meet our resident dolphin mother and daughter
Back in September 2019, when Moonlight was first seen with her new-born calf, we didn't know who she was or where she was from. Though initially seen with her new-born and two other adult dolphins, the mother dolphin, was the only individual from this group which had a clear enough marking on the dorsal fin to allow us to identify her. She has two small notches near the top of the dorsal fin which can be seen from either side on good quality photographs. This feature was so important early on in allowing us to follow this mother-calf pair and be sure that we are seeing the same animals each time.
ID shots of the dolphins can be seen below. If you are lucky enough to see them and have a good camera, try to get clear, side on images of the dorsal fin which will allow us to confirm their identity.
A scottish connection!
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In July 2020 we were contacted by Barbara Cheney of the University of Aberdeen Lighthouse Field Station who had seen this website and thought she recognised our bottlenose dolphin mother. We sent over a few photos to be compared to those from the Moray Firth bottlenose dolphin population and she soon got back to us to say that it was a match!
This is incredibly exciting news and a first for us here on the Isle of Man. This mother bottlenose dolphin which has been temporarily resident around the Isle of Man since September 2019 is a member of the Moray Firth resident population and goes by the name Moonlight (#580 in their catalogue). First seen way back in 1996 as a sub-adult, she has had three calves previously, with Starlight being the fourth. Moonlight's previous calves have all been male:
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Both Lunar and Shadow were seen every year in the Moray Firth since their birth until 2019 when Moonlight and Shadow, among others from the Moray Firth population, were photographed on the north coast of Scotland in March 2019. Though it is not possible to tell for certain due to the distance of the photographs, we suspect that Lunar and Shadow were with Moonlight when she gave birth.
Report your sightings
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As you might expect we are keen to hear about any and all sightings of these bottlenose dolphins so we can track their movements and progress.
We collate all cetacean sightings in our public sightings database which you can report directly to here. Don't worry if you don't know all the details, just report as much as you can and if we need to we will get in touch with you to find out more. We would also love to see your photos and video, even if they are just taken on a mobile phone we will add them to our growing collection. You can send them over to info@mwdw.net Thanks so much and happy spotting! |
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How to spot the family
Moonlight and Starlight can be very easy to spot, and are usually seen between Peel and Ramsey via the north, though they do sometimes check out other bays such as Port Erin. They prefer the shallow, sandy coastline of the north. They are very bold, often swimming within just a few metres off rocks, beaches and breakwaters, making them easy to see with the naked eye. They are not afraid to approach and interact with swimmers, kayakers and other boat users. All interaction must remain on their terms and MWDW monitor human-dolphin interaction closely.
Follow us on Facebook or contact us to join our live sightings feed on Telegram messenger.
Follow us on Facebook or contact us to join our live sightings feed on Telegram messenger.
Observing and disturbance
Moonlight and Starlight have chosen to make the Isle of Man their home and we want to see them continue to thrive here. Wouldn't it be amazing if they stayed for many years to come!?
As they are so easy to see from the coast, there is absolutely no need to get out on the water with them, and we encourage people to view them from the shore. If you are on a boat, kayak, paddleboard or swimming, especially in Peel or Port Erin, the dolphins may approach you, and it is important to know what to do in this situation. This is recommended for the safety of the dolphins but also of yourselves. Moonlight is huge, she measures almost 4 metres in length and may weigh up to 500kg. Bottlenose dolphin play can include shoving, ramming and swimming at high speeds.
Please follow the below advice:
1) On a boat or jet-ski- Lower your speed and retain a steady direction of travel. If the dolphins choose to ride with you it is important that you do not make any erratic movements or sudden changes in speed or course.
2) On a kayak or paddleboard- stay inside your craft and let the dolphins play around you. Do not put your hand or paddle out to touch them.
3) Swimming: if they approach you in the water, remain calm and do not attempt to touch them or grab their fin
Do not feed the dolphins. They are still very much wild animals, and throwing fish to them may encourage human habituation. It may also make them come too close to vessels and their propellers.
Whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks are protected in Manx waters under the Wildlife Crime act 1990 and it is a criminal offence to harass them. If you have evidence of someone causing disturbance you can call the Isle of Man Constabulary Wildlife Crime Team on 01624 631212.
Let's keep Moonlight and Starlight safe and happy!
As they are so easy to see from the coast, there is absolutely no need to get out on the water with them, and we encourage people to view them from the shore. If you are on a boat, kayak, paddleboard or swimming, especially in Peel or Port Erin, the dolphins may approach you, and it is important to know what to do in this situation. This is recommended for the safety of the dolphins but also of yourselves. Moonlight is huge, she measures almost 4 metres in length and may weigh up to 500kg. Bottlenose dolphin play can include shoving, ramming and swimming at high speeds.
Please follow the below advice:
1) On a boat or jet-ski- Lower your speed and retain a steady direction of travel. If the dolphins choose to ride with you it is important that you do not make any erratic movements or sudden changes in speed or course.
2) On a kayak or paddleboard- stay inside your craft and let the dolphins play around you. Do not put your hand or paddle out to touch them.
3) Swimming: if they approach you in the water, remain calm and do not attempt to touch them or grab their fin
Do not feed the dolphins. They are still very much wild animals, and throwing fish to them may encourage human habituation. It may also make them come too close to vessels and their propellers.
Whales, dolphins, porpoises and basking sharks are protected in Manx waters under the Wildlife Crime act 1990 and it is a criminal offence to harass them. If you have evidence of someone causing disturbance you can call the Isle of Man Constabulary Wildlife Crime Team on 01624 631212.
Let's keep Moonlight and Starlight safe and happy!
