09/11/2026
🐬 Back on the Water! A Fantastic Day of Dolphins, Porpoise & Winter Wildlife 🌊
After a couple of weeks stuck ashore with storm after storm passing through, we were absolutely itching to get back out on the water. Thankfully, yesterday brought a beautiful break in the weather, with the wind dropping right out and leaving us with stunningly calm seas and fantastic wildlife-watching conditions.
It was wonderful to be back out exploring Falmouth Bay, and the wildlife certainly didn't disappoint!
We started by heading east along the coastline, making our first stop to check on the two grey seal pups we'd been keeping an eye on before the storms.
Unfortunately, there was still no sign of either pup. With the huge seas and strong winds we've experienced over the past couple of weeks, we had been particularly concerned about how they might fare on their little beach. Although we couldn't relocate them, we did find several adult grey seals hauled out around the rocks, with a few more swimming amongst them. We're still hopeful the pups may have moved to a more sheltered location, but sadly we don't know what has happened to them.
From there, we continued east, weaving in and out of the bays and working our way across some of our favourite reef systems.
It wasn't long before we began picking up on bird activity. Gulls were scattered across the water, with the occasional gannet soaring overhead, but one particular gathering caught our attention. A group of gulls was actively working a small patch of sea, clearly interested in something happening beneath the surface.
Naturally, we headed over for a closer look.
Harbour porpoise!
Almost immediately, three little dorsal fins appeared amongst the birds, giving us some fantastic views as the animals surfaced around the feeding area. Then, a little further offshore, we spotted a second group of three, this time including a small calf!
Six harbour porpoise in total, including a mother and calf, was a brilliant way to kick off our first trip back. These little cetaceans can be notoriously difficult to spot, particularly when conditions are rough, so having such calm seas made all the difference. We were able to enjoy some lovely views of them before leaving them to continue hunting.
With the day already off to a fantastic start, we pushed further through the bay.
One thing that was immediately noticeable was the increasing number of auks returning to our waters for the winter. Guillemots were particularly numerous, with birds both sitting on the surface and flying low across the waves. We also picked up a few razorbills amongst them.
After the summer breeding season, these wonderful little seabirds disperse widely out to sea, and it's always lovely to see them becoming more numerous around our coastline again. We were keeping our eyes particularly peeled for a possible puffin amongst them, although none showed themselves on this occasion!
As we continued along the coast, we were constantly scanning, not just the water immediately around us but right out towards the horizon.
And it was on the very edge of binocular range that we noticed something interesting.
Birds. Lots of birds.
A considerable distance offshore, a large gathering was beginning to form. It was too far away to tell exactly what was happening, but there were enough birds to make it well worth investigating.
So down went the throttles, and off we went!
As we closed the distance, we could see that the gathering consisted mainly of gulls, all circling and working over a relatively small area. There were no obvious dolphin fins, but we knew something must be attracting so many birds.
And then came the telltale splashes.
Atlantic bluefin tuna!
Every so often, an enormous splash would erupt from the surface as the tuna attacked the baitfish below. Although we didn't get a full-blown feeding frenzy on this occasion, it was brilliant to see that these incredible predators were still actively hunting in our waters so late in the season.
Bluefin tuna are extraordinary animals, capable of reaching tremendous speeds and travelling vast distances across the Atlantic. Their return to Cornish waters in recent years has been one of the most exciting wildlife stories around our coastline, and seeing their feeding activity is always a thrill.
We stayed in the area for a while, watching the birds and keeping a close eye on what else might appear.
And amongst all the gulls, something rather unexpected caught our attention.
Manx shearwaters!
Now this was a surprise.
By this point in the year, the vast majority of our Manx shearwaters have long since departed British waters, heading south towards their wintering grounds in the South Atlantic, particularly off the coast of South America.
Yet here they were, still gliding effortlessly over the waves!
We continued picking them up throughout the trip, eventually recording around 20 Manx shearwaters. An unusually late showing and a fantastic bonus for November. Watching these birds skim just inches above the surface, banking from side to side on their long, narrow wings, is always a pleasure, but seeing so many at this time of year made it particularly special.
Eventually we decided to leave the feeding area behind and continue our search.
And it wasn't long before we noticed another couple of patches of activity further ahead.
This time, however, there was something unmistakable amongst the birds.
Dolphins! 🐬
A pod of around 20 common dolphins, including four calves, was moving through the area, apparently having just finished feeding.
As we approached, several animals peeled away from the group and came racing over to investigate us, quickly taking up position beneath the bow.
What followed was a wonderful encounter, with dolphins weaving from side to side beneath the boat, rolling onto their sides and occasionally surfacing just ahead of us. The youngsters were particularly lovely to watch, keeping close to the adults as the pod moved through the calm water.
After a couple of weeks away from the sea, there really is nothing quite like having a group of common dolphins come charging over to welcome you back!
We eventually left them to continue on their way and began the long journey back towards Falmouth.
By now we were a good distance offshore, but the wildlife wasn't finished with us just yet.
Auks continued to pass through, some flying in little groups just above the water while others rested on the surface. Gannets soared overhead, occasionally dropping down to investigate activity below.
And then came more dolphins.
Over the course of the return journey, we encountered several more small groups of common dolphins, some of which came over for another look at the boat. A few individuals were recognisable from earlier encounters, having apparently decided that one visit to the bow simply wasn't enough!
By the end of the trip, we'd recorded around 50 common dolphins, with several fantastic interactions along the way.
What a way to return to the water!
After such a prolonged spell of unsettled weather, it was brilliant to be reminded just how much life is still out there. From harbour porpoise with a tiny calf to feeding tuna, unusually late Manx shearwaters, returning winter seabirds and plenty of common dolphins, the bay certainly delivered.
And with the winter season now well underway, we're excited to see what the coming weeks might bring. The colder months can offer some truly spectacular wildlife watching around Cornwall, and we're particularly looking forward to the arrival of more wintering seabirds and, hopefully, some of our larger whale visitors.
🌊 We're Still Running Trips!
Although the main summer season has finished, we're continuing to run wildlife cruises right through until 16th December!
At this time of year, everything is very much weather-dependent, so we'll be keeping a close eye on the forecast and making the most of any suitable windows to get out on the water.
Keep an eye on our social media pages for upcoming trip announcements and availability, or get in touch by phone or WhatsApp if you'd like to join us.
📞 07553 606838
🌐 akwildlifecruises.co.uk
🎄 Looking for a Christmas Gift That's a Little Different?
With Christmas fast approaching, don't forget that we also offer AK Wildlife Cruises gift vouchers! 🎁🐬
If you're looking for something special for a wildlife lover, keen photographer, ocean enthusiast or someone who simply loves being out on the water, why not give them an experience they'll remember?
Our gift vouchers make a fantastic Christmas present, giving friends and family the opportunity to join us next season and discover the incredible marine wildlife found right here on our doorstep.
Whether it's dolphins riding the bow, seals along the coastline, spectacular seabirds or even the chance of encountering whales, no two trips are ever the same!
Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months, giving recipients plenty of time to choose a trip that suits them.
Get in touch or visit our website to find out more.
We hope to see you out on the water again soon! 🐬🌊
