BRDP

Research • Education • Conservation

Mission Statement.

The Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) is a non-profit voluntary conservation body established in 1995 that aims to further the conservation of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and other marine life through scientific investigation and educational activities.

On this site find out more about the many different species of whales, dolphins and seabirds that are seen from P&O Ferries' Pride of Bilbao, as well as more about the work of the BDRP research teams and Wildlife Liaison Officer.
Contacts and details of group merchandise are available and don't forget to check regularly for the latest sightings.

Supporters of BDRP can find further information about Splash newsletter and the standing order supporter's scheme here: Supporter's Toolkit

Marinelife/Biscay Dolphin Research Programme has now set up a Blog so we can share with you our sightings and trip reports in more detail. We do hope you enjoy reading the blog. Our researchers and wildlife officers will be posting entries from trips on all our different routes so please do check back regularly for updates.

Please click on the Blog icon to be forwarded to the Marinelife/BDRP blog.

P&O Trips

To book a trip on any of P&O Ferries' routes, please book through your trips through this link where possible.
The premier ferry company for travel through the English Channel and Bay of Biscay between England, France and Spain. Their continued support in our partnership facilitates our research and educational programmes aboard the Pride of Bilbao.
Any internet product that P&O Ferries sells through their website, which includes minicruises, when booked through this link will earn funding for our research.

Whale Watching

Latest News and Sightings

24/07/08 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 22 - 24 July 2008 - Emma Webb, BDRP Wildlife Officer / Marinelife Community & Operations Officer

Bottlenose Dolphin

Weather: Southbound ESE 3-4; Northbound Day 1 NE - E 5-3, Day 2 SE 4
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 5, Large Rorqual Whale spp 26, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Beaked Whale spp (breaching) 1 probable, Dolphin spp 20, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 194, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 150, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 115, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 8

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 10, Leatherback Turtle Dermochelys coriacea (possible) 1

High numbers of Swifts observed in Southern Biscay heading south.

more sightings >>

21/07/08 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 19 - 21 July 2008 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Weather: Southbound NW - NNW 3-2, Northbound NNE 4-5
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 12, Large Rorqual sp. 26, Beaked Whale Sp. 1, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 12, Killer Whale Orcinus orca 1, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 136, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 221, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 18, Dolphin Sp. 17, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 8

Courtesy of Nicholas De Fodelen birds include
Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus 1, Little Egret Egretta garzetta 1

more sightings >>

21/07/08 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 16 - 18 July 2008 - John Arnott, BDRP Wildlife Officer

Weather: Southbound NNW to NW 3-2; Northbound N 3-2
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 11, Large Rorqual Whale spp 8, Medium Whale spp 1, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2, Beaked Whale spp 2, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 210, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 192, Dolphin spp 20, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 2

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 2

more sightings >>

18/07/08 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry BDRP Whale & Dolphin Themed Cruise 13 - 15 July 2008 - Emma Webb, John Arnott, Laura Fletcher, Suzie Cartwright, Andrew Boulden, Peter Hutchinson, Russell Neave, Mike Bailey, Fraser Paterson

Pygmy Killer Whale

Weather: Southbound W 2/1; Northbound NE 2-0
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 19, Large Rorqual Whale spp 14, Medium Rorqual Whale spp 1, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1 (probable), Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Northern Bottlenose Whale Hyperoodon ampullatus 4, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 9, Beaked Whale spp 1, Mesoplodon spp 2, Long-Finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 49, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 146, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 2, Pygmy Killer Whale / Melon-Headed Whale Feresa attenuata / Peponocephala electra 15 *, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 1241, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 437, Dolphin spp 333, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 3, Cetacean spp 5, Large Dead Whale 1

* Please note: it is extremely difficult to differentiate between a Pygmy Killer Whale and Melon-Headed Whale at the distance they were observed. However, photographic ID is being carried out and an update will be posted if further identification is possible.

Swordfish spp. 1, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 11, Shark spp 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 13, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 31, Macaronesian Shearwater Puffinus baroli 1, Manx Shearwater Ouffinus puffinus 2, European Storm-Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 7, Gannet Morus bassanus 357, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 9, Arctic (Parasitic) Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 1, Black-Headed Gull Larus ridibundus 6, Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 1, Yellow-Legged Gull Larus michahellis 3, Lesser Black-Backed Gull Larus fuscus 59, Great Black-Backed Gull Larus marinus 3, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 10, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini 1, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2, 'Commic' Tern Sterna hiruno / Sterna paradisaea 2, Gull spp 38, Racing Pigeon 2, Petrel Spp 1

more sightings >>

12/07/08 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry BDRP Whale & Dolphin Themed Cruise 10 - 12 July 2008 - Emma Webb, John Arnott, Russell Neave, Laura Fletcher, Adrian Shephard, Peter Hutchinson, Andrew Boulden

Pilot Whale

Weather: Southbound WSW 6 to SW 5-4, Northbound NW 2-4
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 12, Large Rorqual sp. 16, Medium, Rorqual Sp. 1, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 1, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 29, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 113, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 114, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 11, Dolphin Sp. 87, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 1, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 2

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 6, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 77, Macaronesian Shearwater Puffinus baroli 3, Gannet Morus bassanus 57, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 3, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 6, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 4, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 1, Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 2, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 1, Small Wader sp. 10

more sightings >>
Trip report on Marinelife/BDRP Blog

09/07/08 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 7 - 9 July 2008 - Emma Webb, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Marinelife Community and Operations Officer

Weather: Southbound WNW 8, Northbound day 1 N - NNW 2-3 to W 2/3, day 2 SW 5
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 3, Large Rorqual sp.5, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2, Beaked Whale Sp. 1 (breaching), Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 5, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 129, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 31, Dolphin Sp. 17, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 3

more >>

Contact Information:

Telephone +44 (0)1202 827957
Email Clive Martin

Email Darren Fanner with questions or comments about this web site.