Feathered Friends?
More Than One Mouth to Feed!
Kesslet was the only dolphin we spotted out on the Dolphin Spirit today, at 12pm and 4pm. She seemed far more interested in hunting for salmon though, as she kept her distance throughout the day and only came to see us briefly as she ducked and dived into the river. She wasn’t alone as she normally is however, as a horde of hungry gulls descended upon her in the hopes of picking up even the tiniest morsel of her fishy dish. While dolphin spotting, the traditional tell-tales are the blow, tail, and dorsal fin, but in times like these, a flock of famished feathered friends can normally indicate a hunting dolphin; especially if the gulls move in unison, they can normally track a dolphin that’s underwater better than we can!
Bad Behaviour
When you’re out on the water, you have to understand that you’re technically traipsing through another animal’s home. It is only right to be respectful of the wildlife of the Moray Firth when you’re out sailing, regardless of the boat you’re on. Around the marina there are signs indicating you should look out for dolphins, and be careful around them; they even come with guidelines on the best code of conduct. However, not everyone follows these rules, and a single selfish person can end up ruining the situation for everyone. We were witness today to a boat chasing after Kesslet, an action which seemed to make her jumpy and flighty for the rest of the day. This wasn’t only just bad for our sightings, but horrible for Kesslet; she’s used to boats treating her normally with respect, and she was rushed to finish or lose her fish when this boat decided to herd her upriver. If you’re ever out on a boat, tour boat or otherwise, remember to be cautious of the wildlife around you; dolphins are more likely to treat you to spectacular sightings and encounters if you let them, rather than force yourself upon them. This is part of the core reasoning behind our Dolphin Space Program, and it’s so simple to follow, and great for everyone. We aim to make our trips as eco- and animal-friendly as possible, so you will never see us stray from our route to chase the dolphins. You can read more about the DSP and responsible dolphin watching here.