MARINElife Survey Report: Felixstowe-Vlaardingen 'Flandria Seaways' 1 February 2012

Emma Webb and Russell Neave: MARINElife Research Surveyors.
Weather: visibility 5, wind ENE force 6, sea state 6
in river ; visibility 5, wind ENE force 4, sea state 2

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 21

Gannet Morus bassanus 2
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 27
Common Gull Larus canus 883
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 558
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 4
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 24
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 56
Guillemot Uria aalge 91
Razorbill Alca torda 86
Auk Sp. 168

Mute Swan Cygnus olor 6
Greater Canada Goose Branta canadensis 20
Brent Goose Branta bernicla 6
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus 3
Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope 412
Gadwall Anas strepera 1429
Eurasian Teal Anas crecca 47
Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 91
Tufted Duck Aythya fuligula 2
Common Coot Fulica atra 20
Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 6
Dunlin Calidris alpina 15
Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 1
Common Redshank Tringa totanus 1
Diver Sp. 1
Goose Sp. 35

Despite a windy few days before the trip, our overnight crossing to Vlaardingen was comfortable and we were able to get some sleep before starting our formal observations at sunrise the following morning.  We were kept busy with plenty of sightings of Kittiwake, Guillemot and Razorbill on the way to the river as well as two quick sightings of Harbour Porpoise.

The trip up river was very smooth and bright with many large groups of Wigeon, Gadwall and gulls before we docked at the freight port. Departure was prompt, and again we were kept exceptionally busy with groups of Gadwall and Wigeon on the river.  Almost as soon as we left the river mouth into the open sea, we started recording Harbour Porpoise, all looking as if they were busy feeding in the turbulent water where the river meets sea.  However, all too soon we lost the daylight and after watching a beautiful sunset over the North Sea, it was time to finish the survey and thank the bridge crew for their fantastic hospitality.

Emma Webb and Russell Neave, Research Surveyors for MARINElife