black faced blenny

[ckingswell]

I recently spotted a little black faced blenny underneath swanage pier!

I was out on an Andark Sunday dive two weeks ago and we'd been chatting on the way about these blennys, which are only known to live near portland, chesil beach i think.

I understand that they are not native?

Anyway, had an excellent dive, the pier was nice and quiet, lovely sunny day and a good laugh with the others. My first dive was with a chap called Matt, who can testify to the sighting!!

The blenny was sat on a rock near the start of the pier, not bothered by my nosey face in the slightest.. Bright yellow body and jet black face, they should call them cylinder blennys.

Anyone else spotted one here?

[Noel Johnson]

Not in the UK but I have seen one in Malta

[tom]

I've seen one at Portland, in the river that flows into the harbour.

[Lou]

Several on the Countess of Erne. I think this is probably the most reliable spot to see them as I can usually find one there if I look.

[ScubaSue]

Originally Posted by Noel Johnson

Not in the UK but I have seen one in Malta

Funnily enough, me too (although to be picky it was here, but what's a couple of miles between friends )

[ckingswell]

ah so, there are more around than i thought! lovely little chaps arent they! should i report it to the sea search people? If its an unusual location for a sighting?

[laterontoday]

Theres a few on the Countess of Erne in Portland arbour, and a few around the dredger outside the arbour as well. Not seem them before nice bright coloured little critters.

[jimny14]

Yep seen a couple near Countess of Erne and one by a Mulberry in Portland harbour. Not ever seen em anywhere else though. Cool little things though. Nicely brightly coloured and vivid little dudes.

[mke]

Not that unusual under the pier. If you see a male (in breeding colour as you described) that is determined to stay in one place, look out for a female nearby. The females are much harder to see, as they are sandy coloured with brown markings and no black head. If your eyes are r e a l l y good, you might even see the eggs, like clear caviar ...
Mike

[big kev]

Loads, as mentioned above, on the Countess.

They're not native but the story I was told years ago was that they came out of a large vessel when she dumped/flushed her ballast tanks over here, having taken on the ballast in The Med. Sounds plausible.

Kev.