Martin Shaw, from Corfe Mullen, was near Durlston in Purbeck on Tuesday, May 5, hoping to take photo of guillemots, razorbills and other sea pods, when he spotted the dolphins.
He said: “I was looking relatively close to the coast for these birds, however, around 7.15pm something caught my eye a bit further out.
Martin spotted a pod of dolphins near Durlston (Image: Martin Shaw Photography)
“It was a dark shape emerging briefly from the water surface before heading back under again.
“I’ve seen seals in the area before, so initially I thought that is what it was but, before long several resurfaced with the unmistakable dorsal fin and the body shape of a dolphin.”
Martin estimated there were around 15 dolphins in the pod.
He said: “This was around five years ago when a single dolphin known locally as ‘Danny’ frequented the area,” he said.
Martin said he’d only ever seen one dolphin in UK waters before (Image: Martin Shaw Photography)
Danny the dolphin was a bottlenose dolphin regularly seen in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour, but sadly died in a boating accident in 2020.
Martin described the sighting as “very special” and said he tried to enjoy the experience as much as capturing it on camera.
He watched the dolphins leaping out of the water for around 10 minutes before they disappeared suddenly.
Martin said: “I’m very much an opportunistic photographer and just like being outdoors and if the wildlife is around I’ll try and get a shot as a bonus.
“I wasn’t aware of any recent sightings of dolphins in this area, though I have since found out that there is a single pod of these bottlenose dolphins that frequent the south coast.
“I feel very lucky to have seen them and will definitely be keeping a look out to sea, whenever I am in that area in case I am lucky enough to be there at the same time as them again.”
A similar sighting was reported last year when a couple spotted a pod of around 10 dolphins near The Needles, off the Isle of Wight.