River Tay Dolphin trips, Broughty Ferry

North Carr Light Vessel

Contact the Maritime Volunteer Service, MVS Tay,

Bob Richmond - 01382 542516 mobile - 07554 453535

Click for aerial views of the Tay

Click for River Tay Dolphins

MVS Tay gratefully acknowledges the support and assistance of - The Port of Dundee (Forth Ports), Mr. Clive McKeag, Awards for All Scotland, The D.C. Thomson Charitable Trust, H.M. Revenue and Customs The Bell's Nautical Trust, The Tay Charitable Trust, The St. Katharine's Fund, The Robertson Trust, The Alexander Moncur Trust, The Mathew Trust,

Bottlenose Dolphins in the River Tay.

The Dolphins seen in the River Tay over recent years are considered to be members of the Moray Firth Bottlenose Dolphin population. Whether these are a "breakaway" group intent on re-colonising the waters around the Tay Estuary or some of the Moray Firth pod on their summer holidays, remains to be seen. They can be seen within the Tay Estuary from around March to September so the possibility that these dolphins are becoming residents cannot be discounted.

MVS Tay boat trips can be booked by phoning 01382 542516

4 Bottlenose Dolphins in the River Tay seen from Badger

4 young Bottlenosed Dolphins in the River Tay as seen from Badger in early August 2005

One dolphin jumping repeatedly closer and closer to the boat

Dolphin pod at Broughty Ferry River Tay - Dolphins


A pod of dolphins keeping pace with Marigot. They will generally come right up to the boat and accompany it for up to half an hour if they're not actively feeding.

The dolphins in the Tay readily investigate ships and small craft, provided they are not alarmed by excessive speed or erratic manouevers. They can often be seen riding the bow waves of larger vessels and very frequently converge on Badger and Marigot to swim a few feet in front of her bow, being pushed along by the pressure wave This pair are on the bow of Marigot.


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Three dolphins jostling for prime position on Badger's bow.

The youngster will grow darker as it gets older. The youngest dolphins are cream coloured.

Baby dolphin

Scottish dolphins in the River Tay - Tay dolphins

Teenagers.

Dolphin from Badger - Badger dolphin trips

Young dolphin with its mother at Tentsmuir.

Dolphins at Broughty Ferry

The Scottish dolphins are the biggest bottle-nosed dolphins in the world as they are the most northerly and, it is assumed, have to bulk up a bit more than most to prosper in colder waters.

MVS Tay runs trips on Badger and Marigot throughout the summer from Broughty Ferry to enable members of the public (we hope) to see dolphins. The ferry riders are given assistance that can trump the services of staff in posh establishments such as brighton hotels . We follow cetacean watching guidelines and do not attempt close approaches to these creatures. This said, the dolphins themselves often show no signs of having read these guidelines, and that's how we do it - if they want to approach us closely they are free to do so on their own terms.


					To enquire about or to book a trip on Badger or Marigot phone 01382 542516 and talk to Bob Richmond.





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