Week 7 Festival of the sea and Sea watch!

The Manx whale and dolphin hosts summer sea watches so members of the public can join us in looking for cetaceans. We supply binoculars and help in spotting whales sharks dolphins and porpoise. The watches are always well attended and we always get people joining us who just happen to be there curious to see who we are and what we do. It’s a great opportunity to promote the watch and our work.  People always have lots of great stories about what they have seen and sadly often also tell us how sea life used to be much more prevalent in the isle of man especially basking sharks.  We have also hosted watches with everyone from rainbows ( 5-7 year old girl guides) to the women’s institute.

We cleaned the Manx whale and dolphin’s watch boat the named the Galps in honor of our founder John Galpin. I personally find it scary walking down harbor stairs backwards. Since I cant see where I am going and am convinced I am about to fall to a watery death. However unlikely. It took 6 of us over an hour to give the whole boat a good scrub down. Though it did look gleaming afterwards. a

Tynwald Day takes place every year on the isle of man in St.John’s not far from Peel. Also known as Manx national day. Tynwald is a celebration of Manx culture and history but it’s main function is political. The Island’s legislature, Tynwald meets All bills that have received Royal assent are promulgated on Tynwald Day; any act of Tynwald which is not so promulgated within 18 months of passage ceases to have effect. Other proceedings include the presentation of petitions and the swearing in of certain public officials.  I watched the three hour procession and ceremony from the stands. I also went to the viking village a recreation of what viking life was like during the very first Tynwald day. MWDW had a stall out as part of the festivities.

The watch does a lot of work with children to educate them about cetaceans and conservation. We go to schools nurseries and children’s activity groups. The children no matter how young always seem interested engaged and enthusiastic. They have always have lots of questions and insights about sea life. Not to mention being knowledgeable about threats to nature through pollution and climate change.

Every year the Manx wildlife trust hosts the festival of the sea. An educational festival celebrating Manx sea life. The MWDW hosts its own stall made up of our trusty gazebo and tables full of information, merchandise and children’s activities. The first day of the festival the wind had a personal vendetta against our gazebo so we had to set up without it to avoid it been blown into the sea along with our blow up life size mascot Perkin the porpoise. Who had to go live in the van for the duration of the first day of the festival to avoid an unwelcome return to the seas.

The Manx wildlife trust for the festival borrowed some sea creatures from rock pools and shallow waters to put on display for the public to look at. They were short on volunteers so we also assisted at the tanks as well as at our stall. The tanks included starfish of various sizes, crabs of various sizes as well as everything from sea slugs to sea urchins. It was an incredibly popular event with larges queues throughout the day. After the festival was over the creatures were returned to their homes.

 

WEEKS 4-6: Sun Sand and Surveying

I can now say I am truly settled in after passing the standard 6 weeks it takes me to “feel at home” in a new place. As British person I have a natural inclination to obsess over the weather it disdains me to report that this has reached new heights. Thanks to the weather dependent nature of surveying. We constantly I managed to get out on my grandfathers cousins boat. How’s that for a distant relative? Despite being out for 6 hours far into the sea. Not a single cetacean decided to grace us with their presence. The sheer rudeness of these creatures cannot be overstated. Not presenting themselves to us on demand!

Thankfully I have managed to avoid any further adventures in spreadsheets. Instead I have focused my attentions on redoing our sign by Peel castle. Removing everything redesigning it and lamenting it. Sandpapering and repainting. All for a grand reopening attended by myself. My main adversary in this has been the wind. When trying to change the recent sightings of cetaceans.

We land survey all around the Isle of Man. My favorites are the sound and Niarbyl. The sound is at the very southern tip of the Isle of man. It has a popular restaurant with incredible views and decent coffee. Risso’s dolphins, basking sharks, Minke whales and short beaked common dolphins can frequently be seen. Seals can nearly always be spotted frolicking in the sea. There are many memorial monuments to lost ships whose crew died in ship wrecks. It’s always interesting to learn about Manx history. From the sound the calf of man can be seen a beautiful island which is home to amazing bird life. It’s used as a resting spot for many species during their migration routes.

Niarbyl is on the islands west coast. It has some of the best views on the isle of man. Ireland. There is  small cafe and star gazing bench so you can lay down to properly enjoy the star filled sky on a clear night. There is an information board about Manx sea life and bird life. Plus binoculars so anyone can try to spot cetaceans themselves. From Nirabyl harbor porpoise, Risso’s dolphins, Minke whales and short beaked dolphins can be seen.

Another surveying spot with spectacular views and a great location is by the Peel castle were basking sharks and short beaked common dolphins can be seen from. As well as members of the ever popular local seal population. The castle itself can be toured inside along with an audio tour about the history of the viking castle.