Plymouth-Roscoff

Steve Hughes and Abby Bruce, MARINElife Research Surveyors
Weather: SW 4-10; Poor visibility

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 1
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 2
European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 1
Gannet Morus bassanus 67
Great Skua Stercorarius skua 3
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 8
Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 2
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 3
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 1
European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 1
Unidentified Shearwater Sp 2
Unidentified Auk Sp 1
Unidentified Gull Sp. 60

We set sail on the Armorique from a blustery Plymouth at 8am and got straight up on the bridge to set up for the survey. 

I had been on this route once before and seen Common Dolphin so had high hopes for this trip.  The friendly crew onboard the Armorique enjoyed sharing their past marine sightings with us.  They gave us information about where they normally see dolphin, approximately 20miles off Plymouth and the Roscoff shores.   We also discussed basking sharks which are sometimes seen more coastally.  The French crew described them as whale-like sharks with big mouths.  In French they are called 'Reqin Pelerin' which translates to pilgrim shark named for the vast amount of travelling they undertake to find food.  Unfortunately viewing conditions proved difficult and no cetaceans or sharks were seen on either leg of this trip.

However the birds kept us entertained and we enjoyed watching vast numbers of Gannets dive bombing the water hunting fish with their dagger like beaks.  It was a good opportunity to learn how to age this species, from the pure white adults with distinct black wing tips to the dark speckled juveniles.  The occasional Shearwater and Fulmar graced us with their presence skimming over the waves with ease.  A couple of Great Skua's passed us too, highlighting the difference between these heavier more powerful birds compared to the slender nimble shearwaters.  A solitary Shag was also recorded as we entered Roscoff harbour.  We surveyed all the way back until the light faded at approximately 8pm and at this point we thanked the crew and left the bridge.

Perhaps not the most successful survey, in terms of cetacean seen, but a good learning curve for a trainee surveyor.

Steve Hughes and Abby Bruce, Research Surveyors for MARINElife