An Atlantic grey seal has been photographed feeding on a harbour porpoise for the first time in Manx waters.
The set of photos were taken at the Point of Ayre earlier this summer by Gary Weightman, of Vannin Photos, who posted them on Facebook.
Manx Whale and Dolphin Watch recognised the tail stock as that of a porpoise and contacted him for further information.
Gary told Siobhán Fletcher he was shocked to discover his photos were of such scientific significance.
"Hi, it's Siobhan Fletcher up amongst radio, and welcome along to the latest edition of our newscast. Now an Atlantic grey seal has been photographed feeding on a harbour porpoise for the first time in Mack's waters. The set of photos were taken at the point of air earlier this summer by Gary Weitman of Van and Photos who posted them on Facebook. Then, Mack's whale and dolphin watch recognised the tailstock and contacted him for further information. I caught up with Gary who said he was shocked to discover his photos were of such scientific significance. Can you tell me then, we've seen these sort of incredible pictures today that you shared online and you've posted that you know always share interesting pictures because you never know what will happen. So can you tell me what you photographed and when you found out that it was so special? Well it's a grey seal eating what apparently is a harbour porpoise which I photographed up at the point of air back at the end of August I think it was, and about a week or so later, Mack's whale and dolphin got in touch with me just to say that they wanted if they could look at the photos and if there was any more photos of the seal. So I sent those through and then they sort of said well it's very rare behaviour to see a grey seal around the album, apparently had not been seen around the island man before or not for a very long time eating a harbour porpoise. And so it sort of went from there, I've had a sea watch from across, been in touch. So yeah it seems to be quite interesting for people which I had no idea about. I mean it's not my nature photography isn't really my thing, it was just I was just trying out a new lens and I thought I'd pop up to the point of air just take some photos of birds and things just to see what the lens could do and it would happen to be like 30-40 seals lying on the beach and then seals being seals they're quite nosey and there's quite a few came round to see what I was doing and then this one just happened to have this porpoise in its mouth. I love it because yeah like you say there I mean people would know your pictures from like gigs on island or you know FC Aldman that sort of thing so yeah this is the idea that you've just you were just trying out a lens and you've managed to get these kind of significant scientific photos it's quite cool. Yeah it's a real just a fluke really I mean the second time I'd been up to the point of air you know with that lens just to see and it's a long it's like a 500 lens so I could I was you've got to stay about at least 50 meters away from the seals so you don't disturb them and so I was I was that sort of distance away taking photos and I said I just spotted these guys in the water watching me watching the other seals. So has this kind of inspired you to want to try a bit more nature photography or is it just like you say a nice fun fluke and just a cool thing? I've been up to the up to the air since with the same lens just to see you know just to see the seals really and yeah I probably will do sort of probably just have a go I mean there's a lot better sort of bird photographers and so on the meat way better than me on the island we're taking you know the pictures of Perigram Falklands around marine drive and so on but yeah it's something it's another string to the bell I guess it's something else to do apart from football and music yeah and so I guess my last question be when you got that phone call back from amongst whale and dolphin watch maybe so they obviously rang and asked if you had any more pictures and then presumably they got back in touch and said actually you've caught something really significant and was what was that moment like for you? Well I said it was really just an absolute fluke I was surprised it was so different because what I saw was a sea leading a fish I mean I obviously didn't recognise the fish but it was obviously something a little bit different because it was quite big and you know the flipper at the back was obviously a lot bigger than you'd expect to see so yeah it was just really interesting I say it's going to seem to have been a little bit mad and you know with various people getting in touch with me ever since. Well thank you so much for your time I appreciate it and yeah it's just really cool isn't it? The pictures are awesome as well and like you say when it's such a random fluke it's yeah a nice little extra bow for you to be like yeah I got this. I'm sure it will happen again I don't think I'll get that lucky again somehow but you never know. Thank you for making it to the end of the Manx Radio Newscast you are obviously someone with exquisite taste may I politely suggest you might want to subscribe to this and a wide range of Manx Radio podcasts at your favourite podcast provider so our best bits will magically appear on your smartphone thank you. [Music] You
