The creature popped up at the weekend off the Welsh coast in AngleseyWoman surprised by beautiful dolphin

A woman taking a scenic walk along a Welsh beauty spot has shared the moment she spotted a dolphin in the water. The bottle-nosed mammal appeared at the weekend on the Menai Strait near Church Island.

Bottle-nosed dolphins are relatively common in the UK, and can be seen all year round, but sightings are more frequent during summer months. They can be identified by unique nicks on their dorsal fins and are mostly seen in Cardigan Bay, Moray Firth in Scotland and the Cornwall and Devon coast.

The latest sighting happened at the Menai Strait, which separates the island of Anglesey from Gwynedd. Stay in the know by making sure you’re receiving our daily newsletter.

A dolphin in the sea

The dolphin was spotted on the Menai Strait near Church Island(Image: North Wales Dolphin and Porpoise Sightings)

It’s not the first sighting of the creatures off the coast of north Wales this year.

In March, skipper Barry Williams, who was working aboard a fishing boat, captured on video bottlenose dolphins swimming alongside his boat for several minutes at Dulas Bay at Anglesey.

The Sea Watch Foundation say bottlenose dolphins are highly intelligent and social mammals.

They tend to travel in pods – often seen swimming in synchronised groups, sometimes leaping clear of the water.

The bottlenose dolphins that live around the British Isles are said to be the biggest in the world.

The moment was captured by a local skipper, Barry Williams

Dolphins seen by local skipper, Barry Williams, in March

They are present around much of the British coastline, including north Wales, although sightings can vary depending on the season and sea conditions.

The southern half of Cardigan Bay is an important summer feeding and breeding area for these animals.

Conservationists say they use these waters for nurturing and feeding their young, socialising and resting.

They can also be frequently seen tail slapping and breaching – leaping several metres out of the water.

In Wales, dolphins are most likely to be spotted from April to November, particularly around New Quay and Mwnt.

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