Marinelife: Channel Marine Mammal & Seabird Survey

17TH OCTOBER 2010

Cornwall, 9.8nm SSW of Lizard Point

1 Minke Whale (possible) seen at 14:30hrs by Dave Paddock, skipper of Capriole, Penzance.

Dorset, Portland Bill

Small flock of Grey Phalarope, small flock of Common Scoter, 100 Gannet and Mediterranean Gull recorded by Maggie Gamble during an Opportunistic Survey on Tiger Lily of Weymouth.

Cornwall, 1/2 mile South of Manacle Bell
2 Harbour Porpoise (probable) seen by Dan Gardner, skipper of Blue Pointer, Helford.

English Channel, ~40 nm SSE of Start Point
16 Great Skua, Arctic Skua, European Storm-petrel and 3 Little Gull (2 adults with a second-winter). Sightings reported by Mark Darlaston.

Little Gull (adult)

Little Gull (2nd Winter)

More images can be seen at Devon Bird News Blog.

16TH OCTOBER 2010

Devon, Wembury

7 Bottlenose Dolphin seen close in off Wembury travelling west at approx. 07:15hrs. Sighting reported by Richard Billington.

14TH OCTOBER 2010

Cornwall, Penzance to 20 miles South of Lands End

Marinelife Targeted Survey: 10-12 Bottlenose Dolphin feeding, 1 probable Minke Whale, 1 unidentified cetacean species, 3 Grey Seal, European Storm-petrel, 27 Great Skua and 34 Kittiwake recorded during a targeted survey on board Capriole with skipper David Paddock.

Cornwall, Penzance to Runnel Stone

A total of 14 Harbour Porpoise (including 2 juvenilles and 3 calves; some of these may have been repeat sightings). Seabird sightings included a passage of Kittiwake (some 1st years) were seen with a large group of Kittiwake stopping to feed close in shore to Lamorna. Lots of Razorbill were flying West along with a Puffin in Winter plumage.


Harbour Porpoise

The first sighting of Harbour Porpoise was near Lamorna cove consisting of 1 adult, 1 juvenille and a calf. Two other groups were spotted close in shore and within close range to each other so a possible dispersed pod of 5. Fish were later seen bumbling at the surface in the area. Further sightings of Harbour Porpoise were seen out at the Runnel Stone reef and then on the return journey. Sightings recorded by Kathryn Driscoll during a Marinelife Opportunistic Survey between 13:30 - 17:00 hrs with Marine Discovery Penzance.

Devon, nr Exmouth

1 Seal Species spotted at 16:17 on the way back from Starcross to Exmouth on the ferry. Sighting reported by Richard Edwards.

13TH OCTOBER 2010

Cornwall, Penzance to Runnel Stone

1 Grey Seal, 1 possible Bottlenose Dolphin, 1 Harbour Porpoise. Seabirds included a few Black-headed Gull, Razorbill and a few Guillemot. Sightings recorded by Kathryn Driscoll during a Marinelife Opportunistic Survey between 10:08 and 17:09 hrs on board Capriole in association with Sea Watch SW.