MARINElife Survey Report: Plymouth-Roscoff 'Armorique' 8 October 2011

Martin Gillingham, Rachael Stilgoe, MARINElife Research Surveyors
Weather: NNW-WNW 3-4

Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 15
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 4

Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus  1
Gannet Morus bassanus 150
European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 10
Great Skua Stercorarius skua 6
Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 1
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 1
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 7
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 7
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 1
Guillemot Uria aalge 5
Razorbill Alca torda 72
Unidentified Auk species 32
Commic Tern Sterna hirundo/paradisaea 1

Unidentified Pipit Sp 26

After a long drive through the Friday rush hour it was great to see the Port of Plymouth at around 20:30.  Following a smooth check in, we dropped our gear off in our cabins and went up on deck to watch the lights of Plymouth as we were departing. Soon after, we were asleep in our cabins as we were in for an early start in the morning.

The ship had a quick turnaround for this trip so there was no time to go into Roscoff, so we had an extra hour in bed.  We were welcomed onto the Bridge at 07:00 and prepared ourselves for a prompt 07:30 departure.

We recorded a good variety of birds on the crossing with Gannets and Razorbills being the most numerous.  Highlights were a Sooty Shearwater across the bow and several Strom Petrels.  These dainty little birds are always a delight to see.  We also managed to record an Arctic and 6 Great Skua.

The sea state of NW 3-4 was making cetacean spotting tricky but mid-channel we picked up some Gannets feeding in the distance.  This can be a good indicator that cetaceans are present and sure enough as we got closer we could pick out Common Dolphin feeding below them and leaping out of the water.  Very exciting, the spectacle passed down the starboard side.  The group contained several youngsters, apparent by their smaller size.

As we carried on north we continued to log a steady stream of seabirds and a southerly passage of migrating Pipits.  Then a few miles from the Plymouth breakwater, out of nowhere some backs broke the water close to the bow of the ship.  These turned out to be porpoise, which surfaced several times and then as quickly as they appeared they were gone.  A great way to finish the survey.

Once again our thanks go to the staff and crew of L'Armorique who made this a very enjoyable crossing.

Martin Gillingham and Rachael Stilgoe, Research Surveyors for MARINElife