Odds bods...

The Grocer · 16 August 2006, 22:51

...and petty fishes.

We snapped this halfway between Holy Isle and Ardrossan at lunchtime today.

Anyone going to confirm its ID, or comment on how it shouldn't have been there?

craig_c · 17 August 2006, 01:57

nice pic...will keep a look out when were in the area!

qcamel · 17 August 2006, 05:14

Looks like a sunfish to me. Pretty common in UK waters and very odd indeed.

Ollie

peter 24/7 · 17 August 2006, 08:08

Sunfish.

Simon B · 17 August 2006, 10:40

Lokks like it to me, Mola Mola aparently quite common in southern waters can grow quite big.

Andy Gee · 17 August 2006, 12:48

Deff a Sunfish, you could/should report it to Millport Marine Station(Mavis I think) as it's not very common this far up.
Cheers
Andy

Hey Ollie you got a boat yet?

qcamel · 17 August 2006, 13:52

Gave in on my search and went with what I know and ordered a new 8.5 Scorpion with a big 4 stroke on the back, build and delivery next month. How are you keeping?

Ollie

PS that boat we looked at in the marina is circa £110,000!!!

Tideway · 17 August 2006, 18:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Gee

Deff a Sunfish, you could/should report it to Millport Marine Station(Mavis I think) as it's not very common this far up.
Cheers
Andy

Hey Ollie you got a boat yet?

Andy is right, it is an Ocean Sunfish and as the name suggests they are not all that common inshore. From memory they tend to be out towards the continental shelf. You often see them if you are out a long way, last time I saw any was on the ferry crossing Biscay. You can see a fair bit, if you can access the monkey deck on the bridge. Loads of whales, dolphins, tuna and these fellas... If you fancy it this is the link:

http://www.companyofwhales.co.uk/htm...t/about_fr.htm

cheers,

t

The Grocer · 17 August 2006, 20:57

Thanks for all the responses - I was fairly sure as to what it was; I've given the details to the Arran natural history people and they got all excited. Seems it's quite a while since one was sighted in the Clyde Approaches. We've got quite a few jellyfish up here at the moment, so it probably drifted along after them.

Global warming may have its benefits after all...

...but I may eventually need an icebreaker RIB

Andy Gee · 18 August 2006, 10:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by qcamel

Gave in on my search and went with what I know and ordered a new 8.5 Scorpion with a big 4 stroke on the back, build and delivery next month. How are you keeping?

Ollie

PS that boat we looked at in the marina is circa £110,000!!!

Told you it wasnt easy to be without a boat

, £110k no way well over priced for what it was. Keeping well enough and out of trouble!!.
Look forward to seeing your new boat, let me know if your coming up and I'll take you to some hill billy pubs

.
Cheers
Andy

qcamel · 18 August 2006, 10:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy Gee

Told you it wasnt easy to be without a boat

, £110k no way well over priced for what it was. Keeping well enough and out of trouble!!.
Look forward to seeing your new boat, let me know if your coming up and I'll take you to some hill billy pubs

.
Cheers
Andy

I will definately come up with the new boat, could travel over to the green country if you fancy?

Not easy being without a boat, but then again its been its been cheaper withou one!!!

Ollie

jyasaki · 28 August 2006, 02:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tideway

Andy is right, it is an Ocean Sunfish and as the name suggests they are not all that common inshore. From memory they tend to be out towards the continental shelf.

Don't know about the Atlantic, but here on the Calif. coast, they come in pretty much every summer. I mean really in; they've been commonly seen by divers going in off the beach.

Here in Monterey, the sea lions, for some reason, like to tear off their fins (which prevents them from swimming), and play frisbee with the bodies for hours at a time. It's not uncommon to see molas lying on the bottom, being eaten alive by sea stars and hermit crabs.

jky