Immingham-Esbjerg

Mike Bamford and Vincent Green Research Surveyors for MARINElife

Weather: Eastbound: SW 3-4; Westbound: N-NW 5-6

Cetaceans
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 6
Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 1
Common (Harbour) Seal Phoca vitulina 1

Seabirds
Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata 104
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer 5
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 345
Gannet Morus bassanus 40
Common Tern Sterna hirundo 6
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 6
Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 7
Commic Tern Sterna hirundo/paradisaea 16
Eider Somateria mollissima 5
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 6
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 2
Common Gull Larus canus 84+
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 504
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 26
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 21
Kittiwake Risa tridactyla 442
Guillimot Uria aalge 66
Razorbill Alca torda 19
Unidentified Auk Sp. 44
Unidentified Tern Sp. 13
Unidentiifed Diver Sp. 3
Unidentified Large Gull Sp. 519+
Unidentified Small Gull Sp.  150+
Unidentified Duck Sp. 43
Grey Goose Sp. 3

Finding the ship was straightforward enough as per instructions, and we escorted aboard and shown upstairs to the small passengers lounge and mess. Apart from the lorry drivers there was one other foot passenger, a very game 79 year old lady, going over to visit her family in Esbjerg.

We introduced ourselves to the bridge, where we met the very welcoming Swedish captain, and his crew. We left the Humber at sunset, therefore too late for any surveying on the way out, though in June and July there should be some daylight available.

The following day we were on the bridge at 06.15 ships time (CET) and around mid N Sea. Observations were slow to come initially, but we did have three sightings of Harbour Porpoise. Nearing the Danish coast there were large numbers of Red Throated Divers, and a few Great Northern Divers flying surprisingly, South East, as well as migrating Arctic and Common terns, Eider Ducks and Common Scoter.

We left the bridge as we entered the Esbjerg Fiord, and went ashore for a walk, heading North through the very quiet town (closed on Saturday afternoon). We found a wooded recreation area near a housing estate. Spring was not as advanced as in the UK, but there were early spring migrants singing and possibilities of further birding in the months to come.

Returning, the ship left early at 7.40pm, allowing 45 minutes observations as we left the harbour. There were impressive numbers of gulls, predominantly Herring Gulls, heading south to roost in the dusk.

On the bridge next morning, the wind had got up to a brisk northerly. We saw a Common Seal, and three more Harbour Porpoise mid Sea, and an Atlantic Grey seal as we neared the coast. There were also large numbers of Kittiwakes, and Fulmars, presumably heading for breeding areas, a couple of Arctic Skua, and Auks, largely in pairs, with a lone Scoter just outside the Humber mouth.

We left the bridge at the Spurn Buoy.

With thanks to DFDS and the very helpful crew of the interestingly named Fionia (an Island in the Danish Archipelago)

Mike Bamford and Vincent Green, Research Surveyors for MARINElife

Rob Petley-Jones and Jane Petley-Jones Research Surveyors for MARINElife

Weather: Eastbound: WNW 3-4; Westbound: WNW 2-0

Cetaceans
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 11
Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 5
Common (Harbour) Seal Phoca vitulina 1

Seabirds
Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata 9
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica 2
Great Northern Diver Gavia immer 2
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 63
Gannet Morus bassanus 269
Brent Goose Branta bernicla 14
Eider Somateria mollissima 31
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 12
Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 13
Common Gull Larus canus 166
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 36
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 16
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 30
Kittiwake Risa tridactyla 385
Guillimot Uria aalge 161
Razorbill Alca torda 2
Unidentified Auk Sp. 3
Unidentiifed Diver Sp. 7
Unidentified Gull Sp. 484+

Terrestrial Birds
Knot Calidris canutus 200+

After a brief unplanned tour around the coal heaps of Immingham Port, we arrived safely at our ship 'Jutlandia Seaways' and were carefully escorted aboard and then up many flights of stairs to the passenger deck. Here we were shown our very comfortable cabin, and joined the drivers in the lounge for a welcome supper.

This ferry route surveys the North Sea between Immingham and Esbjerg, Denmark, in two halves. The outward survey begins at daybreak half way across the North Sea, while the return survey begins at dawn from a similar position, ending back at Immingham.

The first morning dawned bright and fair, and as we took our station on the bridge we were greeted by the Captain and his very helpful officers, and given a brief tour of the ship's instruments.

The second morning saw us on the bridge at dawn, with calmer conditions making us optimistic that we might spot some dolphins this time. Bird numbers were much higher on this second day with large numbers of Kittiwakes. There were also some superb close encounters with Gannets, one practically knocking on the windows with its beak!

The wind continued to drop, and finally we were rewarded with two groups of Common Dolphins, and a number of Grey Seals as we approached Spurn Point.

Overall a very satisfactory two days of surveying, and we are very grateful to DFDS and the crew of Jutlandia Seaways for enabling this work to continue.. 

Rob Petley-Jones and Jane Petley-Jones, Research Surveyors for MARINElife

Rick Morris and Sharon Morris Research Surveyors for MARINElife

Weather: Eastbound: SW-SSW 2-3; Westbound: NNW 3-5

Cetaceans
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 9
Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 5
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 3
Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1
Unidentified Dolphin Sp. 1

Seabirds
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis
Gannet Morus bassanus 10
Common Gull Larus canus 40
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 38
Black-Headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 2
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1
Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 178
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 25
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 47
Guillemot Uria aalge 70
Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle 1
Unidentified Auk Species 16
Unidentified Large Gull Species 16
Unidentified Small Gull Species 100+
Unidentified Diver Species 1 
Eider Duck Somateria mollissima 5

Terrestrial Birds
Carrion Crow Corvus corone 6
Redshank Tringa totanus 2

We arrived at the terminal in Immingham on a very cold Friday evening for the first MARINElife survey to Esbjerg in Denmark and upon introducing ourselves to the very helpful DFDS staff and getting our tickets were escorted to the ship where we were welcomed onboard and shown our cabin. The smell of hot food led us to the dining area where we sat down for a good hot meal and a cup of tea. We then retired to our cabin for an early night after the long drive we had in getting there.

Our first morning at sea saw us up before dawn and after breakfast we made our way up to the bridge to introduce ourselves to the captain, where we presented him with a few MARINElife items as a way of thanks.

After familiarising ourselves with the ships instruments and setting up our equipment on the starboard side of the bridge, we were optimistic that we might have some good sightings as the wind and sea state were favourable, we didn't have to wait too long and at just after 08:00 we had a sighting of five Bottlenose Dolphins, an unidentified Dolphin and then five Common Dolphins and a Harbour Porpoise were sighted before a very welcomed sighting of a Minke Whale.

The rest of the eastbound trip was peppered with various seabird sightings but alas, no more cetaceans and upon nearing Esbjerg we had a first for us, a Black Guillemot sighting. Due to the cold and icy conditions in Esbjerg which included some sea ice, we decided to stay onboard and input the data we collected throughout the day.

The westbound leg saw slightly heavier seas but still produced two separate sightings of Harbour Porpoise and a small group of four Common Dolphins, but we had the periodic company of Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Gulls and Gannets to keep us busy.

We arrived back in Immingham and thanked the captain and crew for their co-operation before making our way home. We would like to say a big thank you to DFDS for their support with these surveys. 

Rick Morris and Sharon Morris, Research Surveyors for MARINElife