We parked in the staff car park at Poole harbour and watched a Swallow collecting feathers during nest building. After a quick check in we were called to board an hour before departure time which was 11:00.

On making ourselves known to the crew we were immediately escorted up to the bridge where we sorted our paperwork out and enjoyed a coffee before departure.  We had a pilot on board who disembarked just before Old Harry Rocks where we began our survey.  Our first sighting was five Manx Shearwater which flew across the bow and then bird sightings were steady as we crossed the Channel, mainly Gannet and auks.

There was a quick turn round in Jersey where five coach loads of holiday makers boarded after completing their holiday.

Departing on time we were soon in an area where dolphins had been seen the day before. Then as we had just spotted a fin offshore from the Corbiere Lighthouse a shout went out from the Officers, dolphins ahead! A total of seven Bottlenose Dolphin performed well, leaping high out of the water. They were then observed enjoying some antics in the bow wave.

It was busier for seabirds on the return leg with Fulmar and Kittiwake added to the bird list, but no further cetaceans were seen.

As the pilot boarded to guide us through Poole Harbour back to port, we thanked the crew for their kind hospitality and waited in the lounge ready to disembark.

Steve and Margaret Boswell, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)

Weather

Wind E-NE force 3-4, glare at first, clouding over later