Hi Everyone,

It's been a quieter and very grey end to the week with not such big groups moving around this part of the Firth. I was looking through the past couple of weeks photos and was chuckling to myself at how big my namesake Charlie is getting. He will be 3 this summer and as I have maybe told you before he has some very noticeable nicks in the trailing edge of his dorsal fin, unusual for such a young dolphin.


© WDCS/Charlie Phillips

These happen when another dolphin has a bite at the dorsal fin of another and the skin is quite thin at this part so these bits of skin are nipped out - it doesn't really hurt as the pain receptors (nerves) on this part of the dolphins body are few and far between. I really have to concentrate when he's around now because I keep thinking that this new, big dolphin has turned up when in reality it's really him - almost as big as his Mum, Kesslet.

Best Wishes,

Charlie.

Hi Everyone,

A little less exciting morning at Chanonry than yesterday with only 8 or so dolphins around. Kesslet & Charlie, Zephyr & Breeze, 744, 748 and another mystery dolphin and in this very backlit and sparkly shot - our very own Sundance who is surfacing though the water into the bright sunlight.


© WDCS/Charlie Phillips

It was bitterly cold with the chill factor about - 10 degrees so my watch didn't last very long !

Best Wishes,

Charlie.

Hi Everyone,

What a fantastic sight this morning - 50+ Dolphins charging after fish right past the Point at Chanonry and down towards Inverness. My pal Alan was there before me and just as I drew into the car park I saw more and more dolphins coming hurtling past. Alan had already counted about 20 and we both stood amazed at the amount. Difficult to get good photos as they were moving very quickly and the light was rubbish but I did pick out from the photos our lovely Spirit - here in the photo with another dolphin coming up at her side.


© WDCS/Charlie Phillips

Also spotted in the melee was Sundance, Nevis, and a whole host of the Cromarty gang. I'll be back tomorrow !

Best Wishes,

Charlie.

Hi Everyone,

The weather has been a bit grotty recently (back to winter again !) and the dolphin sightings have been pretty low - between myself and my pal Alan we have hardly seen a fin. Two dorsal fins that did come sweeping quietly past recently are a bit of a mystery however - They could either be new dolphins or dolphins that I know that have changed a bit.


© WDCS/Charlie Phillips

The big dolphin could be Beatrice that has a new nick above her old one and the smaller dolphin could be Side Spots - I really hope so as we have not seen her for ages. No sightings of any of the adoption dolphins this past week but the weather is getting better and hopefully the sightings will increase too.

UPDATE Barbara from the Lighthouse thinks that the dolphin nearest the camera could be another rarely seen dolphin (Not Side Spots) that spends most of it's time down Aberdeen/St Andrews direction so this could be quite exciting!

Best Wishes,

Charlie.

Hi Everyone,

The light is really rubbish just now which makes taking dolphin photos a lot harder and it's still getting dark so soon up here in Scotland. There are groups of dolphins roaming around - like these two gangs that were heading for Inverness the other day.


© WDCS/Charlie Phillips

Mischief is in the group nearest the camera - if you look closely you can see the big cut near the bottom of his dorsal fin. The weather is meant to be better at the weekend - I hope I can get some good light and good dolphins photos to show you.

Best Wishes,

Charlie.