We had a beautiful bright and crisp autumnal day for our crossing to Guernsey. Before the Condor Liberation had even left port, I got chatting to two ladies who had booked their trip via MARINElife and as we commenced our journey through Poole Harbour, we identified some Cormorants and a Common Seal. As we passed the Brownsea lagoon, we were also able to spot three Grey Heron, a canteen (group) of Spoonbills, Oystercatchers and Black-tailed godwits. Stoney Island had a group of 6 Cormorants drying their wings in the sun.
I chatted with various passengers about what they might see on the crossing, and it wasn't long before we spotted our first Gannets, in a small mixed group of adults and juveniles. Then a short while later, three Manx Shearwater and a sole Great Skua flew fast and low, very close to the ferry on their way southward. Quite a few passengers I had spoken to made it back up on deck as we passed Ortac Rock to witness the Gannet colony. Several people observed that there seemed to be fewer birds around the rock than earlier in the year.
We then enjoyed a calm sail into St Peter Port, where I disembarked and decided to head up the hill through Candie Gardens, which were teeming with Peacock butterflies and up to Victoria Tower, to check out the amazing views! Then I had my lunch overlooking Castle Cornet with a very cheeky Herring Gull waiting to see if I’d save him some!
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The return leg to Poole, started with an incredible double rainbow as we left port. In between stormy showers we saw more Gannets flying just above the viewing deck, which allowed passengers to get a close up without using binoculars. The stormy conditions then started to subside as we spotted the Dorset coastline, and we enjoyed a beautiful sunset over Studland bay and back into Poole Harbour.
Many thanks to Condor Ferries team for welcoming me onboard.
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If you like the sound of joining one of our trips to Guernsey from Poole, then you can book online at https://www.marine-life.org.uk/WLO day trips.
MARINElife/Condor WLO Emma Grant
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Weather
Outward: sunny with light to moderate winds and sea state, max temperature 14 degrees
Return: stormy showers with NW wind and moderate sea state, max temperature 12 degrees
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Summary of Sightings
Marine Mammals:
Common Seal
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Seabirds:
Cormorant
Oystercatcher
Spoonbill
Black-tailed Godwit
Grey Heron
Gannet
Manx Shearwater
Great Skua
Herring Gull
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