This was my first survey for MARINElife and, despite a forecast that suggested I might be in for a rather grey affair, conditions turned out much better than expected. It was misty for much of the morning, but there were welcome breaks of sunshine and patches of blue sky appearing throughout the morning. The sea state looked calm, which felt like a good omen for a first outing.

Carol joined me in Dover, provided a very warm welcome and led the way to collect our passes as if she could have done it in her sleep. We joined the queue to board the Cote d’Opale. Once on board, we headed to the information desk and were escorted up to the bridge. The Captain and bridge officers were very friendly, and it wasn’t long before we were set up and ready to begin observations.

We left Dover on calm seas, with an intermittent mist across the horizon. As the light improved, more blue sky appeared, and visibility was generally better than forecast. Seabird activity was consistent throughout the crossing, it was particularly pleasing to see a large flock of Kittiwake. Gannet, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull and Guillemot were among the most frequently recorded, along with occasional Razorbill and a single Mediterranean Gull.

As we progressed across the Channel, we scanned carefully throughout the transect, but no cetaceans made an appearance. Carol did, however, manage one marine mammal sighting: a single Grey Seal. I only caught a glimpse of the back end as it dived in front of the ship – a fleeting but nonetheless exciting first seal for my MARINElife tally.

The return leg produced similar species in comparable numbers. Visibility remained variable, with occasional sunny intervals lifting the mood on the bridge. As Dover harbour came back into view, I reflected on what had been a thoroughly enjoyable first survey. My sincere thanks go to Carol for such a supportive introduction to MARINElife. Our thanks go to DFDS, the Captains of the Cote d’Opale, their officers and crew for making our survey possible. We also wish to thank the staff on shore for their assistance

Holly Kembrey and Carol Farmer-Wright, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)

Weather

Outbound: wind SW-WSW force 5-6, visibility moderate with glare

Return: wind SW force 7-8, visibility moderate, cloudy with mist