BRDP

Latest News and Sightings

All sightings are posted here except for those from the Pride of Bilbao, North East and the English Channel

31/07/10 - Unprecedented numbers of Balearic Shearwaters in the English Channel

In recent days extraordinary numbers of Balearic Shearwater have been seen in the English Channel, with a gathering of approximately 5,000 birds on the French side inshore and west of St Malo.

Marinelife has been carrying out offshore surveys for Balearics and other seabirds and cetaceans in the western Channel since 1995 and intensively since 2006. In 2009, 236 surveys were completed on a range of vessels including ferries, charter, dive, angling and fishing boats adding up to nearly 60,000km of survey effort. Although it was considered a below-average year by local skippers for marine wildlife due to bad weather, sightings included 77,510 birds of 86 species plus 550 cetacean sightings of 10 species.

We will be sampling core French areas for Balearics this summer, and have a full programme of surveys on a range of vessel types all across the Channel.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer surveyor on one of these trips, please get in touch.

Marinelife sightings can be viewed here
For submitting land-based and other casual observation’s please contact Russell Wynn at www.seawatch-sw.org
For seabird and cetacean watching trips in Lyme Bay with the Marinelife team contact Gwen Owen at Naturetrek

Minerva

29/07/2010 – News: An Educational Research Trip to Iceland

Marinelife is very pleased to announce a continuation of our exciting collaboration with Swan Hellenic which will see us on board the Minerva on her scheduled round trip from Dover, UK to Iceland via the Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, clockwise round Iceland and Faroe Islands, which left on Wednesday 28th July 2010. Emma Webb and Mike Bailey from Marinelife will be carrying out an extensive passenger education programme as well as monitoring marine wildlife seen during the entire trip.

We hope to be able to keep you updated with our progress and sightings on a daily basis from the ship. Please do keep visiting our blog to read the latest updates and to see the latest photographs. We do hope you enjoy reading about this exciting research trip.

Marinelife Blog >>

29/07/2010 – Marinelife Survey Report: Felixstowe-Vlaardingen 26 - 27 July 2010 - Mike Bamford, Graham Oliver

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 3

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 4, Gannet Morus bassanus 28, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 232, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 12, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 2, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 50, Common Gull Larus canus 2, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 424, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 445, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 13, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 1, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 1, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 53, Large Gull Sp. 1,900

Mute Swan Cygnus olor 654, Gadwall Anas strepera 6, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 10, Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegypticus 5

22/07/2010 – News: Balearic Shearwaters are back in the Channel in Force

Slightly later than last year, Balearic Shearwaters now in thousands in the French side of the Channel.

On 18th July over 1,120 Balearic Shearwaters passed Lannion off Locquirec on northern Brittany. They were all heading east (towards St Malo and the Bay of St Brieuc) in groups of 6 and 8 during a period of only 45 minutes. Approximately 1,000 Balearic Shearwater summered in this area in both 2008 and 2009. This key area will be included in our CHARM III Systematic Surveys of the Channel soon.

more sightings from the English Channel >>

20/07/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Poole-Santander Cotentin 17 - 19 July 2010 - Mike Bamford, Diederik D'Hert

Sperm Whale

Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 1, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Large Rorqual sp. 1, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 8, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2 (probable), Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 6, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 206, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 20, Dolphin Sp. 5, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 40

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 1, Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 1, Blue Shark Prionace glauca 1, Common Seal Phoca vitulina 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 38, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 2, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 12, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 1, European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 24, Gannet Morus bassanus 656, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 3, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 2, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 22, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 3, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 48, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 67, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 7, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini 1, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 2, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 5, Guillemot Uria aalge 1, Large Gull Sp. 805

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 2, Brent Goose Branta bernicla 1, Dunlin Calidris alpina 1, Duck Sp. 4, Feral Pigeon Columba livia 7, Common Swift Apus apus 1

06/07/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Plymouth-Roscoff ferry Amorique 4 July 2010 - Darren Fanner, Kevin Flanagan

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 1, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 27, Gannet Morus bassanus 232, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 12, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 15, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 3, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 2, Tern Sp. 2, Auk Sp. 1, Gull Sp. 32

01/07/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Felixstowe-Vlaardingen Tor Britannia 28 June 2010 - Nigel Jarman, Rob Smith

Great Skua

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 7, Gannet Morus bassanus 5, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 19, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 1, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 13, Common Gull Larus canus 6, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 78, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 1,719, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 6, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 1, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 64, Guillemot Uria aalge 1, Gull Sp. 1,000+

Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 3, Mute Swan Cygnus olor 898, Greylag Goose Anser anser 1, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 19, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 11, Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 4, Feral Pigeon Columba livia 3, Common Swift Apus apus 1

01/07/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Fleetwood-Larne Stena Leader 26 June 2010 - Rob Petley-Jones, John Perry**

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 7, Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 2

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 23, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 145, European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 115, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 17, European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 1, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 3, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 12, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 19, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 4, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 12, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 6, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 20, Puffin Fratercula arctica 3, Guillemot Uria aalge 116, Razorbill Alca torda 27, Eider Somateria mollissima 8, Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle 6, Tern Sp. 4, Auk Sp. 7, Gull Sp. 544, Skua Sp. (probably Long-tailed Skua) 1

Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator 1, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 17, Feral Pigeon Columba livia 15, Common Swift Apus apus 5, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 1, Duck Sp. 2, Wader Sp. 1

23/06/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Poole-Santander Cotentin 19 - 21 June 2010 - Nigel Jarman, Stephen Dunstan

Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 4, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 23, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 4

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 12, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 1, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 3, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 383, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 2, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 10, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 53, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 206, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 2, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 24, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 1, Puffin Fratercula arctica 1, Guillemot Uria aalge 13, Feral Pigeon Columba livia 2, Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 2, Common Swift Apus apus 3

16/06/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Rosyth-Zeebrugge Scottish Viking 10 - 12 June 2010 - Chris Cutts

Gannet

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 25, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 2, Gannet Morus bassanus 3,669+, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 8, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 3, Parasitic (Arctic) Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 130+, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 71, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 20, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 55, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 15, 'Commic' Tern Sterna hirundo/paradisaea 7, Puffin Fratercula arctica 45, Guillemot Uria aalge 263+, Razorbill Alca torda 19, Gull Sp. 188+, Skua Sp. 1

*01/07**/10 -* Marinelife Survey Report: Felixstowe-Vlaardingen Tor Britannia 7 June 2010 - Bob Graves, David Hawkins

Gannet Morus bassanus 13, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 36, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 6, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 25, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 99, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 561, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 7, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 3, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 19

Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 3, Mute Swan Cygnus olor 578, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 24, Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 1, Common Swift Apus apus 4, Sand Martin Riparia riparia 6, Carrion Crow Corvus corone 3

12/06/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Plymouth-Roscoff ferry Amorique 6 June 2010 - Heather Fowle, David Foot

Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 16, Dolphin Sp. 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 14, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 46, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 2, European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 427, European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 2, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 69, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 18, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 24, Razorbill Alca torda 1, Tern Sp. 1, Feral Pigeon Columba livia 2

31/05/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Fleetwood-Larne Stena Leader 29 May 2010 - Jane Petley-Jones, Stephen Dunstan

Dolphin Sp. 1, Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 1, Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 7, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 50, Gannet Morus bassanus 29, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 12, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 633, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 84, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 1, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 35, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 7, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 15, 'Commic' Tern Sterna hirundo/paradisaea 2, Puffin Fratercula arctica 2, Guillemot Uria aalge 269, Razorbill Alca torda 67, Eider Somateria mollissima 17, BlacK Guillemot Cepphus grylle 1

Great Northern Diver Gavia immer 2, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1, Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 4, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 521, Feral Pigeon Columba livia 2, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 1

Manx Shearwater

25/05/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Poole-Santander Cotentin 15 - 17 May 2010 - Peter Howlett, Vincent Green

Weather: Southbound NW 4, Northbound NW-W 4
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 3, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Large Rorqual sp. 2, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 592, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 12, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 30 (Probable), Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 9, Dolphin Sp. 16, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 2

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 28, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 24, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 248, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 3, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 101, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 19, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 50, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 3, Guillemot Uria aalge 59, Razorbill Alca torda 1, Auk Sp. 15, Large Gull Sp. 54

Sanderling Calidris alba 1, Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 2, Common Swift Apus apus 2, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 158, House Martin Delichon urbica 28, Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 1

24/05/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Rosyth-Zeebrugge Scottish Viking 13 - 15 May 2010 - Allan Carpenter, Chris Cutts

Dolphin Sp. 1, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 3

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 18, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 8, Gannet Morus bassanus 23312, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 8, Parasitic (Arctic) Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 1, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 166, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 67, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 6, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 89, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 13, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 7, 'Commic' Tern Sterna hirundo/paradisaea 94, Puffin Fratercula arctica 66, Guillemot Uria aalge 332, Razorbill Alca torda 32, Eider Somateria mollissima 2, Gull Sp. 1446, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 30, Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 8

08/05/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Plymouth-Roscoff ferry Amorique 1 - 2 May 2010 - Michael Bamford, Vincent Green

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 22, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 7, Gannet Morus bassanus 193, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 7, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 9, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 9, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 4, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 10, 'Commic' Tern Sterna hirundo/paradisaea 6, Guillemot Uria aalge 10, Tern Sp. 4

03/05/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Plymouth-Roscoff ferry Amorique 4 April 2010 - John Down, Sharon Morris

Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 3

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 92, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 49, Gannet Morus bassanus 141, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 9, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 2, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 5, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 12, Guillemot Uria aalge 6, Auk Sp. 10, Merlin Falco columbarius 1

01/05/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Felixstowe-Vlaardingen Tor Britannia 26- 27 April 2010 - Martin Gillingham, Graham Oliver

Harbour Porpoise

Weather: 0-1
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 31

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 2, Gannet Morus bassanus 22, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 131, European Sha0g Phalacrocorax aristotelis 2, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 17, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 3, Parasitic (Arctic) Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 165, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 77, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 70, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 107, 'Commic' Tern Sterna hirundo/paradisaea 79, Guillemot Uria aalge 30, Razorbill Alca torda 1, Auk Sp. 1, Mixed breeding colony of Larus Gulls 3040

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata 3, Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 2, Mute Swan Cygnus olor 137, Greylag Goose Anser anser 3, Brent Goose Branta bernicla 5, Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus 3, Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 2, Gadwall Anas strepera 3, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 36, Common Coot Fulica atra 7, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 3, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 8, Jackdaw Corvus monedula 2, Carrion Crow Corvus corone 2, Warbler Sp. 1

29/04/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Fleetwood-Larne Stena Leader 24 – 25 April 2010 - Peter Ullrich, Dave McGrath

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 2, Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 2, Seal Sp. 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 14, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 25, Gannet Morus bassanus 58, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 14, Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 8, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 1, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 3, Common Gull Larus canus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 68, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 32, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 6, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 28, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 13, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 4, “Commic” Tern Sterna hirundo/paradisaea 3, Tern Sp 45, Black Guillemot Cepphus grille 1, Guillemot Uria aalge 118, Razorbill Alca torda 13, Auk Sp. 81, Small Gull Sp. 2, Gull Sp. 1, Eider Somateria mollissima 27

Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 6, Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna c141, Stock Dove Columba oenas 1, Feral Pigeon Columba livia 2, Sand Martin Riparia riparia 1, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 10, House Martin Delichon urbica 2, Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 1, Pipit Sp. 3, Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba 3, Passerine Sp. 19, Goose Sp. c25, Rook Corvus frugilegus 3

Fleetwood and Mudflats (24/04/10): Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 8, Herring Gull Larus argentatus Not counted, numerous nesting in Fleetwood, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 18, Eider Somateria mollissima 12, Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 2, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus c160, Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 2, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 3, Pipit Sp. 1, Rook Corvus frugilegus 2, Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 2, Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 1, Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 3

21/04/10 - English Channel Sightings - Regular Updates

The English Channel pages have regular updates of sightings from along the south coast, including other sightings of the pod photographed below in Poole Bay.

21/04/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Poole-Santander Cotentin 17 - 19 April 2010 - Michael Bamford, Steve Hughes

Bottlenose Dolphin - Poole Bay

Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 7, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 95, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 22, Dolphin Sp. 3, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 2

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 10, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 194, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 9, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 1, Common Gull Larus canus 6, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 39, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 112, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 27, Little Gull Larus minutus 31, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 2, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 3, Guillemot Uria aalge 60, Razorbill Alca torda 2, Tern Sp. 1, Gull Sp. 1

Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 3, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 21, Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 17, Pipit Sp. 4, Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava 1, White / Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba 2, Robin Erithacus rubecula 1, Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus 3, Common Blackbird Turdus merula 2, Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 1, Redwing Turdus iliacus 1, Finch Sp. 5

21/04/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Rosyth-Zeebrugge Scottish Viking 8 - 10 April 2010 - Duncan Fyfe, Allan Carpenter

Dolphin Sp. 1, Cetacean Sp. 1, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 61, Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 8, Common Seal Phoca vitulina 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 27, Gannet Morus bassanus 20,920, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1, European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 3, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 2, Parasitic (Arctic) Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 2, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 2, Common Gull Larus canus 9, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 502, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 379, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 23, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 89, 'Commic' Tern Sterna hirundo/paradisaea 1, Puffin Fratercula arctica 263, Guillemot Uria aalge 1,274, Razorbill Alca torda 75, Eider Somateria mollissima 19, Auk Sp. 1,393, Gull Sp. 779

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata 16, Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica 3, Diver Sp. 21, Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus 8, Brent Goose Branta bernicla 2, Red Knot Calidris canutus 2, Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 7, Stonechat Saxicola torquata 1, Carrion Crow Corvus corone 1, White-tailed Eagle Haliaeetus albicilla 1, Passerine Sp. 37

01/04/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Felixstowe-Vlaardingen Voyager 29 - 30 March 2010 - Steve Hughes, Rayner Piper

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 4, Gannet Morus bassanus 11, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 23, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 9, Common Gull Larus canus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 173, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 259, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 21, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 1, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 1, Auk Sp. 4, Gull Sp. 694

Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata 2, Diver Sp. 34, Common Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 2, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 1, White / Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba 1, Carrion Crow Corvus corone 3

29/03/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Fleetwood-Larne Stena Leader 27 March 2010 - Rob Petley-Jones, Mike Robinson

Manx Shearwater

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 3, Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 36, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 3, Gannet Morus bassanus 132, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 3, European Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 2, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 11, Common Gull Larus canus 3, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 41, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 14, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 1, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 20, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 8, Puffin Fratercula arctica 2, Guillemot Uria aalge 103, Razorbill Alca torda 80, Eider Somateria mollissima 3, Black Guillemot Cepphus grylle 4, Auk Sp. 151, Gull Sp. 309, Duck Sp. 2, Pipit Sp. 1

Fleetwood and Mudflats: Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 4, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 2, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 12, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 4, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 2, Eider Somateria mollissima 25, Auk Sp. 30, Little Egret Egretta garzetta 1, Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 2, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 213, Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 1, Common Redshank Tringa totanus 18, Feral Pigeon Columba livia 3, Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 4

28/03/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Poole-Santander Cotentin 20 - 22 March 2010 - Andrew Boulden, Rick Morris

Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 5, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 15, Dolphin Sp. 30-40,

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 40, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 1, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 1, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 1, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 1, Shearwater Sp. 2, Gannet Morus bassanus 272, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 13, Common Gull Larus canus 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 17, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 33, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 9, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini 7, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2, Guillemot Uria aalge 16, Auk Sp. 4, Gull Sp. 49

House Sparrow Passer domesticus 2, Passerine Sp. 8, Goose Sp. 16

11/03/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Plymouth-Roscoff ferry Bretagne 5 March 2010 - Martin Gillingham, Rick Morris

Weather: NE-NW 1-3
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 13, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 24, Gannet Morus bassanus 128, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 5, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 80, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 22, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 23, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 35, Puffin Fratercula arctica 1, Guillemot Uria aalge 19, Razorbill Alca torda 7, Auk Sp. 8, Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata 1

04/03/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Fleetwood-Larne Stena Leader 27 - 28 February 2010 - Joe O'Hanlon, Peter Ullrich

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 7

Kittiwake

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 9, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 25, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 53, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 19, Common Gull Larus canus 108, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 42, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 10, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 3, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 25, Guillemot Uria aalge 50, Razorbill Alca torda 70, Eider Somateria mollissima 10, Auk Sp. 47, Gull Sp. 37, Diver sp. 2, Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator 10

Fleetwood and Mudflats: Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 8, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 53, Common Gull Larus canus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 97, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 5, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 2, Eider Somateria mollissima 5, Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus 3,800+, Greater Canada Goose Branta canadensis 46, Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 106, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 14, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus c1620, European Golden Plover Pluvialis apricaria 670+, Sanderling Calidris alba 85, Dunlin Calidris alpina 18, Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 62+, Common Redshank Tringa totanus 26, Feral Pigeon Columba livia 2, Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto 1, White / Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba 1, Rook Corvus frugilegus 5, Carrion Crow Corvus corone 1, Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 21, Magpie Pica pica 4, Dunnock Prunella modularis 1

28/02/10 - Announcement: Whale Watching Pages updated.

The Whale Watching pages have been updated with details on trips to the Azores, La Gomera, Madeira, Maldives and Sri Lanka this year and next. As well as trips to the Bay of Biscay including Whale & Dolphin Watching Theme Cruises and BDRP Cetacean & Seabird Identification Workshops as well as booking any minicruise with P&O from the UK to Europe. By booking trips through the links and contacts on our website you are supporting our important work.

Whale Watching >>

28/02/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Felixstowe-Vlaardingen Voyager 23 February 2010 - Andrew Palmer, Thomas Brown

Harbour Porpoise

Weather: NE-E 4-6
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 11, Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 4, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 38, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 32, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 11, Common Gull Larus canus 58, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 22, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 54, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 17, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 121, Puffin Fratercula arctica 1, Guillemot Uria aalge 17, Razorbill Alca torda 4, Auk Sp. 24, Gull Sp. ~200, Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata 5, Diver sp. 7

Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 101, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 36, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 168, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 5, Mute Swan Cygnus olor 7, Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope 182, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 25, Common Coot Fulica atra 4, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 10, Sanderling Calidris alba 12, Eurasian Curlew Numenius arquata 1, Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 6, Carrion Crow Corvus corone 1, Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris 3

23/02/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Poole-Santander Cotentin 20-22 February 2010 - Darren Fanner, Steve Hughes

Weather: Southbound SW-S 1-8, Northbound N 3-7
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 59, Gannet Morus bassanus 231, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 14, Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 17, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 13, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 2, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 29, Guillemot Uria aalge 37, Auk Sp. 45, Large Gull Sp. 2, Gull Sp. 133

23/02/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Plymouth-Roscoff ferry Bretagne 19 February 2010 - Mike Bamford, Abigail Bruce

Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 3

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 10, Gannet Morus bassanus 123, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 1, Common Gull Larus canus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 57, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 21, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 3, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 35, Guillemot Uria aalge 42, Razorbill Alca torda 10, Auk Sp. 50

03/05/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Felixstowe-Vlaardingen 2 February 2010 - Emma Webb, Richard Price

Gannet Morus bassanus 21, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 3, Common Gull Larus canus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 11, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 2, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 9, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 37, Guillemot Uria aalge 39, Razorbill Alca torda 6, Auk Sp. 20, Gull Sp. 10, Diver Sp. 10

02/02/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Fleetwood-Larne Stena Leader 30 - 31 January 2010 - Jane Petley-Jones, Rob Petley-Jones

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 8, Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 6, Gannet Morus bassanus 2, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 6, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 14, Common Gull Larus canus 6, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 11, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 3, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 2, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 53, Puffin Fratercula arctica 11, Guillemot Uria aalge 56, Razorbill Alca torda 66, Eider Somateria mollissima 76, Auk Sp. 244, Gull Sp. 7

Fleetwood Mudflats: Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 15, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 57, Common Gull Larus canus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 39, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 2, Eider Somateria mollissima 86, Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 1, Pink-footed Goose Anser brachyrhynchus 230, Common Shelduck Tadorna tadorna 81, Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope 20, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 5, Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator 3, Eurasian Oystercatcher Haematopus ostralegus 230, Dunlin Calidris alpina 40, Common Redshank Tringa totanus 3

29/01/10 - Press Release: Exciting New Dolphin Project Off North East Coasts

Marinelife and Natural England launch a new project to monitor White-Beaked Dolphins and other marine wildlife in the waters off the Northumberland coast with Northern Experience Wildlife Tours

The White-Beaked Dolphin is a little studied species which occurs around the coast of the UK and is vulnerable to the effects of global warming. It lives in the cold waters of the northern Atlantic and its available habitat is thought to be shrinking. There is little detailed information on the status of the species around the UK and charity Marinelife has been studying these dolphins as well as other marine mammal species and seabirds off the south west coast of the UK for a number of years.

Full article >>

22/01/10 - Marinelife Survey Report: Poole-Santander Cotentin 16 - 18 January 2010 - Peter Howlett, David Chilcott

Weather: Southbound SW-W 6-7, large swell, especially in western Channel, SE 2 in Biscay. Northbound E 2 with large swell in Biscay, SSW 2 in Channel
Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 6, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 250, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 12, Dolphin Sp. 12, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 4, Petrel sp. 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 122, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 16, Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 5, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 18, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 8, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 45, Guillemot Uria aalge 68, Razorbill Alca torda 37, Auk Sp. 100

Most of the Common Dolphin were seen in the Channel south of Start Point, including one spread out group of 130 animals.

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