Last week we were again lucky enough to welcome Bottlenose Dolphins into Filey waters, when a pod of at least 18 spent more than an hour off the Brigg and in the bay (visiting Scarborough beforehand and Bempton and Flamborough afterwards). Naturally their appearance caused some excitement, and it’s hard to imagine a time when the presence of speeding, breaching dolphins wouldn’t instantly quicken the pulse – and yet, while still rare, sightings are on the increase locally.

A few of last week’s pod

Bottlenose Dolphins have been recorded here at Filey on seven previous occasions, totalling between 60 and 70 animals (and usually either singularly or in pods of between 10 and 20). It’s only in recent years that we’ve been able to realistically hope they’ll make the pages of the next Filey Bird Report, and last year’s visitation by a pod of at least nine – also in April – was one of the best opportunities to enjoy this iconic species from Filey’s Terra firma. This year’s pod completed a hat-trick of back-to back years where Bottlenose Dolphins have been recorded at Filey, the first time this has ever happened here.

Some of last April’s visitors

So where are they from, and why are they apparently visiting more frequently? Interesting questions, at least partially answered via a twist of fate on social media. Soon after enjoying the latest pod I tweeted a ‘back-of-the-camera’ photo, which was soon picked up by Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC), who keep tabs on local populations and have access to a catalogue of individual identification features (kind of a dolphin fingerprint database).

More from April 2014…

Amazingly, despite the distance and less-than-average quality of the photos, one animal with distinctive white markings on the dorsal was instantly recognised as ‘Runny Paint’ – an individual from the Moray Firth population in north-east Scotland. Further communications established the fact that sightings from our region are indeed becoming significantly more common, with upwards of 50 present in the general area over recent weeks, reflecting a longer-term trend of increasing numbers being reported from our coast.

… including several youngsters

This may at least in part be due to more eyes looking, and more observers reporting – but, as the WDC suspect, it may also be due to the dolphins having to expand their territory to find enough food resources at certain times of the year. Whatever the reasons, it’s a privilege to see them, and if you’re lucky enough to do so, be sure to try and photograph them and report them to via the excellent WDC website here – it adds vital data to the overall picture, and who knows where your dolphins will turn out to be from!

Words & pictures Mark James Pearson