Graham Ekins: MARINElife Research Surveyor
Weather: Eastbound 2 E variable low clouds Westbound 1-2 E-NE variable low cloud with a few scattered mist patches with rain later
Cetaceans
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 10
Seabirds
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 37
Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 10
Gannet Morus bassanus 130
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 86
Great Skua Stercorarius skua 4
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 1
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 1
Common Gull Larus canus 1
Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 2
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 286
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 90
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 3
Kittiwake Risa tridactyla 128
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 46
Common Tern Sterna hirundo 44
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 2
Guillemot Uria aalge 1
Eider Somateria mollissima 4
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 21
Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 2
Terrestrial Birds
Crow Corvus corone 2
Jackdaw Corvus monedula 4
Migrant Birds (around ship)
Swift Apus apus 3
The DFDS staff were very efficient in processing my booking and
directing me to the very modern DFDS Delft Seaways. The boarding
staff checked my ticket and allowed me to be the first to drive on
board. The concierge then arranged for me to meet Captain Piero Marenco and his officers
before starting the survey as we left Dover harbour at 14.00.
Almost immediately I started to log seabirds with Manx Shearwaters,
Gannets and Fulmars passing north within sight of the chalk cliffs
of Dover. I was also pleased to see 2 sub-adult Mediterranean Gulls
just as we left the harbour entrance.
I continued to log good numbers of seabirds, these were mainly
Gannets and Kittiwakes but with the occasional Manx Shearwater and
Great Skua. Half way across the channel I started to see Harbour
Porpoises, the largest numbers being close to the Ridens de Calais
sandbanks off the French coast. The duty officers told me that this
area was a regular location for cetacean sightings by the crew,
with the largest numbers being seen in January and
February.
On entering the massive Dunkirk Harbour I was delighted to see many
Sandwich and Common Terns. The former were catching Sand Eels
apparently disturbed by dredging operations in the port. It was
also surprising to see 4 Eiders and 21 summer plumaged Great
Crested Grebes as it seemed very late for migration to still be in
progress as this grebe species only uses saltwater on migration or
during the winter.
After a very enjoyable meal I started to enter data on my laptop
and within the hour the ship had been re-loaded and we were
underway. As we left the harbour mouth I observed many more
Sandwich Terns heading south carrying Sand Eels as well as a pair
of Arctic Terns flying purposely northward. I then noticed a great
area of unsettled water with many seabirds flying over it and as I
checked through the throng with my telescope I saw 2 Harbour
Porpoises actively fishing in the churning water. Captain
Marenco informed me that this tidal race was due to the water
flowing rapidly over shallow sand banks that are common on this
part of the French coast.
Amongst the seabirds I noticed a pale phase Arctic Skua and 2 Great
Skua's harassing the Kittiwakes and Lesser Black-backed Gulls in
the group. This sighting brought the Harbour Porpoise total to 10,
far more than I had initially anticipated.
I continued to record seabirds during the rest of the crossing and
the density increased as we approached the Kent coast and upon
entering Dover harbour it started to rain but this did not stop me
admiring the many Kittiwake nests on the outer harbour wall.
As I left the bridge I thanked Captain Marenco and his officers for
their hospitality and friendliness during this inaugural survey. I
was also delighted that I was able to speak to several of the crew
about MARINElife surveys and what had been seen on this Dunkirk
sailing.
I would like to thank DFDS for providing the support for this new
survey.
Graham Ekins: MARINElife Research Surveyor.