I arrived in Dover with two hours to spare before boarding the vessel at Dover. I met up with Laura and we went to a Brewers Fayre and had a soft drink before entering the port, completing formalities and queueing to board the Cote des Flandres.
Once on board we visited the information desk and were taken to the bridge, welcomed by the master and officers, and prepared to begin our survey.
The tide was high and there were very few birds on the harbour breakwater. Our survey across to Calais was quiet, with only 34 birds counted on that transect. Gannet, Great Black-backed Gull and Kittiwake were among the main sightings, but our vigilance was rewarded with a Black-throated Diver and a Little Gull amongst the count.
Whilst in Calais harbour we were able to watch nine Harbour Seal that had hauled out on a secluded beach. These animals were still there when we returned to Dover.
Our return survey included a small group of terns and Kittiwake just outside Calais harbour entrance. Gannet, Herring Gull, a solitary Fulmar, and a second Black-throated Diver were recorded as we neared Dover.
As we passed the Dover breakwater, we gave our thanks and retired to the passenger lounges to depart the vessel.
Our thanks go to DFDS, the Masters, Officers, and Crew of the Cotes des Flandres for making our survey so enjoyable.
Carol Farmer-Wright and Laura Goodhead, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)
Weather
Outbound: wind N 4-6, sea state 3, overcast, moderate visibility
Return: wind N-NW 6-5, sea state 4, predominately overcast, visibility moderate to good with glare at times
Summary of sightings
Marine Mammals
None recorded on survey but casual sighting of 9 Harbour Seal hauled out in Calais harbour
Seabirds
Seabirds
Black-throated Diver Gavia arctica 2
Common Gull Larus canus 1
Common Tern Sterna hirundo 4
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 1
Gannet Morus bassanus 18
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 9
Guillemot Uria aalge 1
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 8
Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 38
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 2
Little Gull Hydrocoloeus minutus 1
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 3
Gull sp. 4
Larus sp. 2
Tern sp. 6
Auk sp. 2
Terrestrial birds
Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon Columba livia 1