Thresher shark seen leaping from sea off Pembrokeshire

A thresher shark has been photographed leaping out of the water off the coast of Pembrokeshire.

The Sea Trust, which took the picture, said the "very large" shark was estimated to be four metres (about 13ft) long.

It was spotted with a large pod of common dolphins during a survey in the Bristol Channel on Monday.

The Trust says the species is a rare sight in UK waters, with just six spotted in 2012 and two in 2011.

Thresher sharks have distinctive long tails and are known for breaching - or leaping - clear of the sea surface.

During the same trip, from Milford Haven, Sea Trust volunteers saw "pod after pod" of dolphins, many of which were pregnant or with newborn calves.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-south-west-wales-23862967

North Pacific right whale spotted off British Columbia for the first time for 60 years

Rare whale sighted off British Columbia coast

June 2013. For the first time in more 60 years, a North Pacific right whale has been spotted in British Columbia waters. Fisheries and Oceans Canada biologist James Pilkington made the discovery while surveying for whales off the west coast of Haida Gwaii on June 9, 2013. Pilkington and fellow Fisheries and Oceans Canada whale biologists John Ford and Graeme Ellis observed the whale for a total of 17 hours over the next few days as it foraged on zooplankton at the surface.

Only 6 sightings, and all were killed by whalers

Sightings of these whales are extremely rare - there are only six records of the species in Canadian waters over the past century, and all were killed by whalers; the last in 1951. Fewer than 50 individuals are thought to currently exist in the eastern North Pacific Ocean. North Pacific right whales are listed as Endangered in Canada.

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Rare sighting of sperm whales in Firth of Forth

The largest group of whales thought to have been seen travelling together in or near the Firth of Forth has been recorded from the air. 

The pod of 14 sperm whales was seen on Thursday heading from the island of Fidra to the Lamb, just a mile offshore at North Berwick in East Lothian. 

The whales then changed direction, heading towards Crail in Fife. 

They were reported to the Scottish Seabird Centre by microlight pilots who saw them from a height of 500ft. 

The whales were also spotted by Scottish Natural Heritage staff and other researchers on the Isle of May who were able to identify the whales' tail flukes, dorsal fins and plumes of spray. 

“Sperm whales are rarely seen in the Firth of Forth”, Erich HoytMarine conservationist 

Erich Hoyt, North Berwick-based marine conservationist and author, said: "Sperm whales are rarely seen in the Firth of Forth, and to see 14 of them travelling together is very special. 

"The previous close sighting of sperm whales in North Berwick was exactly 10 years ago this month when a large sperm whale landed on the beach at Canty Bay, but this is certainly the largest group of living whales we've seen travelling together in or near the Firth of Forth. 

"Sperm whales are usually residents of deeper waters off the north and west of Scotland where they hunt squid." 

Tail fluke 

He added: "The images confirm that they are sperm whales, including a few that are either immature males or females. 

"Sperm whales in groups are usually either all males or females with juveniles and calves, so given the absence of calves and the location this is most probably a group of young males. 

"The one tail that is visible is consistent with a sperm whale tail fluke." 

David Pickett, Scottish Natural Heritage's National Nature Reserve Manager on the Isle of May, said: "This was a thrilling experience. We were able to get distant views of two pods of sperm whales, distinguished by the flattened dorsal fin, the way the plume of spray went forward rather than up, and their enormous size." 

Tom Brock, CEO of the Scottish Seabird Centre, said: "This sighting is truly wonderful news and helps to highlight some of the amazing wildlife that can be spotted right here on our doorstep. 

"It's thrilling that such a large pod of whales were seen so close to the Seabird Centre." 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-edinburgh-east-fife-22342041

Red squirrel sighted in Cheshire for the first time since 1980s

Has a Lancashire squirrel gone wandering?

December 2012. A red squirrel has been sighted in Cheshire for the first time since 1980s. Cheshire Wildlife Trust has described the sighting of a wild red squirrel in a Daresbury garden between Runcorn and Warrington as ‘extremely exciting'.

The rare mammal, which is mostly confined to Scotland and small populations scattered elsewhere across the UK, was last seen in the Cheshire region during the 1980s. The sighting was confirmed by members of the Warrington Conservation Forum and Cheshire Mammal Group (see the footage here), after a video was captured of the furry visitor making the most of local bird feeders.

A captive population of red squirrels is kept at Walton Gardens, but the nearest wild population is on the Sefton Coast, Lancashire. This group of red squirrels suffered a devastating recent drop in numbers after the squirrels succumbed to an infection of pox.

Adult squirrel
Expert Paul Hill of the local Mammal Group said that it was typical for young squirrels to explore beyond their usual territories during the autumn and winter, however the footage appeared to show an adult which was particularly interesting.

Special nut feeders
A team has now installed specialised nut feeders in the area which allow red squirrels to feed, but exclude the larger grey squirrel. Motion detection cameras will also be inspected over the coming weeks to see if the red squirrels return and to determine if there may be more than one.

Tom Marshall from Cheshire Wildlife Trust said: "This is a fantastic good news story and we really hope this visiting red squirrel is not alone. Our colleagues at Lancashire Wildlife Trust have worked hard on the recovery of red squirrels on the Sefton Coast, and to know that the squirrels are potentially exploring beyond this territory could be amazing for the Cheshire region."

Red squirrels are continuing to suffer from the intrusion of their larger, non-native American cousins into their historical haunts in northern Britain. Bolder and more aggressive, grey squirrels are also able to exploit many nuts earlier in the season, reducing supplies for red squirrels.

Recent conservation strategies have included culling the non-native greys across a ‘firewall' in parts of Scotland and northern England to try and minimise the northern spread in efforts to safeguard remaining populations of red squirrels.

Continued:  http://www.wildlifeextra.com/go/news/cheshire-red-squirrel.html