Mammals: Look out for Dolphins
The Sussex coast is not the easiest place in Britain to see whales, dolphins, porpoises and seals and has the lowest record rate for the British coast. But don't be put off, as it is possible to have yearly sightings of bottlenose dolphin, harbour porpoise and seals from Hastings & St. Leonards if effort is made to look for them. They are out there and it just takes the right conditions and regular observing to increase your chances of catching sight of one of these fascinating and enigmatic mammals. (The collective term for whales, dolphins and porpoises is Cetaceans.)
Time of year
Harbour porpoise are generally seen during winter and early spring. There are usually one or two records each year of groups of up to three individuals. This species is very shy and avoids human disturbance. They are very difficult to observe as they show very little of themselves above water. Harbour porpoise are small (maximum length 2m), have a small, rounded, triangular shaped dorsal fin, which is usually all that is seen above the surface of the water. It is usually very difficult to spot harbour porpoise without binoculars or a telescope unless they are very close inshore and the sea is calm.
Above: Harbour Porpoise - Illustration by John Davis
Bottlenose dolphins start to appear inshore in March and are then recorded right through to September. This is the most commonly seen cetacean in the inshore and offshore waters around Hastings and Bexhill. It is seen almost every year inshore from March to September. In most years there are usually half a dozen records of one to three individuals feeding close inshore, although pods of up to eight have been seen. Records have come from the entire length of the coastline between Bexhill to Fairlight. Bottlenose dolphins are large dolphins (maximum length 4m) and have a tall hooked shape dorsal fin. They are bold, powerful swimmers occasionally seen breaching (the term used to describe the cetacean behaviour of leaping out of water) and coming very close to the beach and boats.
Above: Bottlenose Dolphin - Illustration by John Davis
Long-finned pilot whales are rarely recorded from Sussex but when seen are usually in a small group migrating past the coast during August-October.
Occasionally grey seals and common seals can also be seen here and have even been seen hauling themselves out onto the Goat Ledge rocks. They turn up erratically at any time of the year.
Right: Grey Seal - Illustration by John Davis
Time of day
The best time to look out for dolphins and porpoises is early morning and late evening especially when high tide coincides with these times. The light is less bright, more diffuse and doesn't cast strong shadows on the waves.
Sea State and Tides
The calmer the sea the better your chances of seeing dolphins and especially porpoise which are difficult to see if there is any wave movement. High tide or just after the tide turns is the ideal time to look out for dolphins.
Location
It is possible to see dolphins anywhere along the Bexhill - Hastings - Rye Bay coast and sightings have been made from De La Warr Pavilion, Galley Hill, St Leonards Marina, Hastings Pier, the Harbour Arm, Hastings Country Park through to Rye Harbour Nature Reserve.
Prolonged sightings of feeding animals have been made from the Firehills and Warren Glen area and within Glyne Gap bay.
Dolphin Identification Day at Firehills
For really close views the ideal place is undoubtedly Hastings Pier when dolphins, porpoises and seals have been seen swimming right past the end of the pier.
Left: Bottlenose Dolphins - photographed from Hastings Pier by Thor Taylor
Equipment
It is possible to see bottlenose dolphins with the naked eye in the right weather and sea state conditions, but to increase your chances of a sighting a good pair of binoculars or a small telescope is needed. Binoculars and especially a telescope mounted on a tripod will allow a good steady view out to sea making it easier to observe and identify cetaceans and seabirds.
It is best to observe with the naked eye first interspersed with slow scans from east to west with binoculars and/or a telescope. When a dolphin, porpoise or even just a large water disturbance is picked up keep scanning the sea surface back and forwards past the spot, be patient as it can be some time before they surface again. If the animal is travelling in a distinct direction scan the sea ahead of the animal where you think it will reappear.
Recording cetaceans
When you see a cetacean note down the species and an estimate of how many were present. If you are not sure of the species note down a short description of the sighting. Note how far out to sea they were and the direction the animals were travelling. Also note any behaviour e.g. feeding, breaching, following boats etc. Note the location and time of the observation, the sea state and weather conditions.
Please send the record to wildhastings@hastings.gov.uk
All records sent to us are sent to the seawatch foundation area co-ordinator for Sussex and are used for scientific and cetacean conservation purposes. Every record is of great value especially in areas of low cetacean abundance such as the Sussex coast.
Wildlife
