An unusually smooth boarding onto the DFDS Seven Sisters meant that the ship set sail twenty five minutes early at 05:05, almost an hour before sunrise, allowing us plenty of time for refreshments before starting our survey.

As is usual, we were given a very warm welcome aboard and settled in to begin and our first sightings were of a Great Black-backed Gull and a few Herring Gull. Visibility was good despite a distant mist, and we encountered a steady stream of Gannet in ones and twos and often observed diving. Most were adult but we did see a notable amount of first-year and other age classes.

Numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gull increased as well as a handful of auk species and Kittiwake, and we were buzzed by a group of unidentified small birds well into the Channel heading south. As we got closer to Dieppe a Sandwich Tern came into view and then, quite surprisingly a Peregrine Falcon flew in front of the bridge almost close enough to touch.

We spent a sunny couple of hours on Dieppe beach with our pastries before re-joining the ship for the early afternoon departure.

The wind had dropped for the return leg and the sea state lowered, and on our northerly return the visibility was even better than on the way out. A couple of Kittiwake started the count before the Gannet took over in earnest; this time many were resting on the sea hardly bothering to move.  Some Lesser and Great Black-backed Gulls punctuated the Gannet stream until we were about an hour from Newhaven.

We had not seen any marine mammals until a Grey Seal showed itself in the low swell, soon followed by four Harbour Porpoise and another Grey Seal. A little further on four Common Dolphin passed close by and six Bottlenose Dolphin swam across the bow, increasing the excitement on the bridge. Our first Fulmar also appeared at this time, and a cluster of Guillemot were another highlight.

For the first time this year we approached Newhaven in the light and were able to survey almost into the harbour for another enjoyable and eventful journey.

Our thanks to DFDS, the Captain, officers and crew of the Seven Sisters for their warm welcome and hospitality over the day.

Deborah & Alistair McKail, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)

Weather

Outbound: wind NW 3-4, sea state 3, partly cloudy, visibility good with occ. mist patches and occ. glare

Return: wind NE 2-3, sea state 2, mainly cloudy, visibility good