As usual, we kept out of the way until the vessel was unmoored and manoeuvred out of the harbour, then we took up position on the starboard side of the bridge and began our survey.
It wasn’t long before we spotted the first Sandwich Tern of the day, shortly followed by a lone Fulmar. Among the gulls, several immature Great Black-backed Gull were recorded, along with adults of this species and smaller numbers of Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull and Kittiwake.
Nearing the French coast, Sandwich Tern was encountered in increasing numbers, including flocks of up to a dozen birds.
Having unloaded its cargo and passengers in Dunkirk and re-loaded for the return sailing, the ship set off again for Dover.
Half an hour into the crossing, we spotted a group of gulls on the sea and the bobbing head of a seal among them. A second seal was sighted around mid-Channel. Species and numbers of birds were similar to those recorded on the outward journey, with Sandwich Tern again accounting for the majority of sightings.
Thanks to Captain Borowski, his officers and crew for their warm welcome and for allowing us to carry out our survey.
Pat Hatch and Rhys Ap Llwyd Jones, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)
Weather
Outbound – visibility moderate, wind NNE, sea state 2-3
Return – visibility moderate, wind northerly, sea state 3
Species recorded
Marine mammals
- Seal sp. 2
Seabirds
- Eider Somateria mollissima 1
- Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 2
- Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 21
- Herring Gull Larus argentatus 2
- Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 9
- Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 10
- Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis 129
- Larus sp. 29
- Gull sp. 2
- Tern sp. 49