Common Dolphin (Tom Brereton)

Departing Weymouth Harbour, we first navigate around the Isle of Portland where we aim to obtain close views of the seabird colony; Guillemots will be aplenty, and we may even chance upon a Puffin or two. Rafts of shearwaters, including both Manx and Balearic Shearwaters, Gannets and other seabirds are often not too far offshore. As we progress out to sea, pods of Bottlenose and Common Dolphins may join us as they bow-ride the vessel, and we will dedicate time to finding the highly sought-after White-beaked Dolphins who shouldn’t be too far away. European Storm Petrels are also a feature on this wildlife-rich day, while exceptional sightings in the past have included Thresher Shark, Ocean Sunfish and Basking Shark!

Situated further west along the Dorset coast, our Lyme Bay cruises, which depart the lovely coastal fishing town of Brixham, aim to find the many birds and cetaceans off Dorset’s Jurassic Coast. Our main quarry will be the pods of White-beaked Dolphins which frequent these waters and as we search, we often have frequent encounters with inquisitive Common Dolphins. Birds will be represented by both Manx and Balearic Shearwaters, and hopefully, European Storm Petrels, whilst Gannets, Shags and a range of gulls will also fly within arm’s reach of the vessel. Basking Sharks and Minke Whales have also been encountered on previous tours.

View Tour Page

This 2.5-hour boat trip is part of a very popular Day Trip which also explores nearby Berry Head and excellent adjacent sites for a range of special species. Led by local expert birdwatcher Mike Langman, we head out into Tor Bay and around the headland, providing excellent photographic opportunities of both the wildlife and beautiful coastline. Tor Bay is superb for wildlife year-round and throughout the year we have a very good chance of observing Harbour Porpoise and Common Dolphin. In the spring and summer, breeding seabirds may include Guillemots, Shags and Fulmars, whilst passing birds may include Manx Shearwater and the globally threatened Balearic Shearwater. Peregrine Falcons will be looking down from the cliffs above and when not at sea, the rest of the day is spent exploring on foot. Mike dedicates time to conserving specialities such as Cirl Bunting, and therefore knows the very best places to find them.

View Tour Page

Our specially chartered 3.5-hour cruise on the River Dart sees us head out of the estuary and a short way offshore to the Mew Stone Rock with its breeding seabirds, before heading back upriver past the scenic towns of Dartmouth and Kingswear. Species to be expected along the route include breeding seabirds such as Shags, Cormorants, gulls, Fulmars and Kittiwakes, with Peregrines breeding nearby. Guillemots and Razorbills will usually be feeding around us, with passing Manx Shearwaters and Gannets, while Puffin remains a distinct possibility. We also have a good chance of finding Common Dolphin and Harbour Porpoise, with Bottlenose Dolphin occasionally encountered and even Bluefin Tuna! In the estuary, waders such as Curlew, Whimbrel, Redshank and Oystercatcher will be enjoyed and with luck Kingfishers, or perhaps a passage Osprey stopping off on the estuary to feed. Both Grey Seal and the much rarer (in the south-west) Harbour Seal are usually hauled out on pontoons, hopefully providing us with close views. The rest of the day is spent exploring fantastic local sites where a range of wildfowl, warblers, waders and buntings are all possible. 

View Tour Page

This cruise explores Chichester Harbour’s channels, mudflats and saltmarsh in search of an exciting array of waders, other waterbirds and perhaps even one of the Ospreys which regularly linger here in August and September. The harbour is also home to Common Seals – plus a few Grey Seals too – and we will be looking for them hauled out on the mud or fishing in the channels. Other birds we may encounter include Whimbrel, Greenshank, Black-tailed and Bar-tailed Godwits, Mediterranean Gull, Little Egret, Sandwich Tern and Peregrine Falcon. Something a little more unusual may turn up too, and as we approach the later months of autumn the region’s wintering wildfowl and waders will be starting to return. In the afternoon we will move to the RSPB’s Pagham Harbour reserve and spend our remaining hours searching for migrant passerines such as Wheatear, Whinchat and Lesser Whitethroat, plus waders, terns (including a chance of Roseate Tern in August and early September), waterfowl and many others.

View Tour Page