After a welcome injection of morning caffeine and calories, we were taken up to the bridge and introduced to Captain Johan Karlsson and his bridge crew. This was the start of a very enjoyable eight hours as we sailed down the Channel, past the Cherbourg Peninsula and then on to the Channel Islands. The weather, in contrast to recent days, was fabulous with bright sunshine and blue seas and skies. There was a moderate breeze but not enough to raise wave heights such that they interfered with the survey. The first part of the journey was characterised by occasional seabird sightings, primarily adult Gannets, but also a few Manx Shearwaters and gulls. It was fascinating to watch the crew pick their way through the traffic in the shipping lanes and listen to the RT conversations with other ships.

Turning to the south past the Cherbourg Peninsula, and heading into the waters round the Channel Islands, the intensity of seabird sightings increased with Gannets again predominating. We could see the Gannet colony on Ortac to the west of Alderney with clouds of birds flying around the rock. We had a frustratingly brief encounter with some dolphins heading north (two lots of two animals). Despite one pair being close to the boat, they were moving fast, and so were we, and they remained unidentified to species level.

Continuing to the south, we passed Guernsey, Herm and Sark on our right, and Jersey appeared to the south. Gulls were more evident, primarily Herring and Great Black-backed, but we had close views of a cracking adult Lesser Black-backed which passed close in front of the boat, showing its bright yellow legs. We made quick time for a much-appreciated early dinner in the crew mess before returning to the bridge as the Stena Vinga entered St Helier harbour. Turning a 130m long boat in a 160m wide entrance to the harbour is a delicate and impressive procedure and Captain Karlsson was kind enough to explain the technique.

The ship departed about 45 minutes before sunset and we were keen to maximise our survey time, staying on the bridge until it was too dark to continue. We continued to log seabirds as the sun set into a steel blue-grey sea. The most exciting sighting was that of a pod of nine Common Dolphins which passed immediately in front of and under the boat, in a location where the Captain and crew said they often saw them. This was a memorable end to an excellent day which deserved celebrating with a glass of wine as the ship continued north in the dark. We caught some zs in our cabin before rising early the next morning to watch the entry into Portsmouth Harbour.

We would like to express our sincere thanks to Captain Karlsson, his crew, and all the staff onboard the Stena Vinga for their friendliness and hospitality, and interest and professionalism throughout our time on board; we very much look forward to surveying on this route again.

Chris Hilder and Jol Mitchell, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)

Weather

Clear, sunny, moderate breeze reducing through the day. Good visibility, occasionally