Cetaceans and pinnipeds, september-november 1989 (Southern North Sea and beaches only)

Three trips on board MV Tridens in the western basin of the southern North Sea in September led to an exceptional number of sightings and species of cetaceans. Most dolphins were observed in waters very rich in Herring Clupea harengus, well offshore the English east coast. Plotted on a map, the actual area with many cetaceans was guite small (see elsewhere in this issue). Exceptional records were Pilot Whales (19), Minke Whales (4) and Common Dolphins (50). Several trips wore carried out in the German Bight, around Helgoland and north towards Skagon (N Denmark). Few cetaceans were recorded in these waters, and for comparison all are included in the below list. An extraordinary record during seawatching was the Northern Bottlonose Whale, seen under fine conditions, on 15 November.