29TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Cornwall, between Black Head and Kennack

6 Bottlenose Dolphin seen at noon close inshore between Black Head and Kennack during an angling trip. SIghting reported by Dan Gardner, skipper of Blue Pointer, Helford.

Cornwall, 9.5nm WSW of Gwennap Head

6 Bottlenose Dolphin encountered during an angling trip from Penzance. Sighting reported by David Paddock, skipper of Capriole, Penzance.

27TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Devon, Lyme Bay

2 Great Skua seen 7nm South of Seaton. Sighting reported by John Wallington, skipper of Outcast of Seaton.

Devon, Lyme Bay

c50 Common Dolphin on shoal of fish, c70 Gannet and a Sooty Shearwater approx 12nm ESE of Berry Head. A total of 18 Great Skua and a Balearic Shearwater were also seen during the day. SIghting and images provided by Mark Darlaston.



Common Dolphins



Sooty Shearwater

26TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Devon, Plymouth

Ca.30 Common Dolphin east of Eddystone, together with the accompanying wall to wall Gannets, were the highlight of an Opportunistic Survey out of Plymouth. Sightings recorded by David Curtis during an Opportunistic Survey on board C-Cheeta with skipper Geordie Dickson.

Cornwall, 1 mile SE of Coverack

30 Common Dolphin encountered 1 mile South East of Coverack. Sighting reported by Dan Gardner, Skipper of Blue Pointer, Helford.

25TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Dorset, Hengistbury Head

15 - 20 Bottlenose Dolphin encountered close to shore feeding on mullet shoals coming out of Christchurch Harbour and also seen off Boscombe. Sighting reported by John Stevenson, skipper of Blue Duo, Poole. You can view a video of the Bottlenose Dolphins which were later seen off Boscombe on the Bournemouth Echo website.

24TH SEPTMEBER 2010

Dorset, Portland

15 - 20 Bottlenose Dolphin including 3 or 4 calves encountered on the east side of Portland Bill. The group included one large adult with a distinct, almost cut-off dorsal fin with a flat top on it. Sighting reported by Lyle Stantiford, skipper of Supanova, Weymouth.

Devon, Lyme Bay

2 Harbour Porpoise and a Skua species encountered 11nm South of Seaton. Sighting reported by John Wallington, skipper of Outcast, Seaton.

22ND SEPTMEBER 2010

Dorset, West Bay

2 Harbour Porpoise (mother and calf pair) surfaced twice near the boat this morning at 10:15 hours, travelling east. Sighting reported by Tony Smith, skipper of Christine Anne, West Bay.

Dorset, West Bay

At least 6 Bottlenose Dolphin were seen at 11:30 hours chasing a shoal of mackerel 1/2 mile off the coast at West Bay golf course. Sighting reported by Ivor Bending.

17TH - 22ND SEPTEMBER 2010: MARINELIFE TARGETED SURVEYS

22ND SEPTEMBER 2010

Jersey, Channel Islands to West Bay, Dorset

1 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Black Tern, 29 European Storm-petrel, 50 Great Skua, 12 Fulmar, 6 Sandwich Tern, 1 Common Tern and 10 Bottlenose Dolphin (including 1 calf) were encountered at Sark at 10:22 hrs. Sightings recorded between 08:00 - 18:50 during a Marinelife Targeted Survey by Kate Lewis, Mark Darlaston and Peter Lewis on board Huntress II of West Bay. Video to follow soon!

21ST SEPTEMBER 2010

St Malo, France to Jersey, Channel Islands

2 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Puffin, 6 Great Skua, 4 Sandwich Tern and 116 European Storm-petrel recorded by Mark Darlaston, Peter Lewis and Kate Lewis between 07:30 - 18:30 during a Marinelife Targeted Survey by Kate Lewis, Mark Darlaston and Peter Lewis on board Huntress II of West Bay.

20TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Paimpol to St Malo, France

An incredible 400 - 550 Balearic Shearwater encountered in the Bay of St Brieuc, 92 European Storm-petrel, 18 Great Skua, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 6 Manx Shearwater, 1 Arctic Skua (Juvenile), 2 Black Tern, ca.12 Arctic Tern, 1 Roseate Tern, 5 Sandwich Tern, 41 Common Tern and 4 Mediterranean Gull recorded by Peter Lewis, Mark Darlaston and Kate Lewis between 07:20 - 17:15 during a Marinelife Targeted Survey on board Huntress II of West Bay. Video to follow soon!



Distant flock of resting Balearic Shearwaters in the Bay of St Brieuc



Resting Balearic Shearwaters



Balearic Shearwaters taking flight



Balearic Shearwaters in Bay of St Brieuc



Sooty Shearwater (left) and Balearic Shearwater (right)



Balearic Shearwater feeding

Resting Balearic and Manx Shearwaters



Manx Shearwater

 19TH SEPTMEBER 2010

Roscoff to Paimpol, France

1 Grey Seal, 17 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Great Skua, 1 Black Tern, 1 Arctic Skua, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 18 Mediterranean Gull, 7 Common Tern, 1 Commic Tern, 47 Sandwich Tern and 1 Yellow-legged Gull recorded between 08:15 - 17:15 during a Marinelife Targeted Survey by Kate Lewis, Mark Darlaston and Peter Lewis on board Huntress II of West Bay.



Common Tern (1st Summer) sat on flotsam

18TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Guernsey, Channel Islands to Roscoff, France

1 Balearic Shearwater, 341 European Storm-petrel, 2 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Black Tern, 17 Great Skua, 4 Sandwich Tern, 3 Fulmar and a distant unidentified cetacean species recorded between 09:00 - 19:00 during a Marinelife Targeted Survey by Kate Lewis, Mark Darlaston and Peter Lewis on board Huntress II of West Bay.

17TH SEPTMEBER 2010

West Bay, Dorset to Guernsey, Channel Islands

1 Balearic Shearwater, 775 European Storm-petrel, 24 Great Skua, 19 Sooty Shearwater, 20 Fulmar, 8 Common Tern and 1 Puffin recorded between 08:10 - 19:30 during a Marinelife Targeted Survey by Kate Lewis, Mark Darlaston and Peter Lewis on board Huntress II of West Bay.

Resting European Storm-petrels

18TH - 20TH SEPTEMBER 2010
Poole - Santander Ferry Survey. Good sea state conditions for most of the trip.
4 Bottlenose Dolphin, 109 Common Dolphin, 63 Harbour Porpoise, 16 definite Cuvier's Beaked Whale and 10 medium-sized Whale species (most likely Cuvier's), 1 Minke Whale, 11 Fin Whale, 6 large Rorqual Whale Species, 9 Dolphin Spp., 7 Fulmar, 2 Manx Shearwater, 7 Sooty Shearwater, 8 Balearic Shearwater, 21 European Storm-petrel, 502 Gannet, 1 Grey Phalarope, 97 Great Skua, 1 Sabine's Gull, 1 Puffin, 10 Auk Spp. Sightings recorded by Simon Hartill & James Darke. You can keep up to date with monthly ferry survey sightings here.

19TH SEPTMEBER 2010
Dorset, Portland Bill, Shambles Bank
3 Sooty Shearwater at Shambles Bank at 13:00hrs. Sighting reported by Chris Caines, Skipper of Tiger Lily, Weymouth.

18TH SEPTMEBER 2010
Devon, Exe Estuary
1 Little Auk seen in the Exe Estuary at 09:00 and in the docks again at 12:30hours. Sighting reported by Jackie Fenton of Tiger Charters, Exmouth.

12TH SEPTEMBER 2010

St Malo to Portsmouth Ferry: Marinelife Survey

6 Bottlenose Dolphin, 12 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater, Black Tern, 4 Arctic Skua, Puffin, 6 European Storm-petrel and 783 Swallow recorded by Tom Brereton between 10:30 and 18:30 from St Malo to Portsmouth.

Devon, Lyme Bay

3+ Harbour Porpoise encountered 9nm South of Seaton and 1 Great Skua seen 17nm South of Seaton during an angling trip in Lyme Bay. Sightings reported by John Wallington, skipper of Outcast, Seaton.

11TH SEPTEMBER 2010

France, St Malo to Cancale: Marinelife Survey

10 Bottlenose Dolphin, 43 Balearic Shearwater and 1 Black Tern recorded by Tom Brereton between 14:30 and 17:00 during a Marinelife Survey.

Black Tern (31/08/10, South of Start Point)



Black Tern (31/08/2010, South of Start Point)



Black Tern (31/08/10, South of Start Point)

9TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Dorset, West Bay

Two groups of 10 Bottlenose Dolphin (calves present) encountered in West Bay. Sighting reported by Dave Sales.

Devon, Lyme Bay

A few sightings of Great Skua during an angling trip 17nm South of Seaton. Sighting reported by John Wallington, skipper of Outcast, Seaton.

8TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Devon, Lyme Bay
Great Skua stayed around the boat for most of the day, 8nm South of Seaton. Sighting reported by John Wallington, skipper of Outcast, Seaton.

NEWS: SeaWatch SW Annual Report 2009 co-authored by Marinelife Online Now

SeaWatch SW Annual Report 2009 co-authored by Marinelife is now available online. Illustrated throughout with colour images, this report includes a summary of all Balearic Shearwater records from the UK and Ireland during 2009. The report also contains all data from the SeaWatch SW survey that took place between 15 July and 15 October 2009, with intensive effort-based observations at Gwennap Head, Porthgwarra, supported by sister sites at Berry Head, Pendeen, Trevose Head, Strumble Head and Whitburn. Finally, a summary of boat-based observations in the western English Channel has again been provided by Marinelife. A shorter version containing a summary of key results is also available. Thank you to all who have taken part in the project.

Visit SeaWatch SW online now to read the report here: http://www.seawatch-sw.org/

7TH SEPTEMBER 2010
Devon, Lyme Bay
Little Tern enoucntered 8nm South of Seaton during an angling trip. Sighting reported by John Wallington, skipper of Outcast, Seaton.

Cornwall, ~5nm ENE of Coverack
The bay is still full of mackerel with plenty of diving Gannet, at 15:45 on the way back to Falmouth, we saw 2 Sooty Shearwater resting on the water and at 16:10 we passed close to a flock of 60-70 Manx Shearwater sitting on the water. Sightings reported by Ken Dodgson, skipper of Leo1, Falmouth.

Sooty Shearwater, 15-30nm SE of Start Point, Devon 31/08/2010

Sooty Shearwater, 31/08/2010

5TH SEPTEMBER 2010

France, Brittany, Bay of Lannion

Ca. 450 Balearic Shearwater observed in Bay of Lannion. Sighting reported by Laurent Thebault.

Cornwall, mouth of Helford River
2 Bottlenose Dolphin encountered at the mouth of the Helford River, just east of Nare Point, at 16:00 hours after a day of angling. Sighting reported by Dan Gardner, skipper of Blue Pointer, Helford.

Cornwall, Carrick Roads

6 - 8 Bottlenose Dolphin spotted in the Carrick Roads at 11:30 hours. Sighting reported by Caroline Harvey of Orca Sea Safaris, Falmouth.

Cornwall, 1/2 mile East of Manacle Bell
Great Skua flying around the angling boat. Sighting reported by Dan Gardner, skipper of Blue Pointer, Helford.

Great Skua

Isles of Scilly, 4 miles SW of Bishop Rock Lighthouse
3 Bottlenose Dolphin observed 4 miles south west of Bishop Rock Lighthouse, Isles of Scilly. Sighting reported by David Paddock, skipper of Capriole, Penzance.


4TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Cornwall, inside Falmouth Harbour

A small pod of 5 Bottlenose Dolphin encountered at 17:00 hours inside Falmouth Harbour when returning after a day of angling. Three large dolphins with 2 calves. Sighting reported by Nigel Hodge, skipper of Wave Chieftain, Falmouth. Video footage coming soon!

Cornwall, ~6.6nm WSW of Gwennap Head
15 Bottlenose Dolphin encountered at 10:00 hours on transit between Penzance and Isles of Scilly. Sighting reported by David Paddock, skipper of Capriole, Penzance.

Cornwall, 6nm ESE of Coverack
Great Skua observed at 14:00 hours off Coverack. Sighting reported by Dan Gardner, skipper of Blue Pointer, Helford.

Dorset, 15 miles S of West Bay then headed NE off Chesil

Marinelife Targeted Survey, 10:00 - 15:30, Force 5 SE wind

1 Great Skua recorded during a Marinelife Targeted Survey on board Huntress II.

TUESDAY 31ST AUGUST

Dorset, Lyme Bay, near Thorncombe Beacon

5 Bottlenose Dolphin (a group of 2 and 3 individuals) observed surfacing and playing around the boat then heading West at 13:15 hours approx. 500m offshore near Thorncombe Beacon. Sighting reported by Simon Miles, skipper of Lyme Bay Rib Charters.

Devon, 15 - 30nm SE of Start Point

4 Black Tern, 15 Common Tern, 3 Arctic Tern, 20+ Great Skua, 100+ Fulmar, 50+ European Storm Petrel, 1 Sooty Shearwater and 1 Balearic Shearwater recorded by Mark Darlaston.

Sooty Shearwater

Marinelife Systematic Survey:

Dorset, Weymouth to mid-Channel, up to 29nm South of Portland Bill

1 Sooty Shearwater, 51 Great Skua, 51 Fulmar, 7 European Storm Petrel and 2 Kittiwake were the highlights recorded by Bryan Coates, Ed Drewitt, and Kate Lewis during a Systematic Survey from Weymouth on board Meridian Express. Just as all hope had been lost for seeing cetaceans (sea conditions were rougher than anticipated for much of day) 3 Bottlenose Dolphin joined the bow briefly as we approached Weymouth Harbour!

Marinelife Systematic Survey: Dorset, West Bay

1 Great Skua recorded by Maggie Gamble and Martin Gillingham during a Systematic Survey on board Huntress II. Survey was aborted due to poor sea conditions.

Cornwall, off Runnel Stone
1 Basking Shark seen off the Runnel Stone.  Sighting reported by Nicky Morse, skipper of Viking Charters, Penzance.

MONDAY 30TH AUGUST

Dorset, Lyme Bay

20+ Bottlenose Dolphin (a mix of large adults and young) observed at 10:00 hours near Lane's Ground Reef. The group were with the boat for approx 10 minutes before heading West towards West Bay. Sighting reported by Duncan Forrester of Greenacres camping, Shepton Mallet.

Bottlenose Dolphins, Lyme Bay

Bank Holiday Bottlenose Dolphins, Lyme Bay

Dorset, Lyme Bay

25-30 Bottlenose Dolphin with a lot of young in group were seen at 12:57 hours 2.25nm SW of the Cobb, Lyme Regis. Sighting reported by Harry May, skipper of Marie F, Lyme Regis.

Cornwall, 4.5miles West of Cape Cornwall

1 Basking Shark seen 4.5miles west of Cape Cornwall. Sighting reported by David Paddock, skipper of Capriole, Penzance.

Devon, Looe - Marinelife Opportunistic Survey

2 European Storm Petrel were recorded by David Curtis during an Opportunistic Survey out of Looe on board Swallow with skipper Murray Collings.