MARINElife/Lundy WLO: Megan Strachan I arrived at the shore office to collect my tickets and made my way over to wait with the other passengers on today’s crossing. Plenty of people but nowhere near as busy as my last trip. Following boarding I made my way to the bridge to collect my Hi-Viz and I also caught up with Jason the Captain. The Oldenburg departed Ilfracombe promptly at 10:00 and we exited the harbour with the usual view of a selection of gulls perched on the rocks.
The journey was smooth, with passing Kittiwake, Guillemot, Manx Shearwater, and the odd Gannet. Mid-way through the journey I spotted what appeared to be a group of three Storm Petrel although as I was stood talking to passengers at the time, I did not get a clear enough view to be sure.
We arrived at Landing Bay on an incoming tide, with views of some Grey seals hauled out on the rocks of Rat Island, and others popping their heads up in the water. The main beach was closed due to the presence of at least two Grey seal pups. One had fully molted its white coat and the other still had about half. Upon speaking to some passengers who had been staying on the Island for the past week, they had seen the second pup at the start of the week when it was completely white.
As the time for boarding got closer, I headed back towards Landing Bay and took some more photos of the young seals, swimming around in the shallows and playing amongst the seaweed. I thanked the captain and the crew as I departed, then made my way home.
Marine mammals: Grey Seal Seabirds:
Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Fulmar, Shag, Gannet, Kittiwake, Guillemot, Manx Shearwater, Storm Petrel?