This first survey of 2025 was from Heysham to Warrenpoint, on board CLdN’s Performance.  I boarded early on Thursday morning, but due to the tides we did not set sail until around 09.30.  The weather was clear skies with good visibility, a sea state of 0-1, and with winds between 15-30 knots.

After a tasty breakfast, I started the survey on clearing the Heysham port breakwater I started to survey.   The first sightings were mostly of Kittiwake, Common Gull, and Herring Gull, with an occasional Great Black-backed Gull making an appearance.  The sightings were mainly in ones and twos, with the occasional larger raft of sitting birds as the ship passed by in the early calm conditions.  Most birds were showing their winter plumage features, but with a small proportion already transitioning into their breeding plumage.

The first auks were not observed for well over an hour until we well out abreast of the wind farms in Morecambe Bay.  After this, there was a balanced mix of Razorbill and Guillemot, although it is always a challenge to separate these in their winter plumage!  Quite a few were actively fishing whilst others seemed happy to enjoy just floating in the calm, sunny conditions.

During the day, the wind continued to gently strengthen as we crossed towards the west, and finally it reached a threshold that was usable by numbers of Fulmar, as numerous individuals and small groups appeared from 11.30 onwards.  They were a real mixed set, ranging from very light individuals to a single practically charcoal-black dark morph individual!  In the strong sunlight, they glinted magnificently as they plied the wave troughs seeking lift from the zephyrs. There definitely seemed to be a joyful, elevated energy in their flight, maybe as a result of the preceding storm front passing!  They flew with purpose and grace and were a sight to behold on such a sunny, winters day.

The crossing recorded no sightings of cetaceans, which was surprising due to the good visibility and the number of birds that were actively feeding.  That is nature at her unpredictable best.

As we approached the Irish coast a single Black-throated Diver which flew in towards the skerries at the head of Carlingford Lough, as the evening darkness began to build.  As we passed into the lough, there were good numbers of Cormorant and Shag roosting on the exposed skerries, probably more than 300 strong.

Arriving in Warrenpoint as darkness fell and the temperature dropped, the harbour area across the breakwater and sandbanks towards the Republic were absolutely rammed full of Mediterranean Gull and Black-headed Gull, and other gull species.  As the ship manoeuvred onto the dock, it disturbed these gaggles of gulls with its propeller wash, and I estimated there to be well more than 5000 birds!  When I spoke to a dockhand, he mentioned that the gulls always seem to know when it is going to be cold night, and many arrive in the harbour area seeking shelter.  An interesting piece of local observation.

After a comfortable night and a great breakfast at the Whistledown Hotel the return passage on Friday was made on the CLdN Performance, which departed Warrenpoint at 09.00.  The skies were obscured with almost total cloud cover and wind was falling below 20 knots, making for very good surveying conditions, with the chilled winter air giving crystal clear visibility.  The sea state rose briefly to 4 but subsided later in the day to 2, with a decreasing swell.

As we passed the skerries at the head of Carlingford Lough the hundreds of Cormorant and Shag were still there, hunkered down on the breakwaters and rocks.  As the Performance passed the Haulbowline Lighthouse a Moon Jellyfish was spotted in the tidal races that leave the lough, being tossed around rigorously in the turbulent waterflow.  Half an hour later a dolphin nosed over as we passed by but was gone in an instant!  This is how wild things are!

A single Red-throated Diver left the waters off the northern shores and sped its way towards the rich fishing grounds of the Republic to the south.  The diver sighting gave way to those of auks and gulls as we pulled away from shore, where large numbers of Kittiwake were actively feeding and skimming the water in the lively winds.  There was also a number of Herring Gull and Great-Black-backed Gull moving southwards.

Then in late morning the first Gannet appeared, resplendent in its bright plumage against the blue skies.  After this, seabird sightings really seemed to increase as the weather calmed, with large number of auk, Kittiwake, Fulmar, Great Black-backed Gull, and Herring Gull.  One group of three large, all-white, gulls passed by.  They were the same size as Herring Gull, and they cartwheeled and played follow-my-leader all the while.  I could make out a dark bill tip and pink legs, but I was unable to fully identify them any better than that, as they were too fast to be photographed.  Armed with the knowledge that the winds of the previous few days had been coming from down from the north, could they have been one of the Arctic gull species?  Glaucous Gull or Iceland Gull?  Unfortunately, this sighting was another one for the ‘do not know’ column!!

A short while after this frustrating sighting, a nice little feeding gathering of Kittiwake, Herring Gull, and Common Gull on the starboard beam was intersected by a single Bottlenose Dolphin, taking his share of the spoils.  The bait ball looked larger than just one dolphin’s work but only one clearly surfaced.

Sightings continued steadily for the next couple of hours, the only excitement being a single auk being rigorously harassed for its endeavors by a pair of Herring Gull, ruthless but efficient! Numerous Kittiwake continuously whirled hither and thither, but amongst them a single bird clearly stood out.  This was a good third smaller than a Kittiwake, almost completely white with a pinkish under tinge to the underbody and slight blackening to the rear of its head.  Again, I could not be sure, but a Little Gull was a possibility.  (Editor’s note: Never rule out the Arctic rarities in winter, especially after a period of northerly winds – pink tinge might even mean Ross’s Gull!)

Over the next few hours, as we entered the waters of Morecambe Bay a steady stream of Guillemot and Razorbill.  More gulls were recorded including Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, and a small number of Herring Gull.

The survey ended about 16.30 as we entered the Heysham channel under bright skies with good visibility, the Irish Sea having showed its kinder side on this winter sailing.  After my previous four surveys having been cancelled because of bad weather I was a very grateful Surveyor for being able to witness such a beautiful spectacle as the Lake District covered in snow, reflected in the waters of Morecambe Bay.  That takes some beating in my book!

I was very well looked after on both sailings and made welcome by the captains, stewards, and crew alike, and all were very accommodating and helpful as always, so a big thank you to CLDN for their continued support of MARINElife’s work.

Jon Steele, Research Surveyor for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)

Weather

Outbound: Seastate 0-3, Visibility 6, Clouds 1-5, Swell 0-2m with Wind 2-30knots W-N

Return: Seastate 1-4, Visibility 5-6, Clouds 1-7, Swell 0-2m with Wind 5-28knots S-SE