The prospects were good for a successful bird count, although the predicted moderate sea state would make observing cetaceans more difficult.

Having met up in a car park near the Port of Dover and driven into the port together, we collected our passes and reported to the DFDS departure gate. After a brief wait, while the Delft Seaways was unloading vehicles newly arrived from France, we were invited to drive aboard, first among cars as usual, and shown where to park, away from the other cars as we would not be disembarking with them when we reached Dunkirk. We then made our way up to the information desk, from where we were taken up to the bridge. As usual, the ship’s Captain, and all of the DFDS staff, crew and officers we met, from the departure gate to the bridge, made us feel very welcome.

Up on the bridge, we waited until the ship was unmoored and manoeuvred out of the harbour and then took up position on the starboard side and started our survey. As predicted, the sea was fairly ‘lumpy’, with enough waves to make cetacean sightings less likely than in calmer seas.

Gannet are seen year-round in the Dover Strait and are recorded on the majority of our surveys on the ferry routes linking Dover with Dunkirk and Calais. Sure enough, we quickly spotted our first one, and this species turned out to be the most numerous of the day, including a raft of 140 birds. Smaller numbers of Kittiwake, Herring Gull and Great Black-backed Gull were also seen, along with several Razorbill.

The Dover-Dunkirk ferry heads toward Calais at first, before adjusting course for Dunkirk, and from this point on, nearing the French coast, our species count was enhanced by several notable sightings. First, a brief glimpse of the very tops of some small grey fins among the large grey waves, but then seen again, several more glimpses as they passed us by – two Harbour Porpoise swimming together. Feeling lucky, we were then delighted by the sight of a Great Skua gliding majestically over the waves, shortly followed by a seal bobbing around off the starboard bow and a second Great Skua.

On the return leg of the survey, fewer Gannet and more Great Black-backed Gull were recorded, with the latter now the most numerous species. Two more seals were observed ‘spy-hopping’ fairly near the vessel around mid-Channel. As we neared Dover, the daylight began to fade and we concluded our survey.

Our thanks to DFDS, Captain Bartlomiej Borowski, his bridge officers and crew for making us welcome and facilitating our survey.

Pat Hatch and Tessa Milton, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)

Weather

Outbound: dry and sunny, wind southerly, sea state 3-5, good visibility

Return: dry and overcast, wind southerly, sea state 3-4, good visibility