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  • Dawn waves break over a large rock in Old Town Bay, St Mary's. Isles of Scilly
    159692.jpg
  • Sanderling Calidris alba L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
    154144.jpg
  • Sanderling Calidris alba L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
    154148.jpg
  • Sanderling Calidris alba L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
    154149.jpg
  • Sanderling Calidris alba L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
    154151.jpg
  • Sanderling Calidris alba L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
    143425.jpg
  • Sanderling Calidris alba L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
    154145.jpg
  • Sanderling Calidris alba L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
    154147.jpg
  • Sanderling Calidris alba L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
    143423.jpg
  • Sanderling Calidris alba L 20cm. Small, robust wader. Seen in flocks running at speed along edges of breaking waves on sandy beaches. Has white wingbar and black legs and bill. Sexes are similar. Adult in winter has grey upperparts and white underparts. In summer (sometimes seen in late spring or early autumn) plumage is flushed with red on head and neck and has dark-centred feathers on back; underparts are white. Juvenile is similar to winter adult but many back feathers have dark centres. Voice Utters a sharp plit call. Status Locally common non-breeding visitor, mainly to sandy beaches; occasional on shingle or mudflats.
    143424.jpg
  • Water-break-its-neck waterfall in Radnor Forest, Wales
    162357.jpg
  • Water-break-its-neck waterfall, Radnor Forest, Wales
    162356.jpg
  • Gentle breaking waves on a sandy beach in the UK
    109109.jpg
  • Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena Length 1.4-1.9m Our smallest cetacean. Lives in groups of 3-15 animals. Playful at surface. Adult has stout, streamlined body, blunt head and no beak. Flippers are small and oval and dorsal fin is triangular with concave trailing edge. Tailstock is thick and tail fin is broad. Upperparts are mainly dark grey while underparts are whitish. Has bluish grey patch on flanks, roughly between eye and start of dorsal fin.
    156913.jpg
  • Turtle Rock and the Western Rocks, Isles of Scilly
    155581.jpg
  • Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus Length 18-22m Second only in terms of size to Blue Whale. Uniquely, has asymmetrical markings on head. Fast swimmer, catching shoaling fish. Adult has slender body with narrow, pointed head. Body is mainly dark grey, palest on underparts and throat. Right side of lower jaw is whitish (as are front half of right side of baleen plates and tongue) whereas left side is same colour as rest of body. Single median ridge extends from nostril to tip of rostrum. Flippers are relatively long. Dorsal fin is curved, rather large, set a long way back. Tailstock is thick and tail fin is large.
    111741.jpg
  • Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Length 16-20m Huge, distinctive whale with large, bulbous head. Tail is raised clear of water prior to deep dive. Dives to 2,000m or more in search of giant squid and sharks. Females live in social groups. Adult is blackish grey with whitish scars from fights and violent encounters with prey. Head accounts for roughly 1/3 of body length and mass. Lower jaw is slender and armed with sharp teeth. Dorsal fin is absent but note dorsal ‘hump’ and series of knobbly lumps. Flippers are small while tail is large. Has a single blowhole (baleen whales have 2); sited at front of head and angled slightly forward and to left.
    127937.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    140118.jpg
  • Northern Bottlenose Whale Hyperoodon ampullatus Length 7-9m Colour is blue-grey to buff and animal has a bulbous, rounded forehead, single blowhole and pronounced beak. It is a deep-water species and under normal circumstances it is seldom seen close to land.
    144336.jpg
  • Northern Bottlenose Whale Hyperoodon ampullatus Length 7-9m Colour is blue-grey to buff and animal has a bulbous, rounded forehead, single blowhole and pronounced beak. It is a deep-water species and under normal circumstances it is seldom seen close to land.
    144338.jpg
  • Spinner Dolphin - Stenella longirostris
    145857.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin - Delphinus delphis. Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    157580.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin - Delphinus delphis. Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    157579.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin - Delphinus delphis. Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    157578.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin - Delphinus delphis. Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    157576.jpg
  • Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena Length 1.4-1.9m Our smallest cetacean. Lives in groups of 3-15 animals. Playful at surface. Adult has stout, streamlined body, blunt head and no beak. Flippers are small and oval and dorsal fin is triangular with concave trailing edge. Tailstock is thick and tail fin is broad. Upperparts are mainly dark grey while underparts are whitish. Has bluish grey patch on flanks, roughly between eye and start of dorsal fin.
    156901.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common - Dolphin Delphinus delphis. Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    156908.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common - Dolphin Delphinus delphis. Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    156909.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common - Dolphin Delphinus delphis. Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    156910.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common - Dolphin Delphinus delphis. Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    156911.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common - Dolphin Delphinus delphis. Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    156912.jpg
  • Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena Length 1.4-1.9m Our smallest cetacean. Lives in groups of 3-15 animals. Playful at surface. Adult has stout, streamlined body, blunt head and no beak. Flippers are small and oval and dorsal fin is triangular with concave trailing edge. Tailstock is thick and tail fin is broad. Upperparts are mainly dark grey while underparts are whitish. Has bluish grey patch on flanks, roughly between eye and start of dorsal fin.
    156914.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    156929.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    156930.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    156931.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge, waves crashing against remains of  shingle sea defences with partially submerged hide, Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155696.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge showing submerged hides and flooded reserve,  Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155695.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge, waves crashing against remains of  shingle sea defences with partially submerged hide, Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155697.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge showing flooded coast road, A 149,  Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155698.jpg
  • Tidal surge damage, Cley Reserve, Norfolk 2013
    155700.jpg
  • Marsh Harrier, Circus aeruginosus, flying over flooded Reserve after December 2013 floods at Cley-next-the-Sea, Norfolk UK
    155699.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge showing flooded coast road, A 149,  Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155702.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge, showing flooded hides and Mute Swans, Cygnus olor, Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155701.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge showing flooded coast road, A 149,  Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155703.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge, waves crashing against remains of  shingle sea defences, Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155704.jpg
  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge showing submerged hides on flooded reserve,  Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
    155707.jpg
  • Angry clouds and surf around Shipman Head, Bryher, Isles of Scilly, UK
    155067.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    155034.jpg
  • Tractor and pan buster in field
    154673.jpg
  • Surf around Shipman Head, Bryher, Isles of Scilly, UK
    154405.jpg
  • Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus Length to 12m<br />
Our largest fish, and the 2nd largest on the planet. It filter feeds surface plankton during summer months but little is know of its habits at other times. Adult has typical shark shape but disproportionately large mouth. Above water, nose, dorsal fin and top of tail fin are often visible. Most records come from SW England, N Irish Sea and NW Scotland, June-September. It is scarce in some years if plankton is poor.
    136619.jpg
  • Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus Length to 12m<br />
Our largest fish, and the 2nd largest on the planet. It filter feeds surface plankton during summer months but little is know of its habits at other times. Adult has typical shark shape but disproportionately large mouth. Above water, nose, dorsal fin and top of tail fin are often visible. Most records come from SW England, N Irish Sea and NW Scotland, June-September. It is scarce in some years if plankton is poor.
    136621.jpg
  • Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae Length 12-15m Large cetacean that is often active at surface; breaches and engages in flipper- and tail-slapping on water surface. Feeds on shoaling fish and krill. Adult has streamlined, bulky body; broad head covered in lumpy tubercles. Pectoral fins are long and mainly white; dorsal fin is short and stubby. Tail is typically dark above and white with black markings below. Before deep dive, arches back strongly and tail stock and fluke come clear of water before deep dive.
    103536.jpg
  • Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus Length 16-20m Huge, distinctive whale with large, bulbous head. Tail is raised clear of water prior to deep dive. Dives to 2,000m or more in search of giant squid and sharks. Females live in social groups. Adult is blackish grey with whitish scars from fights and violent encounters with prey. Head accounts for roughly 1/3 of body length and mass. Lower jaw is slender and armed with sharp teeth. Dorsal fin is absent but note dorsal ‘hump’ and series of knobbly lumps. Flippers are small while tail is large. Has a single blowhole (baleen whales have 2); sited at front of head and angled slightly forward and to left.
    104396.jpg
  • Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops truncatus Length 2.5-4m Bulky, muscular dolphin. Social, found in schools of 3-4 animals. Diet includes fish, crabs and shrimps. Playful at the surface. Adult is greyish-brown overall, darkest above and palest on throat and belly; mid-grey band is sometimes seen on flanks. Beak is rather short and blunt (fancifully bottle-like) with lower jaw extending beyond upper one. Flippers are rather long and pointed and dorsal fin is tall, curved backwards and almost shark-like.
    104482.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    104481.jpg
  • Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus Length 25-30m World’s largest living animal. Feeds on tiny, swarming planktonic crustaceans (krill). Adult has huge, streamlined body; bluish grey overall but mottled with greyish white. Seen just below water surface, body looks very blue. Flippers are relatively small. Single ridge extends from nostrils to tip of rostrum. Throat has 70-90 pleats that allow a huge expansion when feeding. Tail stock is thick and dorsal fin is small and set far back. Decimated by 20th Century whaling and possibly recovering.
    109129.jpg
  • Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Length 8-10m (Pronounced Minky). Smallest baleen whale but still large and impressive. Tail is not revealed when animal dives. Feeds on shoaling fish. Adult is streamlined with narrow, pointed snout. Upperparts are dark grey; underparts are whitish and broad bands of paler colouration extend up flanks and sometimes visible on animals at surface. Curved dorsal fin is set far back on body. Single ridge runs from nostrils to tip of rostrum. Has diagnostic, broad white spot or band on upper surface of flipper; easily seen in swimming animals.
    109521.jpg
  • California Gray Whale Eschrichtius robustus Length to 15m Massive baleen whale, with greyish skin, the head usually covered with barnacles and other outgrowths (callosities). Entire population breeds in lagoons off west coast of Baja California, Mexico, and moves north in summer to feed in Arctic.
    110438.jpg
  • Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus Length 18-22m Second only in terms of size to Blue Whale. Uniquely, has asymmetrical markings on head. Fast swimmer, catching shoaling fish. Adult has slender body with narrow, pointed head. Body is mainly dark grey, palest on underparts and throat. Right side of lower jaw is whitish (as are front half of right side of baleen plates and tongue) whereas left side is same colour as rest of body. Single median ridge extends from nostril to tip of rostrum. Flippers are relatively long. Dorsal fin is curved, rather large, set a long way back. Tailstock is thick and tail fin is large.
    111740.jpg
  • Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena Length 1.4-1.9m Our smallest cetacean. Lives in groups of 3-15 animals. Playful at surface. Adult has stout, streamlined body, blunt head and no beak. Flippers are small and oval and dorsal fin is triangular with concave trailing edge. Tailstock is thick and tail fin is broad. Upperparts are mainly dark grey while underparts are whitish. Has bluish grey patch on flanks, roughly between eye and start of dorsal fin.
    112662.jpg
  • Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Length 8-10m (Pronounced Minky). Smallest baleen whale but still large and impressive. Tail is not revealed when animal dives. Feeds on shoaling fish. Adult is streamlined with narrow, pointed snout. Upperparts are dark grey; underparts are whitish and broad bands of paler colouration extend up flanks and sometimes visible on animals at surface. Curved dorsal fin is set far back on body. Single ridge runs from nostrils to tip of rostrum. Has diagnostic, broad white spot or band on upper surface of flipper; easily seen in swimming animals.
    115474.jpg
  • Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Length 8-10m (Pronounced Minky). Smallest baleen whale but still large and impressive. Tail is not revealed when animal dives. Feeds on shoaling fish. Adult is streamlined with narrow, pointed snout. Upperparts are dark grey; underparts are whitish and broad bands of paler colouration extend up flanks and sometimes visible on animals at surface. Curved dorsal fin is set far back on body. Single ridge runs from nostrils to tip of rostrum. Has diagnostic, broad white spot or band on upper surface of flipper; easily seen in swimming animals.
    121217.jpg
  • Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus Length 25-30m World’s largest living animal. Feeds on tiny, swarming planktonic crustaceans (krill). Adult has huge, streamlined body; bluish grey overall but mottled with greyish white. Seen just below water surface, body looks very blue. Flippers are relatively small. Single ridge extends from nostrils to tip of rostrum. Throat has 70-90 pleats that allow a huge expansion when feeding. Tail stock is thick and dorsal fin is small and set far back. Decimated by 20th Century whaling and possibly recovering.
    123026.jpg
  • Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus Length 25-30m World’s largest living animal. Feeds on tiny, swarming planktonic crustaceans (krill). Adult has huge, streamlined body; bluish grey overall but mottled with greyish white. Seen just below water surface, body looks very blue. Flippers are relatively small. Single ridge extends from nostrils to tip of rostrum. Throat has 70-90 pleats that allow a huge expansion when feeding. Tail stock is thick and dorsal fin is small and set far back. Decimated by 20th Century whaling and possibly recovering.
    126404.jpg
  • Blue Whale Balaenoptera musculus Length 25-30m World’s largest living animal. Feeds on tiny, swarming planktonic crustaceans (krill). Adult has huge, streamlined body; bluish grey overall but mottled with greyish white. Seen just below water surface, body looks very blue. Flippers are relatively small. Single ridge extends from nostrils to tip of rostrum. Throat has 70-90 pleats that allow a huge expansion when feeding. Tail stock is thick and dorsal fin is small and set far back. Decimated by 20th Century whaling and possibly recovering.
    127936.jpg
  • Killer Whale Orcinus orca Length 4-9m Distinctive, well-marked cetacean. The largest dolphin. Social, living in ‘pods’ of 5-20 animals. Feeds on fish, squid, seals and other cetaceans. Adult male has mainly blackish upperparts with grey saddle-like patch behind dorsal fin. Underparts are white and band of white extends onto flanks. Also has white patch behind eye. Dorsal fin is up to 1.8m tall, triangular and upright, sometimes even forward-leaning. Flippers are broad and paddle-shaped. Adult female is smaller with much shorter, shark-like dorsal fin.
    127963.jpg
  • Killer Whale Orcinus orca Length 4-9m Distinctive, well-marked cetacean. The largest dolphin. Social, living in ‘pods’ of 5-20 animals. Feeds on fish, squid, seals and other cetaceans. Adult male has mainly blackish upperparts with grey saddle-like patch behind dorsal fin. Underparts are white and band of white extends onto flanks. Also has white patch behind eye. Dorsal fin is up to 1.8m tall, triangular and upright, sometimes even forward-leaning. Flippers are broad and paddle-shaped. Adult female is smaller with much shorter, shark-like dorsal fin.
    127964.jpg
  • Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Length 8-10m (Pronounced Minky). Smallest baleen whale but still large and impressive. Tail is not revealed when animal dives. Feeds on shoaling fish. Adult is streamlined with narrow, pointed snout. Upperparts are dark grey; underparts are whitish and broad bands of paler colouration extend up flanks and sometimes visible on animals at surface. Curved dorsal fin is set far back on body. Single ridge runs from nostrils to tip of rostrum. Has diagnostic, broad white spot or band on upper surface of flipper; easily seen in swimming animals.
    127974.jpg
  • Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops truncatus Length 2.5-4m Bulky, muscular dolphin. Social, found in schools of 3-4 animals. Diet includes fish, crabs and shrimps. Playful at the surface. Adult is greyish-brown overall, darkest above and palest on throat and belly; mid-grey band is sometimes seen on flanks. Beak is rather short and blunt (fancifully bottle-like) with lower jaw extending beyond upper one. Flippers are rather long and pointed and dorsal fin is tall, curved backwards and almost shark-like.
    128237.jpg
  • Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops truncatus Length 2.5-4m Bulky, muscular dolphin. Social, found in schools of 3-4 animals. Diet includes fish, crabs and shrimps. Playful at the surface. Adult is greyish-brown overall, darkest above and palest on throat and belly; mid-grey band is sometimes seen on flanks. Beak is rather short and blunt (fancifully bottle-like) with lower jaw extending beyond upper one. Flippers are rather long and pointed and dorsal fin is tall, curved backwards and almost shark-like.
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  • Southern Elephant Seal Mirounga leonina Length 2-3m, weight 400-850kg Massive seal. Male is up to four times larger than female, with distinctive proboscis. Breeds on Sub-Antarctic islands, notably South Georgia.
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  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
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  • Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus Length 2.2-3.2m Bulky seal with proportionately large head. Inquisitive in water. Hauls out for long periods. Adult is greyish overall with dark blotchy spots; fewer, larger spots than on Common Seal. Males are larger and darker than females. In profile, looks ‘Roman nosed’: bridge of nose is convex, more pronounced in males than females. From the front, nostrils are distinctly separated and more or less parallel to one another, not V-shaped. Fore flippers have sharp claws and hind flippers propel the animal through water. Pup is born with white fur; moulted after a few weeks.Voice Utters low, moaning calls. Often found on rocky shores and tolerates rough seas heavy waves. Widespread on west coast of Britain and locally in North Sea.
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  • Long-finned Pilot Whale Globiocephala melaena Length 4-6m Medium-sized cetacean with distinctive head and dorsal fin shapes. Lives in sizeable groups (pods) and feeds mainly on squid. Head, back and dorsal fin are visible at same time when cruising at surface. Adult is mainly blackish with greyish saddle-shaped mark behind dorsal fin. Has white, thighbone-shaped mark from throat to vent, seen only when breaching. Head is blunt-ended, forehead is domed and flippers are long and sickle-shaped. Dorsal fin is broad-based and curved.
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  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
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  • Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena Length 1.4-1.9m Our smallest cetacean. Lives in groups of 3-15 animals. Playful at surface. Adult has stout, streamlined body, blunt head and no beak. Flippers are small and oval and dorsal fin is triangular with concave trailing edge. Tailstock is thick and tail fin is broad. Upperparts are mainly dark grey while underparts are whitish. Has bluish grey patch on flanks, roughly between eye and start of dorsal fin.
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  • California Gray Whale Eschrichtius robustus Length to 15m Massive baleen whale, with greyish skin, the head usually covered with barnacles and other outgrowths (callosities). Entire population breeds in lagoons off west coast of Baja California, Mexico, and moves north in summer to feed in Arctic.
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  • Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena Length 1.4-1.9m Our smallest cetacean. Lives in groups of 3-15 animals. Playful at surface. Adult has stout, streamlined body, blunt head and no beak. Flippers are small and oval and dorsal fin is triangular with concave trailing edge. Tailstock is thick and tail fin is broad. Upperparts are mainly dark grey while underparts are whitish. Has bluish grey patch on flanks, roughly between eye and start of dorsal fin.
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  • Long-finned Pilot Whale Globiocephala melaena Length 4-6m Medium-sized cetacean with distinctive head and dorsal fin shapes. Lives in sizeable groups (pods) and feeds mainly on squid. Head, back and dorsal fin are visible at same time when cruising at surface. Adult is mainly blackish with greyish saddle-shaped mark behind dorsal fin. Has white, thighbone-shaped mark from throat to vent, seen only when breaching. Head is blunt-ended, forehead is domed and flippers are long and sickle-shaped. Dorsal fin is broad-based and curved.
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  • Long-finned Pilot Whale Globiocephala melaena Length 4-6m Medium-sized cetacean with distinctive head and dorsal fin shapes. Lives in sizeable groups (pods) and feeds mainly on squid. Head, back and dorsal fin are visible at same time when cruising at surface. Adult is mainly blackish with greyish saddle-shaped mark behind dorsal fin. Has white, thighbone-shaped mark from throat to vent, seen only when breaching. Head is blunt-ended, forehead is domed and flippers are long and sickle-shaped. Dorsal fin is broad-based and curved.
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  • Bottle-nosed Dolphin Tursiops truncatus Length 2.5-4m Bulky, muscular dolphin. Social, found in schools of 3-4 animals. Diet includes fish, crabs and shrimps. Playful at the surface. Adult is greyish-brown overall, darkest above and palest on throat and belly; mid-grey band is sometimes seen on flanks. Beak is rather short and blunt (fancifully bottle-like) with lower jaw extending beyond upper one. Flippers are rather long and pointed and dorsal fin is tall, curved backwards and almost shark-like.
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  • Long-finned Pilot Whale Globiocephala melaena Length 4-6m Medium-sized cetacean with distinctive head and dorsal fin shapes. Lives in sizeable groups (pods) and feeds mainly on squid. Head, back and dorsal fin are visible at same time when cruising at surface. Adult is mainly blackish with greyish saddle-shaped mark behind dorsal fin. Has white, thighbone-shaped mark from throat to vent, seen only when breaching. Head is blunt-ended, forehead is domed and flippers are long and sickle-shaped. Dorsal fin is broad-based and curved.
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  • Killer Whale Orcinus orca Length 4-9m Distinctive, well-marked cetacean. The largest dolphin. Social, living in ‘pods’ of 5-20 animals. Feeds on fish, squid, seals and other cetaceans. Adult male has mainly blackish upperparts with grey saddle-like patch behind dorsal fin. Underparts are white and band of white extends onto flanks. Also has white patch behind eye. Dorsal fin is up to 1.8m tall, triangular and upright, sometimes even forward-leaning. Flippers are broad and paddle-shaped. Adult female is smaller with much shorter, shark-like dorsal fin.
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  • Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris Length 6-7m. Deep-water cetacean that feeds on squid. Body is usually creamy-grey and scarred paler. Heada is proportionately large with a bulbous forehead. Lower jaw protrudes beyond upper jaw; in males the lower jaw has two protruding teeth.
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  • Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus Length 3-3.5m Large, blunt-nosed and distinctive dolphin. Lives in ‘pods’ of 3-15 animals. Adult greyish brown overall, darkest on dorsal fin, flippers and tail, and palest on face, throat and belly. Older animals become very pale and upper surface is heavily criss-crossed with white scars. Head is blunt-ended and forehead is split down middle – from upper lip to blowhole - by a deep crease. Dorsal fin is tall, pointed and slightly recurved. Flippers are long and narrow and tail fin is broad.
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  • Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus Length 3-3.5m Large, blunt-nosed and distinctive dolphin. Lives in ‘pods’ of 3-15 animals. Adult greyish brown overall, darkest on dorsal fin, flippers and tail, and palest on face, throat and belly. Older animals become very pale and upper surface is heavily criss-crossed with white scars. Head is blunt-ended and forehead is split down middle – from upper lip to blowhole - by a deep crease. Dorsal fin is tall, pointed and slightly recurved. Flippers are long and narrow and tail fin is broad.
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  • Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus Length 3-3.5m Large, blunt-nosed and distinctive dolphin. Lives in ‘pods’ of 3-15 animals. Adult greyish brown overall, darkest on dorsal fin, flippers and tail, and palest on face, throat and belly. Older animals become very pale and upper surface is heavily criss-crossed with white scars. Head is blunt-ended and forehead is split down middle – from upper lip to blowhole - by a deep crease. Dorsal fin is tall, pointed and slightly recurved. Flippers are long and narrow and tail fin is broad.
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  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    144351.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    144352.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    144353.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
    144355.jpg
  • Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Length 1.8-2.3m Our most regularly encountered dolphin. Gregarious, living in schools of 10s or 100s of animals. Adult is streamlined, with pattern of overlapping stripes and bands of pigmentation. Body is overall dark grey above and whitish below with broad, tapering yellow band on flanks from eye and mouth to just behind dorsal fin; grey band continues along flanks towards tail. Overall, yellow and grey patches resemble an hourglass. Flippers are narrow and black, with a black line running forward from base to throat. Dorsal fin is broadly triangular and curved backwards slightly.
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  • Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Length 8-10m (Pronounced Minky). Smallest baleen whale but still large and impressive. Tail is not revealed when animal dives. Feeds on shoaling fish. Adult is streamlined with narrow, pointed snout. Upperparts are dark grey; underparts are whitish and broad bands of paler colouration extend up flanks and sometimes visible on animals at surface. Curved dorsal fin is set far back on body. Single ridge runs from nostrils to tip of rostrum. Has diagnostic, broad white spot or band on upper surface of flipper; easily seen in swimming animals.
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  • Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Length 8-10m (Pronounced Minky). Smallest baleen whale but still large and impressive. Tail is not revealed when animal dives. Feeds on shoaling fish. Adult is streamlined with narrow, pointed snout. Upperparts are dark grey; underparts are whitish and broad bands of paler colouration extend up flanks and sometimes visible on animals at surface. Curved dorsal fin is set far back on body. Single ridge runs from nostrils to tip of rostrum. Has diagnostic, broad white spot or band on upper surface of flipper; easily seen in swimming animals.
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  • Risso’s Dolphin - Grampus griseus. Length 3-3.5m Large, blunt-nosed and distinctive dolphin. Lives in ‘pods’ of 3-15 animals. Adult greyish brown overall, darkest on dorsal fin, flippers and tail, and palest on face, throat and belly. Older animals become very pale and upper surface is heavily criss-crossed with white scars. Head is blunt-ended and forehead is split down middle – from upper lip to blowhole - by a deep crease. Dorsal fin is tall, pointed and slightly recurved. Flippers are long and narrow and tail fin is broad.
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  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge, waves crashing against remains of  shingle sea defences with partially submerged hide, Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
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  • Floods of  6 12 2013 due to tidal surge, waves crashing against remains of  shingle sea defences with partially submerged hide, Cley next the sea,  Norfolk UK
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  • Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata Length 8-10m (Pronounced Minky). Smallest baleen whale but still large and impressive. Tail is not revealed when animal dives. Feeds on shoaling fish. Adult is streamlined with narrow, pointed snout. Upperparts are dark grey; underparts are whitish and broad bands of paler colouration extend up flanks and sometimes visible on animals at surface. Curved dorsal fin is set far back on body. Single ridge runs from nostrils to tip of rostrum. Has diagnostic, broad white spot or band on upper surface of flipper; easily seen in swimming animals.
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  • Killer Whale Orcinus orca Length 4-9m Distinctive, well-marked cetacean. The largest dolphin. Social, living in ‘pods’ of 5-20 animals. Feeds on fish, squid, seals and other cetaceans. Adult male has mainly blackish upperparts with grey saddle-like patch behind dorsal fin. Underparts are white and band of white extends onto flanks. Also has white patch behind eye. Dorsal fin is up to 1.8m tall, triangular and upright, sometimes even forward-leaning. Flippers are broad and paddle-shaped. Adult female is smaller with much shorter, shark-like dorsal fin.
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