Following a hearty breakfast on board, we were invited up to the bridge to begin the survey. Captain Giles Wade introduced himself and the crew, who were all interested in our work and very helpful throughout.
Our survey began as we passed the Isle of Wight, with a good number of Gannet sightings and a few Kittiwakes. There was full cloud cover, but no rain, and the sea was calm with a gentle swell.
Just as one surveyor was returning from lunch, we spotted six Common Dolphins at 400m, leaping and swimming towards the ship. They passed close to the bow and gave good views for a few minutes, with a chance to photograph them at close range. Around this time, we also had a surprise visitor – a single Starling that overtook us on its way south!
As we passed Alderney a large Grey Seal was seen carrying a sizeable fish. A few birds were already in attendance, one of which was identified as an adult Little Gull, although this gave way to a Great Black-backed Gull that came in to hound the seal.
A few other gulls were seen, and both Razorbill and Guillemot in small groups. As we approached Guernsey, a raft of Black-headed Gulls took flight, and several Shag were fishing in the bay. By the time we entered St Peter Port it was starting to get dark, which meant the survey finished here rather than Jersey. Before we left the bridge there was time to admire the ship-handling skills on show from the crew on the bridge.
Thanks to the crew of Condor Islander for making us feel so welcome and for looking after us throughout our trip.
Judith Tatem and Nick Tomalin, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)
Species recorded
Marine mammals
- Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 6
Seabirds
- Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 11
- Gannet Morus bassanus 15
- Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 4
- Guillemot Uria aalge 30
- Herring Gull Larus argentatus 8
- Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 17
- Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus 1
- Razorbill Alca torda 12
- Shag Gulosus aristotelis 8
- Starling Sturnus vulgaris 1
- Gull sp. 1
- Auk sp. 19