This is being reported on the UK national and regional tv news, a pod of up to 20 dolphins today became stranded in the Percuil River at the mouth of the River Fal in west Cornwall UK, only a couple of miles away from here. There's been a huge rescue operation in effect all day. You can read more about it here: http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/nature/dolphins-stranded-in-cornish-river-843170.html
Over 20 died unfortunately. Military are denying any harmful sonar tests in the area and test firings, although many people heard test firings taking place during the course of the day. The Navy deny this.
These were ocean dolphins, who don't normally come in so close to shore. It's also thought that they might have been following a shoal of fish that were themselves feeding on an algae bloom during that week which saw, soaring tempertures in Cornwall. It could also be that the fish made for the Percuil River on the incoming tide, with the pod of dolphins coming after them. With Carrick Roads being the deepest natural harbour in the world, the dolphins may have quickly become confused due in part to the feeding frenzy on the fish, and the rapidly shallower waters in the Percuil. Some pictures of the area: This is upstream: The entrance to the river: Carrick Roads: The dolphins were stranded in the creek in the top left hand corner, it's one of the smallest inlets, rivers in Carrick Roads. This image is facing south.
Apologies about the large picture, certainly wasn't that big initially. Thankfully, there's been no more since, that was the worry locally, that there might be more in the following days.