MARINElife researchers Mike Bailey and Philip Dutt have just returned from surveying in Biscay and the English Channel. Highlights seen included a very southerly Little Auk, two Balearic Shearwaters, a Cuvier's Beaked Whale, extremely close views of Long-finned Pilot Whales, some early migrant landbirds and an Egyptian Vulture circling over Santander harbour!
The Little Auk was a real surprise as most of the population are already heading back to their northerly breeding grounds on Svalbard and Greenland. It was recorded in the Western Approaches to the Channel between Ile d'Oessant and the Channel Islands in almost mirror calm conditions and was seen extremely well by both surveyors. In contrast, many passerines were observed migrating north well out at sea over Biscay, but were often too high or flew past too quickly to enable positive identifications. A female Redstart however, did linger long enough to flash her distinctive tail before continuing her flight towards the UK. The magnificent Egyptian Vulture though, was almost certainly not considering any long migrations away from the north Spanish coast, but was still a superb bird to see as it spiralled over Santander harbour, dwarfing the Yellow-legged Gulls which circled below it.
One of the Long-finned Pilot Whales recorded by the surveyors had a distinctive notch in her dorsal fin and it will be extremely interesting to see whether she is photographed again. Along with a large bull, she swam right underneath the Brittany Ferries freight ship 'Cotentin' and the surveyors were relieved to see both animals emerge on the other side without any difficulties.
For the full list of what was recorded on the March survey please go to our Poole-Santander sightings page here.
And if you like the idea of seeing whales, dolphins and interesting birdlife for yourself, and you want to venture out into the Bay of Biscay to see these fantastic animals with your own eyes, why not join our expert MARINElife guides on our two trips this summer. For more information and booking details go to our Wildlife Trips page here...