27th - 29th August 2010: Marinelife Surveys & Meetings with Seabird Experts in France to discuss Balearic Shearwaters in Channel
Marinelife's Research Director, Tom Brereton, met up with seabird experts Laurent Thebault, Pierre Yesou and Michel Plestan to discuss Balearic Shearwaters in the Channel. A number of Marinelife surveys were carried out along the Brttiany coast to increase our survey coverage in the region, highlights of the surveys are as follows:

29TH AUGUST 2010

Roscoff - Plymouth Ferry survey
8 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Tern, 1 juvenile Black Tern recorded by Tom Brereton 16:45 - 19:00.

Roscoff, Land-based Survey
15 Balearic Shearwater and 14 Mediterranean Gull were recorded by Laurent Thebault and Tom Brereton. Further details see Trektellen.

France, Brittany, Bay of Lannion
430+ Balearic Shearwater observed in the Bay of Lannion feeding on shoaling fish. Sighting by Laurent Thebeault and Tom Brereton.

Manx Shearwater on left with Balearic Shearwaters

28TH AUGUST 2010

France, Brittany, Bay of St Brieuc, Land-based Survey
7 Balearic Shearwater recorded by Pierre Yesou, Michel Plestan and Tom Brereton


27TH AUGUST 2010
Devon, Orcombe Point
5+ Dolphin species seen at Orcombe Point, Exmouth.  Sighting reported by Linda Parkhouse.

France, Brittany, Bay of Lannion
Ca. 450 Balearic Shearwater recorded feeding in the Bay by Laurent Thebault, Pierre Yesou and Tom Brereton, during a boat-based survey, 14:00 - 17:15.

See the feeding frenzy below:

Earlier 1000+ Balearic Shearwaters were in the Bay, seen from land.

28TH AUGUST 2010
Cornwall, near Sennen Cove
2 Basking Shark observed at 13:00 hours during an angling trip. Sighting reported by David Paddock, skipper of Capriole, Penzance.

Cornwall, 11 - 17.2 mile SW of Penzance
12 - 15 Harbour Porpoise, Sooty Shearwater and Great Skua observed during an angling trip.  Sightings reported by Nicky Morse, skipper of Viking Charters, Penzance.

25TH AUGUST 2010

Devon, Berry Head

7 Balearic Shearwater, 10 Manx Shearwater, 11 Great Skua, 11 Arctic Skua, 93 Common Tern, 4 Arctic Tern, 4 Sandwich Tern, 4 European Storm Petrel, 141 Gannet, 162 Kittiwake, 6 Harbour Porpoise, 9-12 Bottlenose Dolphin (the usual group, heading south at 09:38hrs and north at 17:45hrs) and 1 Ocean Sunfish recorded during a land-based watch at Berry Head between 06:15 - 19:00. Sightings reported by Mark Darlaston.

European Storm Petrel

22ND AUGUST 2010
Cornwall, 1.5 miles South of Looe Island
12-18 White-beaked Dolphin including 1-2 young were encountered at 15:00 hours approx 1.5 miles South of Looe Island. Sighting reported by Richard Porter, skipper of Moonraker, Looe.

White-beaked Dolphins brightening up a calm grey day

White-beaked Dolphins encountered South of Looe Island, Cornwall

Cornwall, 10 miles South of Looe
c.6 Pilot Whale observed 10 miles South of Looe on Sunday by fisherman Steve Randall, skipper of The Progress, Looe. Sighting reported by Murray Collings, skipper of Swallow, Looe.

Pilot Whales in the Channel

Unusual numbers of Pilot Whale have been seen in recent days in the Channel, with c.50 animals seen in the Eddystone Rocks area south of Plymouth and two groups of 3-4 animals observed ~13nm SSE of Fowey. More details to follow shortly. Please report your sightings to us at sightings@marine-life.org.uk

22ND AUGUST 2010

Cornwall, Looe - Marinelife Opportunistic Survey

The usual Gull species were present in numbers but nothing out of the ordinary. Of interest was a group of 16 Black-tailed Godwit in the morning and a solitary Sandwich Tern with the group of gulls following Swallow on the home run. It was frustrating to hear there were Pilot Whales in the area to the south of us and later a dolphin species yet to be identified off Looe Island. Sightings recorded by David Curtis during an Opportunistic Survey on board Swallow of Looe with skipper Murray Collings. More details on Pilot Whale and unidentified Dolphin Species sighitngs to follow shortly.

Cornwall, 2 miles South of Porthcurno

2 Harbour Porpoise observed during an angling trip. Sighting reported by David Paddock, skipper of Capriole, Penzance.

21ST AUGUST 2010

Devon, Start Point

18 Balearic Shearwater, 4 Sooty Shearwater, 18 Manx Shearwater, 6 Great Skua, 5 Arctic Skua, 3 Common Tern, 1 European Storm Petrel, 606 Gannet and 1 Great Crested Grebe recorded between 07:15 and 11:30 hours during a land-based watch at Start Point.  Sightings reported by Mark Darlaston.

20TH AUGUST 2010

Devon, Start Point

2 Great Shearwater, 27 Balearic Shearwater, 4 Sooty Shearwater, 21 Manx Shearwater, 5 Great Skua, 5 Arctic Skua, 1 Long-tailed Skua (juvenile), 33 Common Tern, 2 Black Tern, 24 Common Scoter, 940 Gannet and 195 Kittiwake recorded between 07:00 and 18:00 during a land-based watch at Start Point.  Sightings recorded by Mark Darlaston.

Devon, Sharkham Point

1 Sooty Shearwater, 4 Balearic Shearwater actively feeding just of the point, 18 Sandwich Tern actively feeding just of the point, 3 Common Tern, 1 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 10 Common Scoter and 1 Harbour Porpoise recorded between 08:20hrs - 10:20hrs. Sightings reported by Josh Marshall.

Dorset, 15 miles SE of Portland Bill
4 European Storm Petrel, 1 Balearic Shearwater and 1 Great Skua were seen during an angling trip. Sightings reported by Rick Nichol, skipper of Meridian Express, Weymouth.

19TH AUGUST 2010

Devon, 20-40nm SSE Start Point

80+ European Storm Petrel (up to 40 around the boat), 150+ Fulmar (up to 100 around the boat), 1 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Arctic Tern, 20+ Common Tern, 50+ Manx Shearwater and 8+ Great Skua recorded during a fishing trip up to 40nm SSE of Start Point.  Sightings reported by Mark Darlaston.

Great Skua

Great Skua

Sooty Shearwater

Sooty Shearwater

Arctic Tern (Adult)

Arctic Tern (1st Summer)

Common Tern (Adult)

Common Tern (Adult)

Common Tern (Juvenile)

Devon, 10 miles South of Looe

Approx. 50 Pilot Whale seen near Hat Buoy ~10miles South of Looe. Sighting reported by Colin Matthews, skipper of Lucy Too, Looe.

17TH AUGUST 2010

Cornwall, 9 miles SW of Penzance Harbour

4 Balearic Shearwater feeding around the boat 9 miles SW of Penzance Harbour over Epson Shoal. Sighting reported by Chippy, skipper of Bite Adventures Charter, Penzance.

Dorset, ~2miles SW of West Bay

1 Cory's Shearwater seen flying by during an evening dive trip at Sawtooth Ledges. Sighting reported by Ian Cornwell, skipper of Huntress II of West Bay.

Hampshire, Portsmouth
1 Seal species seen on Whale Island beach, Portsmouth Harbour. Sighting reported by Phill Hunt, skipper of Jo-Dan IV of Portsmouth.

16TH AUGUST 2010
Devon, 13.5nm SSE of Fowey
Two groups of 3 - 4 Pilot Whale seen near the radar positioning buoy approx 13.5nm SSE of Fowey.  Sighting reported by Murray Collings, skipper of Swallow, Looe.

Devon, ~20nm South of Plymouth
Unidentified Dolphin Species seen near the Belle Virtue wreck, off Plymouth. Sighting reported by Malc Jones, skipper of Sea Angler II of Plymouth.

15TH AUGUST 2010

Devon, up to 33nm SW of Plymouth

Marinelife Systematic Survey

1 Sooty Shearwater, ~25 Manx Shearwater together with 11 European Storm Petrel, 3 Great Skua and 1 Balearic Shearwater in company with one of the Manx Shearwater groups.  The 2 Harbour Porpoise were a tantalising spot but the 6 - 8 Common Dolphin were more accomodating.  Species highlights recorded by David Curtis, Brian Craven and Tony Pollard during a Systematic Survey onboard C-Cheeta of Plymouth with skipper Geordie Dickson. 

14TH AUGUST 2010
Devon, ~20nm South of Plymouth
Unidentified Dolphin Species seen near the Belle Virtue wreck, off Plymouth.  Sighting reported by Malc Jones, skipper of Sea Angler II of Plymouth.

13 - 15 AUGUST 2010
Channel section of Portsmouth - Bilbao Ferry, Pride of Bilbao
12 Harbour Porpoise, 2 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Cory's Shearwater, 19 European Storm Petrel, 7 Fulmar, 18 Common Tern, 13 Commic Tern, 1 Basking Shark and 1 Ocean Sunfish were recorded in the Channel. Sightings reported by Martin Gillingham.

All sightings recorded by BDRP on the Portmsouth - Bilbao Ferry, Pride of Bilbao, can be viewed here.

7TH AUGUST 2010 - HIGHLIGHTS OF MARINELIFE/NATURETREK TRIP

Balearic Shearwater. Image by George Reszeter.

Balearic Shearwater. Image by George Reszeter.

Diving Gannet. Image by George Reszeter.

Gannet in action. Image by George Reszeter.

12TH AUGUST 2010

Devon, 1nm East of Outer Froward Point

4 - 5 Harbour Porpoise seen this morning at 08:54. Sighting reported by Ian Noble, skipper of Samuel Irvin of Dartmouth.

11TH AUGUST 2010

Cornwall, Penzance Harbour

6 active Bottlenose Dolphin leapt and jumped in the wake of Capriole at 10:00 hours on the way out of Penzance Harbour for a days angling. Sighting reported by David Paddock, skipper of Capriole, Penzance.

10TH AUGUST 2010
Devon, Berry Head
18 Manx Shearwater, 20 Common Scoter, 1 Great Skua, 13 Common Tern, 31 Sandwich Tern, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (juv), 3 Mediterranean Gull (juvs) and a minimum of 5 Harbour Porpoise seen during a land watch from Berry Head by Mike Langman.

2 of the Harbour Porpoise seen this morning at Berry Head between 06:00-09:30 hrs.

Devon, Start PointThe usual group of c.12 Bottlenose Dolphin were seen this morning at 08:12 hrs off Start Point, in addition to 126 Manx Shearwater, 4 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 3 Great Skua, 4 Common Tern, 10 Sandwich Tern, 21 Common Scoter, 2 Mediterranean Gull (juvenile), and 110 Gannet recorded during a land-based watch at Start Point.  Sightings reported by Mark Darlaston.

9TH AUGUST 2010

Dorset, Lyme Bay
c.12 Bottlenose Dolphin seen ~1.3nm SSW of The Cobb in Lyme Regis at 07:00 hours, and then seen again for about 2 hours prior to 14:15.  Sighting reported by Harry May, skipper of Marie F, Lyme Regis.

Cornwall, 4 miles SSW of Dodman Point

1 Skua species and 2 Sooty Shearwater seen during an angling trip.  Sighting reported by Ken Dodgson, skipper of Leo1 of Falmouth.

8TH AUGUST 2010
Hampshire, 1.5 mile South of the Needles
Balearic Shearwater feeding with gulls.  Sighting reported by Mike Cottingham, skipper of Challenger II, Lymington.

Channel Islands, 6nm WNW of Guernsey

2 Minke Whale were observed at 2:30pm for half an hour by Chris Mourant from Guernsey.  Sighting reported by Bertram E.B. Bree, Jersey.

Devon, Mouth of River Dart
A group of 20-30 Bottlenose Dolphin including young were seen at the mouth of the River Dart.  Sighting reported by Ian Noble, skipper of Samuel Irvin III of Dartmouth.

Mid-Channel, ~36nm SE of Start Point
4 Balearic Shearwater briefly investigated the boat and then left NE. Sighting reported by Mark Darlaston.

Balearic Shearwater

Dorset, Portland
3 Balearic Shearwater sightings, 1 Sooty Shearwater and 1 Manx Shearwater were the species highlights recorded by Fiona McNie during an Opportunistic Survey on board Supanova of Weymouth with skipper Lyle Stantiford.

Cornwall, Looe
27 European Storm-petrel, 6 Manx Shearwater, 1 scavenging Balearic Shearwater and a brief sighting of a group of 4 - 6 Risso's Dolphin were the species highlights recorded by David Curtis during an Opportunistic Survey on board Swallow of Looe with skipper Murray Collings.

Cornwall, Kennack Bay
3 Harbour Porpoise were encountered ~3nm East of Cadgwith during an angling trip on the Blue Pointer. Sighting reported by Dan Gardner, skipper of Blue Pointer of Helford.

Dorset, West Bay
1 Balearic Shearwater seen at 10:30am flying around the angling boat Christine Anne 5.3nm SSE of West Bay. Sighting reported by Tony Smith, skipper of Christine Anne of West Bay.

Dorset, Portland Bill - Chesil Cove
1 Balearic Shearwater, 1 European Storm-petrel, 2 Fulmar, 1 Yellow-legged Gull were recorded by James McCarthy during an Opportunistic Survey on board Top Cat of Weymouth with skipper Ivan Wellington.

Brittany, Bay of Lannion
750-800 Balearic Shearwater in the Bay of Lannion, Brittany on the 8th August seen by Laurent Thebault, Ewen de Kergariou and Jean Yves Provost.

Balearic Shearwaters feeding frenzy in the Bay of Lannion, Brittany on 8th August 2010.

Filmed by Laurent Thebault.

7TH AUGUST 2010

Marinelife/Naturetrek Evening Pelagic off Portland/The Shambles Bank

8 Balearic Shearwater around the Tiger Lily giving fantastic views in very good light, plus 1 Great Skua, 1 Common Tern, 1 Mediterrean Gull and 12 Common Scoter being the other highlights recorded by James Phillips and Simon Hartill during an Opportunistic Survey on board Tiger Lily with skipper Chris Caines. 

Devon, Lyme Bay, mouth of River Exe
A pod of 12-15 Bottlenose Dolphin with at least one young individual was seen at the approach to Exmouth during an afternoon angling trip.  Sighting reported by Ann Deem of Blue Thunder Angling Charters, Exmouth.

6TH AUGUST 2010

Devon, Start Point
3 Risso's Dolphin (fairly well out) heading N at 07:15, 8 Bottlenose Dolphin close in heading SW at 16:40, 60 Balearic Shearwater (including one very pale Balearic), 5 Sooty Shearwater, 321 Manx Shearwater, 3 Puffin, 3 Great Skua, 629 Gannet, 60 Kittiwake (6 juvenile), 63 Common Tern, 1 Arctic Tern, and 2 Little Tern recorded during a land-based watch between 0700-1800 by Mark Darlaston.

Common Tern

4TH AUGUST 2010
Dorset, Portland Bill
7 Balearic Shearwater were seen flying away to the south west whilst we were sat at anchor 1.8 miles West of Portland Bill between 08:00 - 11:30 hrs. Sighitng reported by Lyle Stantiford, skipper of Supanova, Weymouth

3RD AUGUST 2010
Sooty Shearwater seen 18 miles SW Portland Bill. Sighting reported by Chris Caines, skipper of Tiger Lily, Weymouth.
Balearic Shearwater seen 2 miles off West Bay. Sighting reported by Dave Sales.

1ST AUGUST 2010
Marinelife/Naturetrek Evening Pelagic off Portland/The Shambles Bank
65 Manx Shearwater, 26 Balearic Shearwater, 3 European Storm-petrel, 1 1st winter Arctic Tern, 15 Common Tern were the highlights of this fantastic evening trip. A number of the Manx and Balearic Shearwaters were coming in very close to feed behind the boat. We left this large group of Balearic and Manx Shearwater roosting on the sea as we came away at sunset.  Opportunistic Survey carried out onboard Tiger Lily of Weymouth.

Cornwall, ~1.6nm SSE of Black Head
1 Balearic Shearwater seen circling the angling boat and then resting on the sea surface.
Sighting reported by Dan Gardner, skipper of Blue Pointer, Helsted.

July 2010

Unprecedented numbers of Balearic Shearwaters in the English Channel

In recent days extraordinary numbers of Balearic Shearwater have been seen in the English Channel, with a gathering of approximately 5,000 birds on the French side inshore and west of St Malo.

Marinelife has been carrying out offshore surveys for Balearics and other seabirds and cetaceans in the western Channel since 1995 and intensively since 2006. In 2009, 236 surveys were completed on a range of vessels including ferries, charter, dive, angling and fishing boats adding up to nearly 60,000km of survey effort. Although it was considered a below-average year by local skippers for marine wildlife due to bad weather, sightings included 77,510 birds of 86 species plus 550 cetacean sightings of 10 species.

We will be sampling core French areas for Balearics this summer, and have a full programme of surveys on a range of vessel types all across the Channel.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer surveyor on one of these trips, please get in touch.

For submitting land-based and other casual observations please contact Russell Wynn at http://www.seawatch-sw.org/

For seabird and cetacean watching trips in Lyme Bay with the Marinelife team contact Gwen Owen at Naturetrek

This relates to 30th July 2010 when 4630 shearwaters were seen.

Video and count by Laurent Thebault

31ST JULY 2010

Marinelife/Naturetrek Lyme Bay Pelagic

Good visibility with sunny intervals. Warm, 20c. NW coming South Westerly F4 touching 5 at times dropping to F3 inshore.  4 Balearic Shearwater, 20 Manx Shearwater, 1 European Storm-petrel, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Common Tern and 3 Common Scoter. Plus 1 breaching Bottlenose Dolphin.  Opportunistic Survey carried out onboard Huntress II of West Bay.

Devon, Start Bay, ½ nm NE of Start Point

50 – 60 Bottlenose Dolphin playing in the wake of the boat Samuel Irvin III just off Start Point. Sighting reported by Ian Noble, skipper of Samuel Irvin III, Dartmouth.

West Bay

2 European Storm-petrel a mile off West Bay

30TH JULY 2010

Cornwall, ½ mile East of Coverack

1 Balearic Shearwater seen during an angling trip by Dan Gardner, skipper of Blue Pointer, Helford.

Dorset, ~14nm SE of Portland Bill

1 Balearic Shearwater seen during an offshore angling trip.  Sighting reported by Chris Caines, skipper of Tiger Lily, Weymouth

Cornwall, approx. 11miles South of St. Anthony's Lighthouse
2 Shearwater species, 12-14 Petrel species (probable European Storm-petrel) stayed for the full 4 hour drift, 1 Skua species seen chasing seabirds and 1 probable Long-tailed Skua seen during a sharking drift. A Stonebass (Wreck fish) also stayed under the boat for at least 2 hours.  Sightings reported by Ken Dodgson, skipper of Leo1, Falmouth.

29TH JULY 2010
Cornwall, near River Helford
Approx. 12 Common Dolphin encountered 2 miles out from the mouth of the River Helford.  Sighting and image provided by Caroline Harvey of Orca Sea Safaris, Falmouth.

Common Dolphins

Cornwall, 12 miles South of Penzance Harbour
1 Fin Whale seen for 10 minutes near the boat.  Sighting reported by Chippy, skipper of Bite Adventures Charter, Penzance.

Channel Islands

1 Balearic Shearwater seen ~3 miles South of Alderney. Sighting reported by Chris Caines, skipper of Tiger Lily

26TH JULY 2010

Devon, Mouth of River Dart

Approx. 30 Common Dolphin seen on the way in to Dartmouth Marina. Sighting reported by Ian Noble, skipper of Samuel Irvin III, Dartmouth

25TH JULY 2010

Devon, off Plymouth

14 European Storm Petrel, ~12 Manx Shearwater, Great Skua and Arctic Skua were recorded by David Curtis during an Opportunistic Survey onboard C-Cheeta of Plymouth.

West Bay

5 Arctic Tern

Devon, off Exmouth

10-20 playful Bottlenose Dolphin seen off Exmouth during an angling trip. One dolphin was even seen doing the backstroke! Sighting and photographs provided by Holly Burrows, angler with Tiger Charters, Exmouth.

Bottlenose Dolphins off Exmouth - 25/07/2010