One Day in Spey Bay

 What might you see in just one summer day's visit to the special place where the River Spey meets the sea?

Maybe something like this:

Sea Aster

Giant hogweed - an invading species with sap that burns.

Large white.

Heron on the far bank of the River Spey

View from the shingle bar at the river mouth 

Looking up the river

The old railway bridge

Roebuck

Terns

Dolphin watchers

A raft of mergansers just offshore

Rock pipet

Angler

Distant ospreys

And again

Statue outside the WDC dolphin centre

Dolphin Days

There is a special place, a little promontory on the edge of vast bay where dolphins come to visit. This place is increasingly well known and people from all around the world visit. They stand on a pebble ridge and look out hopefully across the water towards the opposite shore. 

This is Chanonry Point in the Moray Firth a short distance from Inverness. 

Chanonry Point from the opposite shore - the lighthouse picked out in the sunshine.

A small crowd is gathered and soon they are rewarded,

Dolphin fireworks.

Fort George - the Victorian fortress on the far shore with a mother and calf in between.

This is Spirtle, a miracle dolphin who survived stranding and terrible sunburn that has left characteristic but fully healed white scarring. 

Starting the leap.

Mid-leap - a spectacular sideways breach! 

The landing!

How to be the best of friends with the friendly marine mammals!

 Two podcasts in which Mark Simmonds and Laetitia Nunny talk about the issues presented by friendly marine mammals, including solitary sociable dolphins. 

The first part is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/wild-marine-mammals-interacting-with-humans/id1475692072?i=1000570087040&fbclid=IwAR15vC4EtACaiobb9mvDfb4zSntp-c1q-NUCxDg92nQiL2soRvrXDDN2kSs

The second part is here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/solitary-sociable-dolphins/id1475692072?i=1000570838824  and is focused on solitary sociable dolphins

This paper is also available: HERE

 

Forty Years of the Commercial Whaling Ban - Celebration in Brighton

Today, July 23rd 2022, marks exactly forty years since the ban on commercial whaling was agreed by the International Whaling Commission (IWC). It is widely regarded as one of the great conservation successes of the 20th century and its maintenance continues to be of high importance. 

On Monday this week, UK non-governmental organisations and DEFRA hosted a reception in the hotel in Brighton where the IWC met in 1982 and concluded this historic ban. Despite the record-breaking heat on the day, the event was attended by representatives from eight countries as well as the UK and many people from government and non-governmental organisations who have been involved in IWC matters, including the maintenance of the moratorium

Leading the toast to the moratorium.

Country representatives

Some of the campaigners who were present in 1982 - Andy Ottaway, John Frizell, Michi Mathias, Dave Curry and Alan Thornton.

The new plaque which now adorns the wall of the Hilton Metropole Hotel where the ban was concuded.

The UK Commissioner to the IWC, James Smith (left),
speaking with Willie Mackenzie of Greenpeace

James Smith addressing the reception.

Speakers at the reception, from the left - the local MP Caroline Lucas, James Smith, me and Lucy Babey of Orca

Vassili Papastavrou

Trevor Perfect previously with the UK delegation to the IWC

Jim Grey of the Pew Foundation, Ed Goodall of
Whale and Dolphin Conservation and
Claire Bass of the Humane Society International

Jenny Lonsdale of EIA and
Nicola Benyon of HSI Australia.

Nigel Gooding - the previous UK Commissioner to the IWC -
and Clive Lonsdale

Rob Deaville of the UK's Cetacean Strandings
Investigation project

Lucy Babey

Caroline Lucas MP

 Meanwhile out on Brighton beach:

The press release about this event, which contains more information can be found HERE. 

All photos were taken by John Cobb (many thanks), apart from the last two!