There were a few firsts on this trip, one of them was probably a first for any MARINElife trip!  I had travelled up the day before as normal and was staying in a caravan close to the port.  Late in the evening there was a shudder that went through the caravan – it was a bit like it had been hit but there was no noise of it being hit.  I put it down to some freak wind effect even though there was not much wind at the time.  It was only when I heard the news the following morning that I realised what I had experienced – a small earthquake!!  I suspect that’s the first time an earthquake has been reported on a MARINElife trip!

When I boarded the Progress on Thursday morning there was a 50/50 chance that the return crossing the following morning would be cancelled due to inclement weather.  With the expectation of very stormy winds confirmed for Friday this did turn out to be the case, so this was another first for me – not being able to make the return trip on schedule.  Thanks to the efficient CLdN staff at Warrenpoint finding space for me on the Performance on the Friday night sailing, after a day relaxing in Warrenpoint I was able to make my return trip late on Friday night, but unfortunately with no chance of surveying in the dark.

There were very few birds seen on the crossing, not even filling half a data sheet.  A flock of nine Common Scoter were seen crossing the bow shortly after the survey started as the ship sailed down the Lune Deep.  The only other flock that was larger than two birds was a flock of Kittiwake that were spotted circling, over where in the water below two Harbour Porpoise were slowly making their way towards the east.

During the whole crossing only one bird was spotted on the water, and this was a Gannet that had dived in and then sat on the water afterwards, so recorded as a feeding bird.  This was another first – not to record any bird sitting on the water!  Was this due to them not being there, or me not seeing them?  We will never know!

In the last hour before the end of the survey there was a second cetacean sighting.  This time it was a large pod of about 100 Common Dolphin coming in towards the bow.  For me this was another first, as it was the largest pod of dolphin I had seen on this route.  The largest pod I had seen on previous surveys was five animals, so to see such a large pod made the trip worthwhile on its own!  A large pod had also been spotted in a similar location on the October survey, so presumable they are hanging around and may well be spotted again.

Due to adverse weather expected in the Irish Sea the morning crossing on Friday had been cancelled, so my return was on the evening sailing with no chance to do any more surveying.  As a result, there was another first for me, having a day in Warrenpoint.  It was nice in the morning walking along the shoreline, where the Dunlin and Turnstone were already hunkering down ready for the oncoming storm.  By lunchtime the wind was pretty strong, and it had stated to rain hard, so I followed the waders’ example and hunkered down.  However, for me this was in the Whistledown Hotel bar from where I watched the weather in comfort.  Tough, work but someone had to do it!

What did we learn on this trip:

• If you want the earth to move for you go on a MARINElife trip!
• Hunker down early for a storm – where better than the Whistledown Hotel bar!

I would like to thank the captains and crews of the CLdN Progress and Performance for looking after me so well, and the CLdN office at Warrenpoint for making sure I could get home!

Robin Langdon, Research Surveyor for MARINElife Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367

 Weather

Outward – Cloud cover: Overcast; Sea State: 4; Wind: W; Force: 4-5