Tenerife

In late November I was offered the chance to work in Tenerife for six months on a cetacean project. I’m shocked that I have already been here six weeks out of my six months! They say time flies when you’re having fun, so I must be enjoying myself!

Form a personal career development perspective I’ve already learnt a lot, and gained fantastic experience, even in these few weeks on the project. Blessed with consistently good weather I’ve been lucky to get out on the whale watching boats regularly and to observe five different species of whales and dolphins, sometimes seeing three different species in one trip! I’ve seen bottlenose and common dolphins in other countries before but Atlantic spotted dolphin, Bryde’s whale, and short-finned pilot whale are all new species for me, and it is a great privilege to see these fascinating animals in the wild on such a regular basis. Of course the pilot whales are really the stars of the show here, and collecting behavioural observations during encounters with these animals is giving me a great chance to get to know more about another cetacean species.

Atlantic spotted dolphin

Bryde's whale

Short-finned pilot whale

Pilot whale close to the boat

I’m only just scratching the surface of what this beautiful island has to offer beyond the ocean. There is so much more to see and appreciate beyond the heavy tourism around the south. I enjoyed the novelty of Christmas day on the beach, but escaped the crowds on Boxing day to ‘enjoy’ a five hour hike up to the top of the cable car on Teide. The volcanic landscape there is beautiful, in its own rocky bleakness, and allows great views across the island, well worth the effort… but while it may be 22 C on the beach, up there it’s cold!

View from the cable car

Huevos del Teide

Before Christmas I had the chance to experience some of the stunning green mountains of Anaga in the very north of the island where you can’t escape the amazing views on a walk through the area. So I’ve packed a lot in so far and I’m really looking forward to exploring even more, and of course encountering more cetaceans, there are a few more species still on my ‘to see’ list...

Rogue Taborno

Beautiful Anaga region

Cornwall

After leaving the Isle of Man I was looking for another opportunity to live and work by the coast, so I took a job in the pretty little town of St Mawes, Cornwall. Whilst working in a small hotel, I used my spare time to explore the beautiful surroundings, as well as volunteer on some environmental projects.

St Anthony Head

St Mawes Castle

I began by meeting the coordinator of the Wildlife Trust Seaquest Southwest Project. Seaquest is a citizen science marine recording programme run by the Cornwall Wildlife Trust, and I got involved in a few public sea watches during my time in Cornwall. I was lucky enough to spot some marine mammals, including grey seals and common dolphins, as well as some of the weird looking sunfish! I also managed to get out on a great boat trip from Penzance a few times, for some closer encounters with the crazy looking sunfish.

Sunfish

Harbour porpoise near Penzance

I also volunteered with the National Trust at the Wildlife Watchpoint on the Lizard Peninsula. Situated in the most southerly building in mainland Britain the watchpoint is allows visitors to the peninsula to make use of the telescopes to spot the local wildlife. I was on hand to help point out the ever present grey seals, birds including the occasional Cornish chough, or any cetaceans which might be in the area. It was a beautiful place to spend some of my days off from work, and great to see the visitors' excitement when seal spotting.

Kestrel vs. Chough

Kestrel

After six great months exploring some of Cornwall, I had the opportunity to head to Tenerife for six months to work on a cetacean project, so that was my next move.