The return to earlier starts of the winter timetable for the Newhaven-Dieppe ferry meant we were able to settle into our cabin and grab a cup of tea before taking our position on the bridge to begin surveying. Despite some quite dire predictions of precipitation, we left in dry conditions with little wind and a sea state of 2-3, though the glare was problematic at times and we passed through bands of gloomy cloud cover giving different viewing difficulties.
Having seen very few auk on the last survey on this route, our first sighting was of a flock of Guillemot and Razorbill crossing our path and we would see a fair number on both legs. The usually consistent Gannet were present, with encouraging numbers of immature and juvenile individuals and we had higher than usual numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gull and Great Black-backed Gull.
A single Great Skua lifted the spirits after a fallow period, and more Gannet and gulls made appearances as a gloomy but dry Dieppe approached.
Despite the shorter turnaround we still had time for a stroll, pleased that the rain held off and resumed our survey shortly after leaving harbour.
A Common Gull, an adult and immature Kittiwake were first sightings of note before we spotted a raft of around sixty mixed gull and Gannet, and the first of many resting Guillemot. In fact, most sightings on the return were on the sea, with very few in flight which was the opposite of the outward leg.
As the day wore on and sunset approached we had some interesting but frustrating interactions. I caught sight of a large disturbance some distance out, and in my binoculars saw a glimpse of a rolling body. My impression was of it being much larger than a Bottlenose Dolphin but could not properly identify it. A little later we observed a number of distinct smaller splashes closer in which repeated for five or so minutes in what appeared to be feeding behaviour, but frustratingly we could not get any sight of the animals causing them, but we estimated at least six individuals by the pattern of splashing.
A few more resting Gannet and auk finished off the survey as the light faded and we packed up with an hour or so left of the crossing.
Our thanks to DFDS, the Captain and crew for as always providing a warm welcome and supplying a cabin and food to ensure an enjoyable survey.
Deborah & Alistair McKail Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)
Weather
Outbound: visibility good, varying cloud cover and glare, sea state 3, wind NW 2
Return: visibility good, varying cloud cover, sea state 2-3, wind SW 3
Species recorded
Marine animals
- Unidentified cetacean 1
- Possible tuna 6
Seabirds
- Razorbill Alca torda 3
- Herring Gull Larus argentatus 6
- Common Gull Larus canus 6
- Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 8
- Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 14
- Northern Gannet Morus bassanus 112
- Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 2
- Great Skua Stercorarius skua 1
- Guillemot Uria aalge 78
- Larus sp. 12