose Dolphins, all adults (but no sign of Benty) was being very active feeding beneath Gannets on the east side of Logan Rock SW396218 at 1630 hrs. They came around the headland, travelling west when divers in a Yellow Humber RIB heading east spotted them and turned and gave chase, and actually drove quite fast into the pod. Divers please note that this behaviour is an offence and subject to severe fines if caught. Harassment of marine creatures like dolphins and sharks is illegal.

5/9/04 2 Bottlenose Dolphins were happily surfing with human surfers in 4ft slightly messy surf at Droskyn, Perranporth Beach SW751543

8/9/04 Twelve dolphins were in the estuary between Pentire SW924805 and Rock SW924768 all day

12/9/04 A Grey Seal was playing in the surf with human surfers for 15 to 20 minutes at Fistral Beach Newquay SW7962. The 1.5 metre long seal came within 2metres of the surfers.

12/9/04 A number of Common and Bottlenose Dolphins were seen from the St. Ives Coastwatch Lookout SW521411. The Common Dolphins were frequently jumping very high out of the water and it was thought by observers that that they were being chased or teased by the Bottlenose.

16/9/04 Hundreds of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella have been washed up in the Isles of Scilly during the past week

17/9/04 4 Ocean Sunfish about 5 ft long were seen heading west from the St. Ives Island Lookout SW521411.

18/9/04 A pod of 6 to 8 whales were seen about an hour out from Plymouth from the Roscoff Ferry at about 1600 hrs. They were travelling westward at quite a pace and estimated to be 20 to 25 ft long. They were all black, robust looking, animals with tall curved back dorsal fins centrally placed on the back. There were no bulbous foreheads like Pilot whales and no white areas like the Orca and they were considered to be false Killer Whales, Pseudorca crassidens.

18/9/04 A Grey Seal was watched for an hour, eying up swimmers off rocks at Crab Quay Carrack Roads SW826316 at 1500 hrs

19/9/04 Two Grey Seals were seen bottling at Porth Nanven SW356309 at 1530 hrs

19/9/04 Large numbers of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, were found stranded at Godrevy SW581428 and Gwithian SW579411

19/9/04 Dozens of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, came ashore between Porthcurno SW387222 and Logan Rock SW396219 and soon caught the attention of young Herring Gulls, who after a couple of pecks lost interest in them just as quickly.

21/9/04 Several Hundred By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella were washed up at Trevellas Porth SW725519, arriving on a moderately heavy sea with tentacles missing and “sails” detached They were about 3” diameter

21/9/04 A pod of 15 to 20 dolphins was seen off Polruan Coastwatch Station SX122508 at 0900 hrs. They were heading south west between ¼ and 1 mile offshore, swimming purposefully as if hunting with high speed manœuvres just under the surface. There was at least one mother with calf and were thought to be Common dolphins.

21/9/04 A mass stranding of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, was reported at Porthcothan SW8572, Treyarnon SW856740 and Constantine SW8574 beaches They were coming in on the top of the tide in their millions, some as big as 8.5 cm diameter. 100 to 150 Buoy Barnacles up to 4.5 cm shell length were also found on the strand line

21/9/04 A huge number of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella were found on Fistral Beach SW797620. They were medium to large size up to 8cm. Many had soft part adhering to the floats but gulls present seemed to be more interested in the Buoy Barnacles also on the beach.

21/9/04 A very large number of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, were found on the strandline at Broadagogue Cove, Greenaway, Polzeath SW929787. Average size 7cm. Some were opaque, others had a blue/mauve frill.

21/9/04 A Grey Seal was seen near the eastern Breakwater of Mylor Yacht Harbour SW923352 at 0930 hrs

22/9/04 There were about 50 Grey Seals in a cove near Godrevy Point SW581433 at 1330 hrs.

22/9/04 There has been a mass stranding of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, at Sennen Cove SW3526 both today and yesterday.

22/9/04 There have been further mass stranding of By-the-wind-Sailors Velella velella at Porthcothan SW8572, Treyarnon SW856740 and Constantine SW8574 where a Portuguese-man-of war was also found.

23/9/04 There were lots of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, on the tide line at Gunwalloe Beach SW661204

23/9/04 Vast numbers of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, were stranded on the beach at Godrevy SW587424 and also on the beach at Perranporth SW753546

24/9/04 Many thousands of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, were being washed up at Woolacombe Sands SS450420, estimated at 2000 per sq. metre. Also snail on rafts, probably, Violet Snails, Janthina janthina that feed on Velella.

24/9/04 An adult Grey Seal was seen travelling westward off Porthbeor Beach SW863319. There were no seabirds or evidence of fish shoals.

24/9/04 An adult Grey Seal was seen basking between Greeb point and Killigerran Head in position SW872329

24/9/04 Photos were taken of 2 to 3 million By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, on Strangles Beach SX129954.

24/9/04 A pod of 5 or more dolphins was seen about 3 miles off Portscathe and Dodman in position 50º8.77N 04º55.9W. There was a pair with black curved fins, and one was grey and another was almost white. The later two may have been Risso’s Dolphins which are known to associate with other species at times.

25/9/04 A large pod of Risso’s Dolphins was seen off St Anthony Head SW846311 at 0925 hrs heading 170º. They were seen again near the Inner Manacles Channel in position 50º03.709N 05º03.269W at 1010 hrs. The pod of up to 40 animals split into two near the Minstrel rock with about a dozen heading east in a line as if feeding. The rest continued south. Some were dark, others a mixture of dark and pale and a few pure white.

26/9/04 A pod of 6 to 8 Bottlenose Dolphins was watched for 1½ hours during the afternoon off Newquay SW8162. They were swimming at the surface with no breaching.

26/9/04 1000s of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, were on the beach at Trevaunance Cove SW722517 and a number of dense groups were on the sea heading for the shore driven by the wind. They were mostly clear, but 1 to 2% had some blue detail. Sizes varied from 50 to 100mm.

26/9/04 A Minke Whale was seen at a distance from yacht “Serenity” off Coverack SW783182 between 1700 and 1800 hrs and seen later at close quarters about 4 miles east of St.Anthony Head SW846311 Taking great interest in the yacht it was swimming around and under the yacht for some time. There was another swimming deeper and difficult to see, probably a calf.

26/9/04 A pod of about 7 large Bottlenose Dolphins came to inspect a sailing catamaran close inshore in Newquay Bay SW8162 One had a slightly jagged back edge to its dorsal fin.

26/9/04 There was a mass stranding of millions and millions of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, on Mawgan Porth Beach SW8467 and beaches north

26/9/04 Thousands of Goose Barnacles, Lepas anserifera, were found still alive on a stranded large log on Porthtowan Beach SW690482

26/9/04 Hundreds of Goose barnacles were found on a stranded log at Gwithian Towans SW579411

26/9/04 A pod of about 10 dolphins were in Newquay Bay SW811623 at 1600 hrs. Some were bow riding sailing boats and others among racing Gigs.

28/9/04 A pod of 5 or more dolphins was breaching and leaping clear of the water off Stepper Point SW915788 before heading up river.

29/9/04 Thousands of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, were found washed up at Soapy Cove near Kynance Cove SW685132

30/9/04 Further strandings of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, have occurred at Godrevy SW787424 since the vast number on September 23rd and Devon, Somerset and the welsh coast have also received strandings.

3/10/04 A pod of 7 or 8 Bottlenose Dolphins was seen heading west off Newquay SW8162

7/10/04 An adult Snake Pipefish, Entelurus aequoreus, was watched for ten minutes by divers in 6 metres of water at Tintagel haven, SX051892. It was 45 to 50 cm long and very curious of divers, swimming into torch lenses, cameras and masks

7/10/04 A pod of 4 or 5 Common Dolphins was seen off the mouth of the Helford River in position 50º05.25N 05º04.00W between 1548 and 1625 hrs. One of 2 juveniles breached first about 1000m from a boat and others breached as they came with 25 metres of the boat. They

were not travelling in any particular direction but with frequent changes of direction.

7/10/04 A pod of 10 or more Common Dolphins was seen off Cape Cornwall SW349318 at noon

8/10/04 A pod of about a dozen porpoises were feeding of a shoal of fish beneath diving Gannets and other sea birds off Porthtowan SW690482 at 1600 hrs. After a while they headed into deeper water.

9/10/04 2 Violet Seasnails, Janthina janthins, one dead the other barely alive were found washed up at Widemouth Bay SS197022. Other creatures found on the strand line were By-the-Wind-Sailors, Buoy Barnacles and Goose Barnacles.

10/10/04 A Grey Seal was seen eating 2 fish near the weir just south of Gunnislake in the River Tamar in position SW437709. It was heading down river close to the tidal limits of the river.

11/10/04 2 female Grey Seals were seen in a cove near St. Anthony Head SW848311. One was basking on the beach, the other in the sea.

12/10/04 A dead dolphin was found on Welcombe Mouth beach.SS212180

13/10/04 2 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Porthgwarra SW371216 during the morning

17/10/04 A Grey Seal and white coated pup was seen on the inaccessible beach between St Anthony Head SW848311 and Zone Point

18/10/04 2 Harbour Porpoises, an adult with juvenile, were seen off Botallack SW361338

19/10/04 A pod of 5 dolphins was seen travelling north east just inside the western end of the Plymouth Breakwater SX465508

20/10/04 Thousands of By-the-wind-Sailors, Velella velella, were found stranded on Hayle Beach SW5538. There was also a lot of debris on the tide line.

20/10/04 A pod of 8 Bottlenose Dolphins were at the entrance of Falmouth Harbour SW8331 at 1030 hrs. One individual, with 2 nicks in the trailing edge of its dorsal, stayed on the outskirts of the group. Another had white on the leading edge of the dorsal, and yet another had a dorsal slanting toward the right side with a darker splodge of colour.

22/10/04 A Killer Whale was seen off Peninnis Head, St. Mary’s Isles of Scilly SV914095 mid morning. Also seen were a Balearic Shearwater, a Sooty Shearwater and 12 Manx Shearwater.

22/10/04 A Dead dolphin floated up the Fowey Estuary past the Harbour Office at 1430 hrs. It was belly up and decomposing and the sea conditions were too rough to retrieve it

26/10/04 An 18” long, intact Cuttlefish, was washed up at Porthcothan SW8572

26/10/04 A Blue Runner, Caranx crysos, a fish in the Jack family, was caught in a net set at 11metres close to shore near Kelsey Head SW765609. It was 35cm long. Another Blue Runner was caught in a net set off Mevagissey SX017447 early this month. These are thought to be only the fifth or sixth specimens of this fish reported in UK waters.

26/10/04 An adult Grey Seal was seen bottling in the bay at Porth Ledden SW352320

26/10/04 A pod of about 6 dolphins was off Daymer Bay SW922777 near an area where gulls had been feeding

27/10/04 A pod of 7 Bottlenose Dolphins were in Sennen Bay SW3526 during the morning

28/10/04 A Grey Seal was seen at the mouth of the cove at Porth SW830629 swimming at the surface for a while before heading west.

29/10/04 A dead whale 50 to 52 ft long, probably a Fin Whale, was stranded near Brixham SX9256 today. Two other Fin Whales have stranded in the last few months, one in the Solent and the other near Liverpool.

29/10/04 An adult female Harbour Porpoise washed up dead at Swanpool SW802312. Skin and tissue damage consistent with net entanglement.. The animal was taken for post mortem.

31/10/04 Another 50ft Whale, again thought to be a Fin Whale, has been washed up dead, this time near Aire Point SW358282. This animal is quite fresh and it is estimated that it died only a few days ago. Only nine stranded Fin Whales have been recorded in Cornwall since records began.

31/10/04 At least 2 dolphins were seen heading south, by surfers in Widemouth Bay SS1902

1/11/04 A pod of about 20 dolphins was seen heading north off Porthcothan Bay SW8572 at 1115 hrs. The pod was in a long string, the leaders only being seen by their blow-out, but the tail enders were leaping right out of the water.

2/11/04 A pod of about 7 dolphins was seen following a catamaran off Trebetherick Point SW925779

3/11/04 3 Harbour porpoises were feeding in the tide raceabout 1 km north west of Pendeen SW383358 at 1000 hrs

7/11/04 At least 2 possibly 3 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Penzer Point SW466249

11/11/04 2 harbour Porpoises were feeding around rocks close inshore at Pendeen SW383358 and 2 other Harbour Porpoises were seen about 500 metres NW of Botallack SW361338 at 1000 hrs

12/11/04 2 Harbour Porpoises, an adult with a juvenile, were seen 1 km SW of Gwennap Head SW365217 at 1030 hrs, and 2 Harbour Porpoises, an adult with juvenile were seen 300 SE of Porthgwarra SW371216 at 1210 hrs. These could have been the same animals.

13/11/04 An adult Grey Seal was within 10 metres of a lone surfer at the north end of Hayle Bay Polzeath SW931795

14/11/04 10 to 15 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Botallack SW361338 between 1200 and 1400 hrs. They were feeding in groups, even occasionally breaching when pursuing fish, followed by groups of Gannets.

14/11/04 10 to 15 Sea Potatoes, Echinocardium cordatum were found stranded on the shore near port Gaverne SX001801. One was still alive, the others just shells and about 7 cm long.

14/11/04 7 or 8 Harbour Porpoises were seen just north of Cape Cornwall SW349318 at 1300 hrs

17/11/04 A freshly dead Triggerfish was found at Peter’s Point Gwithian SW577411

18/11/04 A very decomposed dead Common Dolphins was washed up near the mouth of the Taw/ Torridge estuary on Saunton Sands SS4335 and a female Common Dolphin was washed up dead but in good condition in the South Hams and was taken for post mortem in London.

18/11/04 A two thirds grown Grey Seal has been around Commercial Harbour Plymouth in front of the National Marine Aquarium and between St. Anne’s Battery and Phoenix Wharf for over a week and the crew of MFV Emma Louise reports lots of Harbour Porpoises and a few dolphins about 30 miles south of Plymouth at the beginning of the week.

19/11/04 3 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Botallack Head SW361338

20/11/04 6 to 8 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Botallack Head SW361338

21/11/04 4 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Botallack Head SW361338

23/11/04 2 Harbour Porpoises were seen about 1 mile SE of Berry Head SX948567 heading north

23/11/04 There were at least 3 Harbour Porpoises heading south behind The Cowloe SW348266 at 1030 hrs.

25/11/04 A pod of about 8 small black cetaceans, probably Harbour Porpoises, were seen off Tunnels Beach Ilfracombe SS517480 from 1030 to 1100 hrs. They were swirling around and playing but not jumping clear of the water.

27/11/04 There were 5 Harbour Porpoises off Botallack Head SW361338 today.

27/11/04 A pod of 15 or more Common Dolphins were seen travelling west past the Minack Theatre SW387220 at 1300 hrs.

29/11/04 A pod of 6 to 12 dolphins was spotted off the western edge of the Plymouth Breakwater SX463505 during the morning.

1/12/04 9 Bottlenose Dolphins were in Fal Bay SW8028 at 1130 hrs

2/12/04 Quite a number of pods of dolphins were spotted heading east off Rame Head SX419481 at 1600 hrs. There were at least 8 in the nearest pod but other pods could be seen surfacing further out, the observer said popping up all over the place. They were jumping clear of the water and appeared all grey in colour with no pattern on their flank, so were probably Bottlenose Dolphin.

3/12/04 4 Harbour Porpoises were off Botallack Head SW361338 today.

4/12/04 Seven different groups of Common Dolphins were travelling west past Lizard Point SW694115 between 1230 and 1310 hrs. It was estimated that there were at least 150 in total. Also seen travelling west at the Lizard was a pod of 8 to 10 Bottlenose Dolphins, and two Harbour Porpoises feeding in the tide race.

5/12/04 Two Harbour Porpoises were seen off Botallack SW361338

5/12/04 A group of 5 to 8 Harbour Porpoises were off St Clements Island, SW474261 for about ½ an hour at 1230 hrs.

5/12/04 A pod of about 8 Harbour Porpoises were seen off Penzer Point SW466249 at 1100 hrs

5/12/04 7 Harbour Porpoises, a group of 6 and a single, travelled west 600 metres off the Minack Theatre SW387220 at 1300 hrs and a single Common Dolphin made a very brief visit to Porthcurno Bay SW387222 at the same time

6/12/04 A 15” Flying Gurnard, Dactylopterus volitans, was landed at Newlyn alive and donated to the Blue Reef Aquarium Newquay. Only the third of this species landed at Newlyn it was caught off Penzance SW4730 by fisherman Tony Richards on his boat Belle Bettina.

6 December 2004
A 40 cm long Flying Gurnard, Dactyloptena orientalis, was hauled up in a herring net less than a mile from Penzance. The fish is being kept at the Blue Reef Aquarium in Newquay after skipper Tony Richards, from St. Ives, kept it alive.

Flying Gurnard
Photograph by Jim Greenfield (taken in Gozo)

“We were in only about 15 metres depth and were hauling up our herring nets by hand. It was the last fish in the net. I could feel by touching that it was an extraordinary specimen — its skin is armoured. It had a flat head and when I picked it up it spread its wings. They are as wide as the fish is long, about 40 cm.
“It is a beautiful animal. Its wings are all different colours: blue, red, yellow and grey. I’ve never seen anything like it in all my years at sea. It’s an incredible beast.”

Report from Times On-Line

7/12/04 A Harbour Porpoise was seen just beyond the Gear Pole SW479293 Mounts Bay

7/12/04 5 Harbour Porpoises were seen feeding about 200 metres SE of Berry Head SX948567 at 1000 hrs

7/12/04 8 to 10 harbour porpoises in loose groups of 2, 3, & 4, including 2 juveniles, were feeding and socialising off Start Point SX830370 and then headed east with gannets and gulls tracking and feeding

10/12/04 6 or more Harbour Porpoises in loose groups of 1, 2, or 3, including 2 juveniles, were milling, feeding and socialising off Start Point SX830370 then headed east with Great Black Backed Gulls feeding near and appearing to be mugging the porpoises. There were also 5 Grey Seals including 2 young, off the Point, close in, confiding and curious.

10/12/04 A pod of 30 to 40 Common Dolphin was seen about 6 miles off Whitsand Bay SX4051 travelling east alongside and in the bow wave of a yacht. Photos were taken

11/12/04 A pod of 7 Bottlenose Dolphins were seen at 1100 hs in Torbay heading for Broadsands SX8957 they then headed east toward the centre of the Bay

12/12/04 Many tufts of wheat have appeared on the dry sandy area of Porthcothan Beach SW8572. Gulls had eaten seeds of a crop grown locally and regurgitated them on the beach and the seeds have taken root with quite a crop. Another unusual occurrence on this beach, a mole has burrowed for about 75 yards across the sand and into the dunes with a molehill at the end.

12/12/04 2 Harbour Porpoises were 300 metres off Porthmeor Beach SW424376 ar 1430 hrs

12/12/04 6 Harbour Porpoises were off Cape Cornwall SW349318 at 1530 hrs

13/12/04 A 5 to 6 metre long whale was seen about 50ft from the shore near Porthtowan SW690482 during the morning. It was dark grey with a sloping back pointed fin. First seen heading north east then dived. It resurfaced and blew twice and then headed west. It was thought to be a Minke Whale.

19/12/04 10 Harbour Porpoises were watched in a feeding frenzy with 40 or more diving Gannets off Botallack SW361338. The porpoises were moving fast, even jumping clear of the water at times.

19/12/04 5 dead Triggerfish were found stranded at Gwithian SW579411. They were about 30cm long and another of about the same size was found at Sennen SW3526

19/12/04 3 Harbour Porpoises were off Cape Cornwall at 1230 hrs and 15 to 20 Common Dolphins at 1330 hrs

20/12/04 A 39cm Triggerfish, nose to tip of tail, was stranded at Watergate SW8464, two were stranded at Polzeath SW9378, one 29cm the other 25cm in length and a 25cm long Triggerfish was stranded at Porthcothan SW85672

24/12/04 A young dead seal, two ft long, (not a white coated pup) was found on the strandline at Crantock Beach SW780601. It had damage around the head and shoulders with both lower and upper jaws missing

25/12/04 A large pod of 500 or more Common Dolphins was seen off Berry Head SX948567 feeding on Sprat while heading south between 1130 and 1330 hrs

25/12/04 8 Harbour Porpoises were seen travelling west past the Minack Theatre SW387220 at 1300 hrs in groups of 2, 2 and 4 at various distances from shore. The last group were 2 adults with 2 very small young..

26/12/04 2 dead Triggerfish, one 30cm long the other 45cm were found on the beach at Godrevy SW5842 and a dozen or so Goose Barnacles were also stranded on a piece of rope.

27/12/04 A pod of 5 or more Bottlenose Dolphins was seen breaching as they travelled north across Newquay Bay SW8162

28/12/04 A pod of 8 to 1Common Dolphins was seen heading south west off the north Devon coast in position 50º47.0N 04º35.7W in calm seas

28/12/04 A pod of about 4 Common Dolphins was seen heading south west off the north Devon coast in position 50º56.6N 04º50.5W in calm seas

28/12/04 A pod of 40 to 50 Harbour Porpoises was seen heading south west approximately 6 miles south west of Lundy Island SS1345 in calm seas

28/12/04 20 to 30 Common Dolphins were seen in 3 pods of 5 to 10 in each pod with 2 juveniles in one of the pods. They were heading WNW about 7 miles north west of Crackington Haven in position 50º48.9N 4º42.7W

29/12/04 An adult Grey Seal was found dead wedged into the back of a cave on the west side of Crantock Beach SW780601. It was 4 to 5ft long.

29/12/04 2 or 3 Bottlenose Dolphins were seen heading north off Porth Island Newquay Bay SW825630. They were breaching, and surfing the swell as they went

29/12/04 A very decomposed carcass was found among the rocks at St. Loy beach SW424230. The head and tail were missing with some flesh still on the bones, but identification of species was not possible.

Vince Smith's One-List/Cornish Wildlife
Seaquest SW (Cornwall Wildlife Trust web pages)

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