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Delight as dolphins spotted
TOURISTS flock to Whitby to see its historic harbour, taste its famous fish and chips and wander along its cobbled streets but if last week is anything to go by they could soon be coming for the wildlife too.
Visitors enjoying boat trips out to sea on the Esk Belle II last Monday and Thursday found themselves on a dolphin watching tour as they sailed out of Whitby harbour.
On Monday several dolphins were spotted with their calves half a mile off Sandsend and they were soon entertaining the boat full of visitors by bow-riding and side breaching.
The skipper of the boat said the mammals live eight to nine miles off shore, and it wasn't just the high temperatures that brought them in.
"Most of them had calves with them. We were with them for about 40 minutes," said Bryan Clarkson.
He said the dolphins live eight to nine miles off the shore but they never go looking for them.
"We let them come into our world.
"The dolphins are there all the time.
"It's just the fact we saw so many at once."
Glenn Kilpatrick, who was enjoying the sunset cruise with his family, said: "As we headed back towards Whitby the skipper informed us that there was a school of dolphins about 500 yards in front.
"At first I thought they couldn't possibly be dolphins so close to shore.
"Then we got closer and they started leaping out the water.
"There must have been 30 or 40 of them with young swimming around the boat and at times leaping out of the water.
"They were definitely dolphins. The skipper of the boat explained that when they jump as they were doing they would be rounding up the mackerel and herring shoals.
"It was the most amazing thing I've seen at Whitby for many years. The kids loved it."
Then on Thursday more dolphins were spotted by the Esk Belle II skipper in the sea near Upgang beach.
Mr Clarkson said his passengers were delighted to see the dolphins but he said he would not be advertising dolphin spotting trips just yet.
He said: "You know what would happen then – we wouldn't see any."
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Weather for Whitby
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 9 C to 18 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: North
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 11 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 17 mph
Wind direction: South east
