This survey from Heysham to Dublin was on board CLdN Power, which we boarded at around 11.15 on Monday evening.  The weather was chilly but fine with a fresh north-easterly blowing, but there was a warm friendly welcome from the steward as usual and we were soon settled into our clean and comfortable cabins.

Up early with the alarm and, following a quick breakfast, we were on the bridge for just after 7am to begin the survey.  The conditions were bright with medium level cloud with good visibility, despite a two-metre swell!  The first sightings were dominated by Kittiwake and the occasional Gannet, Fulmar and auks.   With Spring approaching, there was a mixture of plumages present, from full winter plumage to resplendent breeding colours!

KIttiwake sightings were regular for most of the crossing, interspersed with the occasional Gannet, but with good numbers of Fulmar in a variety of colours from the dark, charcoal morph to almost completely white forms.   As we approached the Irish coast, gull number began to build, these including Black-headed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, and Common Gull. A lone Shag broke this routine of gull and auk on the harbour approaches along with a single Shearwater skimming briskly by towards the north.

Close to the Irish coast most birds seemed to be confined to the sea surface as the wind died down.  Generally, seabird activity for the entire crossing seemed quite subdued due to the North-east wind direction, although Fulmar were most active, finding some lift in the wave troughs to enable their widespread search for food!

As the Power passed the outer breakwater of Dublin Port a single Harbour Seal popped its head up, alongside the starboard channel marker.  It observed the ship as we came abreast of its position and then nosed over to continue its swim around the lagoon inside the breakwaters. The water visibility was crystal clear, and it could clearly be seen heading towards the (human!) divers working on piling the new berth adjacent to the Power’s berth.

The seal seemed to keep returning regularly to the location of the divers’ support barge over the next few hours whilst we were in harbour, getting remarkably close to such heavy industrial activity.  There was clear interaction between the divers and seal, especially as the divers entered and exited the water.  It was interesting and hopefully encouraging to see marine mammals taking the opportunity to benefit from man’s endeavours. The seal surfaced several times to eat fish and molluscs it had found within 20-40 yards of the divers’ barge.

Whilst in Dublin harbour we viewed species including Kittiwake, Guillemot, Razorbill, Herring Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Greater Black-backed Gull, and Lesser Black-backed Gull.  A good number of Brent Geese were preening and resting around the new pier construction to the east of the Power’s berth, while over on the exposed muds to the north of the berth, a good number of plover and waders were actively searching for food.  A spectacular flight of around 800 Brent Geese passed overhead together with some 500 gulls, and these headed for the coastal grasslands to the north of Dublin Bay, landing to the north of the golf course on North Bull Island Nature Reserve.

Following a tasty lunch we returned to the bridge for the return survey, but before the survey resumed and as the Power manoeuvered off the berth around 25 terns appeared and feasted upon the marine life disturbed by the propwash.  The weather had brightened even more with good visibility to the horizon, the cloud cover had decreased, and the failing wind had shifted to the northwest.  Some glare was coming from the southern sky, but this did not overly hinder our observations.

As we cleared the point of Baily Lighthouse a single Common Dolphin rapidly sped in towards the port bow of the ship.  It disappeared briefly from view but just as quickly reappearing ahead to starboard, where it rode the bow wave for a few seconds before vanishing behind into the ferry’s wash. Its agility, speed, and power were evident as it danced across the bow wave of a ferry doing over 20 knots!

Most of the sightings on the return trip were of auks, Kittiwake, and Fulmar, including several dark plumaged ones.  Mid-afternoon, another shearwater danced across the path of the Power, immediately followed by five more Common Dolphin, leaping and jigging towards the vessel from the starboard beam.  No sooner had these departed than another Common Dolphin appeared from slightly astern, cruising parallel to the Power for a short while.  A final group of five of dolphins appeared from the south, quickly closing in on the Power but just as quickly moving away north towards the others.  Several Razorbill, Kittiwake, and Guillemot could be seen feeding in that direction as well, so it would seem to indicate there was some feeding opportunity in the area.

For the next few hours of surveying, the sightings were exclusively of Guillemot, Razorbill, and Fulmar, until we entered Morecambe Bay proper when a small number of Herring Gull and Gannet were seen.

As usual, we were very well looked on board and made particularly welcome by Captain Lukasz Kurach, who showed a great knowledge and experience of marine wildlife and conservation, having recently returned from whale watching in Madagascar.  This made the survey even more rewarding as we exchanged tales and were helped by the crew as they helped to spot the marine wildlife.  MARINElife teams always enjoy sailing with CLdN, and the crew of the Power show real interest in our work.  From the delicious food the cook provided, to the crews’ vigilance in pointing out some marine mammals, we were very grateful.  All this really does make these surveys possible and a pleasure to do, a big thank you to CLDN for their continued support.

Jon Steele and Yvette Best, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)

 Weather:

Outbound: Sea state 2-3, Visibility 5, Clouds 5-6, Swell 2m Wind 15-22knots EN

Return: Sea state 2, Visibility 6, Clouds 1-3, Swell 1m Wind 15-30knots N-NSW