This was to be our first survey down to the Channel Islands for a couple of years. We drove down to the port, completed boarding formalities, and joined the Commodore Clipper. The port was busy as the Spirit of Discovery was also in the International Cruise port, the passengers boarding heading for Barcelona.
We were taken to the bridge where we were welcomed by Captain Justin Horsey and enjoyed discussing with him the developments in Portsmouth port whilst watching a Geest banana boat come in. The ship sailed at 10:30am and we watched the vessel navigate through the harbour and Spithead and began our survey as we neared Culver Cliff on the Isle of Wight. The conditions were misty and low cloud hung over the Island.
Whilst travelling through Sandown Bay we were able to see the landslide that had occurred at Luccombe Chine. This landfall has eroded the main road between Shanklin and Ventnor, drivers now having to travel inland to get to the latter town.
The initial bird sightings were sparse, with only 12 birds being recorded whilst travelling by the Isle of Wight. A period of two hours went by until we recorded further birds as we neared the Cherbourg peninsular. Razorbills, Gannets, Herring Gull and Cormorant were seen in small numbers until we reached St. Helier.
We only had one cetacean sighting, a Harbour Porpoise, west of St. Ouen’s bay. By this time the weather had brightened up and sunshine was bathing Jersey.
We stayed on the bridge until the ship moored in St Helier. We thanked Captain Horsey for his hospitality and returned to our cabin for the return voyage.
Our thanks go to Condor Ferries, Captain Horsey, his officers and crew for making us feel so welcome on the Commodore Clipper.
Carol Farmer-Wright and Andy Farmer-Wright, Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)
Weather: wind SW veering NW 6 dec 4, initially misty, clearing to sunshine through the survey, visibility moderate to good.
Summary of sightings
Marine Mammals
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 1
Seabirds
Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus 1
Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1
Gannet Morus bassanus 19
Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 2
Guillemot Uria aalge 2
Herring Gull Larus argentatus 11
Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 1
Razorbill Alca torda 2
Cormorant/shag sp. 1
Larus sp. 4
Auk sp. 11
Terrestrial Birds
Wagtail sp. 1