After a week of talking about our upcoming trip in the office, the excitement for our Cornish sea adventure was at an all-time high. The anticipation was shared by our friends at AK Wildlife Cruises, and as predicted, both the weather and wildlife graced us with an unforgettable day.

We set sail under the brilliant sunshine along the Carrick Roads, the air filled with a sense of adventure. Through the harbour of Falmouth, we went past black rock and St Mawes Castle. Moving slowly past Cormorants sitting on a rock with wings outstretched to let the sun dry their wings. Their presence on the banks is a sign of good water quality. We soon rounded the headland of St Anthony’s, where the sight of our first wildlife encounter set the tone for the day. A group of female Grey Seals popped their heads up between two rocks in the ocean, their sleek heads glistening in the sun. Their inquisitive antics were a thrilling start to our Falmouth wildlife trip.

Our voyage continued into the serene waters of Gerrans Bay. Here, we were delighted by the sight of our first Great Northern Diver, splendid in its patterned summer plumage. As we navigated along the bay, a couple more divers appeared, and we were treated to a mesmerising flourish of Kittiwakes gliding past us. The approach to Gull Rock was alive with the calls and flurry of seabirds. The vibrant colony of Guillemots and Razorbills was back in full force, and among them, we spotted a rare Bridled Guillemot, its distinctive markings around the eye a delight to behold.

Gull Rock was a bustling island of life, with seabirds everywhere camouflaged against the rocks. Among the group, a Kittiwake on land caught our eye, and a Shag with a nest innovatively made of discarded fishing net and rope.

Getting up close to see these beautiful marine animals and birdlife gives you an eye-opening motivation to look after our planet and support those making a positive impact. AK Wildlife Safaris work in partnership with students at Falmouth University interested in marine life and photography, contributing to research into wildlife behaviour and health. Throughout our trip it was clear that the entire crew cared deeply for all the animals we saw, sharing their knowledge of why they were a certain colour or where they had migrated from.

Leaving the lively Gull Rock behind, we headed south and offshore, where our adventure took a thrilling turn. Capt. Keith’s sharp eyes spotted fins slicing through the water. A maternal pod of eight Common Dolphins surrounded our boat. Maternal pods are composed of adult females and their offspring, calves of 1-3 years of age. They travel together to provide a safe place for their young to nurse and develop the skills needed to survive. Female dolphins have been seen helping to rear young dolphins and showing new mothers the ropes.

One of the youngest dolphins that we saw, a calf swimming close to its mum’s side had lighter coloured bands on its sides, which Captain Keith explained to us was from where they are scrunched up in the womb creating folds in the skin, which fade within a few weeks.

Watching them glide effortlessly through the calm waters was pure magic. I wish we could have watched it all in slow motion to fully appreciate all their beauty. We remained with them savouring each flash past us before moving on. Captain Keith explained that they are always considerate to the animals on their boat trips, making sure to respect their space and direction of travel.

Our course in Falmouth Bay took us further south and then west, paralleling the coastline. The journey was spent with the graceful presence of more Kittiwakes, Gannets, and Manx Shearwaters. Near Bizzies Reef, a shout from crew member Fen alerted us to another fin sighting. Three much larger fins broke the surface—Risso’s Dolphins! Capt. Keith expertly closed the distance, but they dove before we reached them. Knowing they could remain submerged for up to 20 minutes, we stayed vigilant, eyes scanning the sea. Despite our hopes, the dolphins did not reappear, leaving us with a sense of mystery and anticipation.

As we began our return to Falmouth, we all nearly jumped out of our seats with the excited shrieks of ‘fin up, fin up’ from the legend that is Captain Keith.  A distant fin, followed by two more, had caught his attention. We quickly approached and the Risso’s Dolphins surfaced close to our boat once more! They spent a couple of minutes passing by close to the surface showing their smooth yet marked backs. The scarring on their backs is thought to come from their major prey of squid beaks (how squid eat their food) and dolphin play time. The dolphins arrive in Cornish waters following the path of their food, of squid and cuttlefish, which come closer to the warm shores to breed. You might sometimes see headless cuttlefish on beaches which could be the result of a Risso’s dolphin feast.

We were delighted to see them for the first time, and it was also the first sighting this year for the crew. Risso’s dolphins are usually deep-water lovers and so are relatively un-studied, the sightings and photos will be recorded for research. Individual Risso dolphins can easily be recognised by their unique dorsal fin which can be a variety of shapes, and their bodies covered in unique markings.

Risso’s normally like the company of several other pod mates, and although they’re normally boat-shy, they can sometimes be seen leaping out the water, breaching, tail and head-slapping, and generally having a very active time. They’re also seen interacting with other species including bottlenose dolphins.

We waved goodbye to our new friends as they dived deeper under the water’s surface to carry on with their travels. It was time for us to head back too! On the return journey to Falmouth, there was animated chatter about our incredible sightings. The crew had been eagerly anticipating the sighting of the Risso’s Dolphins for weeks, which made it particularly special. The very early sighting of the Sooty Shearwater and the playful pod of Common Dolphins also made for a successful trip.

A list of all the species that were seen that day:

Mallard: 5

Mute Swan: 12

Little Egret: 3

Grey Heron: 2

Swallow: 1

Buzzard: 2

Crow: 35

Raven: 6

Great Northern Diver: 10

Herring Gull: ~70

Greater Black-backed Gull: 15

Mediterranean Gull: 2

Shag: 50

Cormorant: 18

Gannet: ~120

Razorbill: ~75

Guillemot: ~180

Puffin: 1

Kittiwake: ~90

Manx Shearwater: 50

Sooty Shearwater: 1

Grey Seal: ~8

Common Dolphin: 8

Risso’s Dolphin: 10

We offer many ideal holiday cottages in Falmouth that are just a short walk from the harbour and a few minute’s drive from the marina near Penryn. Some of our closest properties include The Boathouse, Gwel-an-Heylyn, Tehidy House, Trevarrick House, Cannonball, Harbour View, Tall Ships, Riviera and Fisherman’s Haven.