Morning kayakers treated to rare dolphin sighting in Sydney Harbour

Early-morning kayakers in Sydney Harbour were treated to a rare sighting of a pod of dolphins this morning. The dolphins were spotted about 10 strong, frolicking in the waters off Birchgrove, west of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Tim Griffiths, who runs Cockatoo Kayak Tours, was amazed by the unusual occurrence, stating that it is very unusual to see a pod of dolphins that far up the harbour.

Dr Vanessa Pirotta, a marine scientist from Macquarie University, explained that while dolphins are more commonly seen east of the bridge, their presence in this part of the harbour is a positive sign of the harbour's improving environmental health. She also noted that dolphins had previously been reported as far up the Parramatta River at Breakfast Point.

The citizen science project Wild Sydney Harbour, led by Dr Pirotta, encourages Sydneysiders to report sightings of marine animals using social media. With the help of Gamay Rangers, they have identified that the same dolphin had been spotted in Sydney's waters four years apart, leading Dr Pirotta to believe that the dolphins may be returning visitors, perhaps enjoying their time in this area.