Cetaceans, pinnipeds and other animals December 1990-March 1991

The number of cetaceans seen in these months was rather small. Even during the survey of MV Tridens, in the northern and northeastern North Sea, hardly any dolphins were encountered. The only sighting on this trip was a group of 4 White-beaked Dolphins Lagenorhynchus albirostris at 57°53,05’N, 01°34,18 W (1 Feb 1991; BC, AS). Some sightings of unidentified dolphins from aerial surveys are not yet available. Details will be published in Sula’s next issue. Zeeland’s resident Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus is still present, but not in its summer haunt near Brouwersdam. It was reported to enter and leave the Oosterschelde frequently, as such living in waters which are much less accessible for tourists (SH, HB).