EXCITED trippers have been treated to the rare sight of bottlenose dolphins frolicking off the North Yorkshire coast.

Holidaymakers on the beach at Whitby were able to watch the amiable creatures as they zoomed in and out of the waves.

And Sea Watch North East co-ordinators Robin Petch and Kris Simpson got an even better view.

They were on what they thought would be a 25-minute trip with Whitby Coastal Cruises to survey to survey harbour porpoises, when they came across around a dozen bottlenose dolphins.

Kris said: "We expect to see harbour porpoises on most survey trips, and occasionally white-beaked dolphins, but the bottlenose dolphins, are an unusual, even rare, sight in this area.

"It was a large group with perhaps nine individuals, including calves all close together and another three further out. They were leaping and socialising and it was a wonderful sight."

He added: "We don’t know where they had come from but there were reports that they had earlier been seen even further south at Bempton.

"It is quite likely that they were some of the bottlenose dolphins who live in the Moray Firth, and had simply travelled further down the coast following food."

Individual bottlenose dolphins identified from the Moray Firth occasionally range south to the Northumberland coast but sightings off the Yorkshire coast are rare.

*Robin and Kris will be leading surveys during the National Whale and Dolphin Watch, which is being organised by Sea Watch, from July 18 to 26. Contact robin@dolphinspotter.co.uk or telephone 07768 592306 for details.

To find out more about National Whale and Dolphin Watch and how to take part or contribute visit www.seawatchfoundation.org.uk