\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n 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.\n<\/p>\n
\n Martin spotted a pod of dolphins near Durlston (Image: Martin Shaw Photography)\n<\/p>\n
\n “It was a dark shape emerging briefly from the water surface before heading back under again.\n<\/p>\n
\n “I\u2019ve 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.”\n<\/p>\n
\n Martin estimated there were around 15 dolphins in the pod.\n<\/p>\n
\n He said: “This was around five years ago when a single dolphin known locally as \u2018Danny\u2019 frequented the area,” he said.\n<\/p>\n
\n Martin said he’d only ever seen one dolphin in UK waters before (Image: Martin Shaw Photography)\n<\/p>\n
\n Danny the dolphin was a bottlenose dolphin regularly seen in Weymouth Bay and Portland Harbour, but sadly died in a boating accident in 2020.<\/a>\n<\/p>\n \n Martin described the sighting as “very special” and said he tried to enjoy the experience as much as capturing it on camera.\n<\/p>\n \n He watched the dolphins leaping out of the water for around 10 minutes before they disappeared suddenly.\n<\/p>\n \n 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.\n<\/p>\n \n “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.\n<\/p>\n \n “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.”\n<\/p>\n