Following a smooth journey to Newcastle and transfer onto the Princess Seaways, I enjoyed wonderful conditions as we sailed out of the Tyne, and a few Common Tern and Eider were seen before we were reached open sea.

In superb light and light winds a few Kittiwake and auks were added, before I picked up on a group of 500 somewhat distant gulls that I couldn’t pin down, but were probably Herring Gull.  We were still fairly close to shore when a Minke Whale surfaced fairly close in front of the boat, and this set the seal on a lovely evening of surveying.  Notable was the sighting of a Grey Seal, which proved to be the only other mammal during survey effort. However, one Gannet lingered above me allowing the picture below!

Gannet – Photo: Stephen Dunstan
Approaching the Dutch coast early the following morning the wind was stronger than the day before.  Sightings included Great-black Backed Gull and Gannet as well as large numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gull returning to their colonies by Ijmuiden.  Within the harbour walls at Ijmuiden after survey effort had finished there was another Grey Seal, seen bobbing in the water.

I had never been to Amsterdam so took the shuttle bus rather than go birding near the port, where I mixed the main tourist sites with a bit of walking off the beaten track.  In terms of wildlife there were Great Crested Grebe, Cormorant, and non-natives like Ring-necked Parakeet and Egyptian Geese.  I was particularly taken by this family of Coot, with the nest apparently in the canoe!

Gannet – Photo: Stephen Dunstan
The start of the return leg was blighted by difficult surveying conditions due to relatively strong winds, and I only recorded a few seabirds before the wind picked up even more and the rain closed in, after which there was little to add.

I was on deck at 4.40 on Wednesday morning for the last survey session, when visibility was better and the winds were lighter.  Among the highlights from this period were some Manx Shearwater as well as Kittiwake and Fulmar.

My thanks to all DFDS staff on the Princess Seaways and ashore at Newcastle and Ijmuiden. Everyone was very welcoming contributing to a great three days of marine surveying on the North Sea.

Stephen Dunstan, Research Surveyor for MARINElife Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367

 Weather
Period 1: Fine evening, good visibility, Wind W F3
Period 2: Overcast, Wind SW F4
Period 3: Overcast, then squally showers, Wind SW F6
Period 4: Good visibility, Wind W F3