Marinelife: Channel Marine Mammal & Seabird Survey

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.