Dolphins spotted off Blackpool coastline

The pod were spotted this week by fishermen out at sea.

Wildlife Trust sand dunes officer Ammy Pennington said: “The dolphins usually come every summer around this time.

“There’s around six bottlenose dolphins that come over from Wales for a holiday.

“They spend about a month before going back.

“They are quite opportunistic feeders so they almost definitely will be here for food.

“They’ll feed on many different things but in the summer we tend to have a mass of moon jellyfish that come in.”

Bottlenose dolphins are a rare but welcome sight off the Fylde coast, with most sightings being in the June and July months.

In July 2015, a pod of 30 were photographed and filmed around half-a-mile from the beach by sailor Simon Redfearn.

In November 2012, conservationists were delighted to see several dolphins (along with a porpoise and a seal) while on a watch from the Disco Ball at New South Promenade.

And in September last year a walker found a dead dolphin washed up on Knott End beach.

Amy said: “We hold regular whale and dolphin watches at the glitterball on the Promenade, or Jubilee Gardens in Gynn Square.

“We also do watches at the observation tower at Rossall Point.

“They come every year but there’s no guarantee you’re going to see them, and because it’s an annual thing it’s a big deal when you see them.

“You feel like you’ve come away with a better experience.”

Helen Hiley, marine officer with the Wildlife Trust, said: “Bottlenose dolphins are the most common coastal dolphin we get in the UK. We do have the largest bottlenose dolphins in the worldbecause they have got to survivie in the colder temperatures of our seas.

“Compared to other marine mammals they are quite boisterous. Often you will get them in larger groups. They are social animals and will communicate through sound.

“Each bottlenose has a whistle that is individual to them.

“Often when you see a harbour porpoise they are much smaller and quite shy.

“The bottlenose dolphin are much likely to be seen jumping out of the water.

“Many people don’t realise we’ve got these fantastic mammals coming into our waters so people are pretty excited to see them.”