Did we see any Common Dolphins on the mammal tour?

You bet your life we did!

The Mammal Tour keeps on giving

When you’ve seen one of the rarest mammals on the British list it gets difficult to better. Today however … we came close.

Having watched the sea for a while to the west of John O’Groats we decided to make our way further east. I’m always a bit wary of having one eye off the road but as we were driving a splash in the bright blue sea caught my attention. As we pulled up and I took the scopes from the boot of the car I saw the splash for sure once more. As I focused in on the animals  it was overwhelmingly obvious what they were. Risso’s Dolphins. The white scarred bodies, the shape of the head and dorsal fin were very distinctive. Five of them. One possibly a young animal.

Where’s Wally

So when you put together a mammal tour for your guests there’s a list of species you expect to see and on top of that there’s a wishlist; Minke Whale, Common Dolphin, Otter and the like. Then beyond that there’s a laughable ‘well we can only hope’ list.

So yesterday we watched a small pod of Bottle-nosed Dolphins, we were mesmerized by a female badger and truly engaged by a young Pine Marten. We were not however prepared for the enormity of what has to be the mammal of the tour. Laid out on a beach at Wick was a male Walrus.

It was wonderful to have my guests see him. However, I cannot tell you how much the sight of this wonderful beast meant to me. I have waited for an eternity to see one. I have searched the beach between Winterton and Horsey willing one to part the Grey Seals with its enormous bulk for year upon year. I now have one less item on my bucket list.

‘B’ Fly

A buzzing insect interjects a certain unease into someones demeanour. It makes them wary. If you have ever been stung by an angry bee you’ll be well aware why.

Some insects have apparel that makes them seem more ferocious than what they are; a long pointy rear end or a probing proboscis strikes up a fear of being injected!

Give an insect both these things and you have a recipe for a would be predator or assailant to take a step backwards. A Bee Fly is one such species. Completely benign and quite endearing really … it’s all buzz and no bite.

Taken to tusk

I quite like Chinese Water Deer. They are very ‘bambi’ like. Much cuter than the rather brusk faced Muntjac. This one appeared out of the reedbed as we were waiting for Bittern. Although he was be-tusked and moulting he didn’t lose any of his charm.

‘all white

On tour at Hickling the other week a large Egret flew up out of the reedbed. The yellow bill and completely black legs immediately confirmed it as a Great White. They bred in Norfolk last year. I suspect with the number we have around us the event will be repeated and become the norm.

they’re back

With the recent warm weather the migrants came flooding in. I was walking on the clifftop here in Runton the other evening and a Whinchat and a Wheatear dropped in to rest for the evening. Swallows were flying purposely west … on there way to who knows where. This chap was resting at Minsmere on the migration day last weekend.

Unexpected

Not an expected conflict in Norfolk skies. A Marsh Harrier depicted here having a spat with a Hooded Crow.

Someone did say to me this was a hybrid Hooded/Carrion and quoted others as saying ‘because it had speckles on the breast’. I didn’t see these and it looked good to me!