DOLPHIN seen in Cambridgeshire river 13 MILES from the sea

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Flipping heck! Bizarre moment DOLPHIN is spotted in Cambridgeshire river 13 MILES from the sea

  • Richard Priest, 32, and his wife Serena, 41, spotted dolphin in Cambridgeshire
  • They were strolling along River Nene in Wisbech when they saw the fin in water 
  • The Sea Watch Foundation confirmed the animal was a common dolphin 

By Georgia Simcox For Mailonline

Published: | Updated:

A couple taking a walk by their local river were shocked to see a dolphin surfacing in the water – 13 miles away from the sea. 

Richard Priest, 32, and his wife Serena, 41, were strolling along the edge of River Nene in their home town of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, when they spotted a fin in the water. 

In footage filmed by Mr Priest on August 23, a dolphin can be seen gliding along the surface of the river. 

Richard Priest, 32, and his wife Serena, 41, were strolling along the edge of River Nene in their home town of Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, when they spotted a fin in the water

Tesco manager Mr Priest said: ‘I didn’t believe it was a dolphin at first, it was such a shock. 

‘I was going for a walk with my wife and just by luck, I saw a big ripple in the river, then the dolphin fin popped out the water.

‘I thought it was strange and the dolphin must be lost as I have never known a dolphin to be in the river so I reported it to Sea Watch Foundation who were very surprised.’ 

The Sea Watch Foundation monitors cetaceans in British and Irish waters and after watching Mr Priest’s video, they confirmed it was indeed a common dolphin. 

The common dolphin species can measure up to 2.5 metres long and weigh up to 235kg and usually are found to be living in deep water. 

Mr Priest (right, who was walking with his wife Serena, left) said he couldn't believe it was a dolphin at first

Mr Priest (right, who was walking with his wife Serena, left) said he couldn’t believe it was a dolphin at first

What are Common Dolphins? 

Common dolphins usually live offshore, but they often come closer to feed. 

They are a very sociable breed and are therefore usually found in groups, leaping from the water. 

Common dolphins are mainly found off the South and West coasts and offshore

Common dolphins are mainly found off the South and West coasts and offshore 

Common dolphins mainly eat fish and work together to herd their prey.

They are found all around the UK but most commonly off the South and West coasts and offshore, and can be seen all year round.  

These dolphins are dark grey above and whiter below, with a distinctive hourglass pattern on their sides. 

Their dorsal fin is tall and triangular and curves slightly backwards. 

Common Dolphins can grow up to 2.7m and weigh up to 150kg. On average, they live up to 35 years. 

They are protected in the UK under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. 

Source: The Wildlife Trusts 

Up to 29 species of cetaceans, which include dolphins and whales, have been sighted in the UK and Ireland since 2000, according to the charity. 

Mr Priest has claimed that the dolphin seemed to be okay but the charity were concerned and reported the sighting to British Divers Marine Life Rescue. 

He added: ‘The charity were concerned but they did say that most of the time, the dolphins do find their own way home.’

Last month, a pod of at least three dolphins were spotted putting on an acrobatic display for tourists as they swam off Northumberland’s coast. 

In January this year, a sperm whale was spotted in the Thames Estuary and was seen in The Swale, a stretch of water between the Isle of Sheppey and the Kent mainland. 

A crew of fishermen were surprised last month when a humpback whale leapt out of the sea close to their boat in Lyme Bay, Devon.  

In August last year, a lone kayaker feared for his safety as he watched a humpback whale leap out of the water as he paddled just eight miles off the coast of Cornwall. 

In recent years, whales have died after being washed ashore on beaches in the UK, with three happening between October and November last year. 

Last year in October, a humpback whale – nicknamed Hessy – swam into the River Thames.

She travelling back and forth over a stretch of five miles after it was first sighted near Dartford Bridge in Kent. 

She died after colliding with a ship which left her with severe injuries to her jaw which meant she was unable to eat. 

A second whale was found dead just ten days later in the same stretch of water. 

The following month, a third whale – this time a Minke whale – was found washed up under London’s Battersea Bridge.  

 

The species of cetaceans which have been spotted in the UK and Ireland recently 

Common dolphin: They are found all around the UK but most commonly off the South and West coasts and offshore, and can be seen all year round. They can grow up to 2.7m and weigh up to 150kg. On average, they live up to 35 years. 

These dolphins are dark grey above and whiter below, with a distinctive hourglass pattern on their sides. Their dorsal fin is tall and triangular and curves slightly backwards.

Bottlenose dolphin: They are found all around the UK and are common in the Moray Firth, Cardigan Bay and off Cornwall. They can grow up to 4m and weigh up to 500kg. On average, they live 45-50 years. They are often spotted close to the shore and alone or in small groups. 

Harbour porpoise: This species is found all around the UK. They grow between 1.4m and 2m and weigh 55-65kg. On average, they live up to 20 years. They can easily be spotted close to the shore in shallow water. They will usually be alone or in small groups and are shy, so avoid boats and jet skis. 

Minke whale: Minke whales can be spotted in near-shore waters around the UK, although they are rare in the Southern North Sea and English Channel. They are quite a small species of whale, measuring around 7-9m and weighing 5-10 tonnes. On average, they live 40-50 years. 

They are generally found alone or in small groups feeding on schools of fish or krill. 

Killer whale: A group can be seen across the west coast of the UK and Ireland while a separate population are seasonal visitors to Northern Scotland, particularly the Shetland and Orkney Islands. They can grow up to 9.8m and weigh up to 10 tonnes. On average, they live up to 90 years. 

You can spot a killer whale by their black and white markings. However, with just eight resident in UK waters, seeing them is incredibly rare.  

Source: Sea Watch Foundation and The Wildlife Trusts