We arrived at Portsmouth Harbour bright and early for our crossing to Jersey and somehow managed to be the first car to board the vessel. As we were staying on board for the return crossing, we were parked in a corner of the ship so that we were not in the way of other vehicles leaving at Guernsey or Jersey. Making our way to the Information Point we met up with the customer services team, had a brief catch-up and were handed the keys to our cabins.

Once we had left Portsmouth harbour we were taken to the bridge and, after going through a brief organisational session with Amelia as this was her first survey, we started our survey at 10:00.  Almost the first birds seen were five Manx Shearwater along with the more usual Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls before we lost sight of the Isle of Wight. Once out in the middle of the Channel there were fewer birds, but they picked up as we approached Alderney with a number of Herring Gulls, Gannets and a Little Gull that crossed only a few metres in front of the bridge windows. I learned later that one had been seen on this survey the previous month in a similar area.

Arriving at St Peter Port we suspended the survey, starting it again briefly as we departed for Jersey in the hope that we might see Dolphins on the leg to Jersey. The light eventually caused us to stop surveying at around 17:40.

During the evening, we enjoyed a delicious meal in the Courtyard Brasserie and an early night after a long day.

Throughout our journey we were made very welcome by Bev, Sean and the team in the Brasserie.  We were also warmly welcomed on the bridge by Captain Phil Cousins and his team who did everything they could to make sure we were comfortable and able to survey for as long as possible.

Chris Hilder and Amelia Perkins, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)

Weather

Outward journey – overcast, good visibility, south-easterly wind force 2-3