Dolphins; dolphin watching

Dolphins

Cardigan Bay is home to the only resident population of bottle-nosed dolphins in English and Welsh waters. The only other resident population anywhere in British waters can be found in the Moray Firth off Inverness, in the far North East of Scotland.

Cardigan Bay's dolphins chiefly inhabit the stretch of coast from New Quay in Mid-Ceredigion to the Teifi Estuary near Cardigan Island. They are attracted to the estuary as they chase the Atlantic salmon, which are migrating from their fattening grounds off Greenland to spawn in the upper reaches of the River Teifi. They are also attracted by Sewin or Sea-Trout which move in and of the estuary, depending on river and sea conditions. The Sewin feed in the sea area close to the estuary.

Therefore, the dolphins are frequent visitors to this part of the coast. They are seen every two or three days on average, from Spring through to Autumn, although their visits are impossible to predict. They swim closer to the shore on calm days, when they can be seen rising languidly or leaping frantically and acrobatically as they hunt fish. When this happens they provide an unforgettable sight as they somersault high out of the water, with perhaps six or more dolphins in the group.

The West Wales Wildlife Trust estimate that there are about 210 bottle-nose dolphins in Cardigan Bay. They monitor their movements and identify them by photographing their dorsal fins. Every dolphin has a slightly different-looking dorsal fin. The pattern of snicks and cuts on the fins makes the identity of individual dolphins an easier process - as long as the photographs are of good quality!

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