Survey recording started at 10:55 and shortly after we recorded a lovely adult Kittiwake, flying past the ship, resplendent in breeding plumage, and a young Herring Gull that was rather too speedy for either of the observers to confirm the age.
Other species seen on the outward journey were Great Black-backed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, and a personal favourite, Gannet. As we approached Calais, we recorded many more gulls and also spotted three Cormorants flying low over the water towards the harbour. The outbound data collection was stopped at 12:07 upon entry into Calais harbour.
During the return voyage to Dover, the bird species we encountered were similar to those recorded on the outward leg of the survey with the addition of Fulmar and Feral Pigeon. Many of the birds identified were adults in their breeding plumage but a number of younger Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull of various ages were also seen.
Herring Gull was the most numerous bird species seen overall with Kittiwake a close second.
Our thanks to Captains Poisson and Etienne, their officers and crew for their warm welcome and for enabling us to carry out our survey.
Carol Farmer-Wright and Vicki Payne, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)
Weather
Outbound – good visibility, sea state 2-3
Return – good visibility, sea state 4-3
Species recorded
Seabirds
- Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 1
- Common Gull Larus canus 1
- Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 4
- Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 1
- Gannet Morus bassanus 9
- Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 5
- Herring Gull Larus argentatus 37
- Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 35
- Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 4
- Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 2
- Gull sp. 11
- Larus sp. 6
- Tern sp. 2