We had a bright start with a moderate breeze as we left Poole for our crossing to Guernsey. I passed amongst those passengers on the viewing deck and was soon discussing the Poole Harbour Osprey re-introduction programme, Osprey migration (which is in full swing at the moment), and the re-introduction of White-tailed Eagles. Many of the people were following the Poole Harbour Ospreys on the webcam and were also familiar with the Arne reserve.
As we passed by Brownsea Island we had good views of Spoonbills and Cormorants although we needed binoculars to see the Avocets, Oystercatchers, Sandwich Terns, and Black-tailed Godwits that were there in numbers. Just before passing by the chain-ferry we observed a Grey Seal. Leaving the harbour and approaching Old-Harry Rock we discussed the sea-horse population in the bay at the southern end of the Studland peninsula.
Once out into open water we quickly started to see Gannets and Manx Shearwaters with what felt like a much larger number of juvenile Gannets than were seen during my last trip in July. A Harbour Porpoise was observed and a small pod of three Common Dolphins.
As we were passing the Casquets lighthouse, just north of Alderney, we spotted a feeding flock of Gannets diving and tuna jumping, no doubt feeding on a shoal of fish below the surface, we also saw several Fulmar heading towards them.
After disembarkation in Guernsey and lunch I made my way along the coastline northwards towards St Sampson as, on my previous visit I had walked southwards. I was intrigued by ‘Tower No 1’ one of the 15 loophole towers built between 1778 and 1779 to deter possible French invasion and the information board where J.M.W. Turner had painted a view of St Peter Port. I also managed to record Sandwich Tern, Kestrel, Swallow, Oystercatcher, Great, Herring and Black-headed Gull along with a stray Gannet flying quite close to the shore.
Making my way back to the boat I met some of the passengers also on a day trip and we discussed the variety of restaurants and cafés and the shopping available close to the port area.
On the return journey, with light fading, we again saw good numbers of Gannets and Manx Shearwaters together with an unidentified shearwater and an unidentified tern. No dolphins or porpoises were observed on the starboard side during the return journey but a passenger on the port side informed me that they had seen dolphins. Shortly after passing Alderney, we spotted a flock of mixed shearwaters flying alongside the boat comprising of Manx, Balearic and Great Shearwaters.
Approaching Poole there was a large raft of approximately 100 gulls, these were mainly Black-headed but there were also a few Herring and Great Black-backed Gulls with them. Returning into Poole Harbour the lagoon at Brownsea now contained a large evening roost of Oystercatchers and Avocets. There was one Spoonbill present, the ones seen in the morning now nowhere to be seen.
Many thanks to Condor Ferries team for welcoming me on-board and for the help and assistance provided!
MARINElife/Condor WLO Chris Hilder
Â
Weather: a calm sea state, cloudy with a maximum temperature of 20C and light winds
Summary of sightings
Marine Mammals
Common Dolphin 3
Harbour Porpoise 1
Grey Seal 1
Â
Seabirds
Avocet
Balearic Shearwater
Black-headed Gull
Black-tailed Godwit
Cormorant
Fulmar
Gannet
Great Black-backed Gull
Great Shearwater
Herring Gull
Manx Shearwater
Oystercatcher
Sandwich Tern
Spoonbill
Unidentified shearwater
Unidentified tern
Â
Comentarios