30TH JUNE 2011

Cornwall, Lands End

8 Harbour Porpise observed at 16.11pm in groups of 5 and 3, feeding. The group of 3 included 1 calf. Sighting reported by Kathryn Driscoll.

28TH JUNE 2011

Dorset, Swanage

1 Balearic Shearwater observed feeding round the fishing boat 5 miles South of Swanage at 19:30 hrs. Sighting reported by Tom Greasty of Swanage Sea Fishing, Swanage.

Cornwall, Lands End

8 Basking Shark in groups of 4 and 4 (including 1 pup of 1.5 metres) feeding in the afternoon. Sighting reported by Kathryn Driscoll.

27TH JUNE 2011
Dorset, Swanage
2 Balearic Shearwater feeding around the boat 5 miles South of Swanage. Sighting reported by Tom Greasty of Swanage Sea Fishing, Swanage.

19TH JUNE 2011

Cornwall, 6 miles South of Falmouth

1 Minke Whale observed near Manacles Reef. Sighting reported by Gordon Howells, skipper of Madeline May, Falmouth.

16TH JUNE 2011

Lyme Bay

A pair of Great Skua fighting 11 miles South of Seaton. Sighting reported by John Wallington, skipper of Outcast, Seaton.

15TH JUNE 2011
Dorset, West Bay
2 Harbour Porpoise observed 150 metres off the beach. Sighting reported by Tony Smith, skipper of Christine Anne, West Bay.

14TH JUNE 2011
Devon, Dartmouth
1 Minke Whale encountered off Dartmouth. Sighting reported by Chris Tapley.

13TH JUNE 2011

Lyme Bay

Common Dolphins seen 2 miles South East of Seaton. Sighting reported by John Wallington, skipper of Outcast, Seaton.

11TH JUNE 2011

12nm S of St Alban's Head (St Aldhelm's Head), near Swanage

15 Balearic Shearwater, 2 Arctic Skua and a good number of European Storm Petrel observed feeding around the fishing boat with the rubby dubby out. Sighting reported by Tom Greasty, skipper at San Gina Charters, Swanage.

15.8 nm SSW of the Needles, Isle of Wight

A pair of adult Puffin observed resting on the water but both dived on approach of the boat. Sighting reported by Dave Wendes, skipper of Wight Spirit, Lymington.

Dorset, Lyme Bay

4 Common Dolphin seen 6 miles West of Portland Bill. Sighting reported by Chris Caines, skipper of Tiger Lily, Weymouth.

10TH JUNE. 2011
30+nm SSE off Start Point, Devon
Good birds around the boat today. Highlight was a Sabine's Gull (presumed first summer, lacking full black head or yellow bill tip of adult), an adult Yellow-legged Gull, 50+ European Storm-petrels, 2 Bonxies. Surprisingly the most numerous gulls were 1oo+ Lesser Black-backed (mostly adults - failed or non-breeders?), with a handful of Herring and Great Black-backed .

9TH JUNE 2011

Brittany, 3.4nm NNE of Roscoff

20 Balearic Shearwater observed on the water at 19:49 hrs, however took flight as the ship approached. Sighting recorded by Rick Morris during a MARINElife monthly ferry survey between Plymouth and Roscoff.

Sighting summaries from MARINElife's monthly ferry surveys can be viewed here.

Globally endangered Balearic Shearwater

Lyme Bay, up to 27nm SW of West Bay then 9nm W

100 Manx Shearwater, 13 European Storm Petrel, 6 Fulmar, 5 Puffin, 10 Kittiwake and 21 Guillemot observed amongst other more regular seabirds. Sightings recorded by Tom Brereton, Adrian Shephard, John Arnott, Kate Lewis and Laura McLellan during a MARINElife Opportunistic Survey on board Huntress II, West Bay.

6TH JUNE 2011

Lyme Bay, 17 miles South of Seaton

1 Harbour Porpoise seen during an angling trip. Sighting reported by John Wallington, skipper of Outcast, Seaton.

MARINElife & CEFAS Surveys: Western Approaches

5TH JUNE 2011

Western Approaches

8 Common Dolphin, one of which was a juvenile, were seen 2 miles ESE of Newquay, Cornwall, at 05:50hrs. They came in briefly to bow ride but didn’t hang around long.

8 Bottlenose Dolphin again including one juvenile, were sighted 9 miles E of Trevose Head at 07:44hrs. They were seen leaping and bow riding.

1 Common Dolphin was encountered 8 miles SE of St Agnes Head at 14:53hrs, coming in to bow ride R.V. Cefas Endeavour and then was seen playing in the wake of the boat for a couple of minutes. Sea state 2-3, wind direction NNE.

Sightings provided by Cheryl Yarham, Steve Hughes and Becky Scott, the MARINElife survey team onboard R.V. Cefas Endeavour. You can follow their survey route here.

4TH JUNE 2011

Devon, Wembury

1 Grey Seal observed just off Wembury beach. That evening c.10 Bottlenose Dolphin were also observed passing Wembury travelling East. The pod contained a couple of medium sized calves. Sighting reported by Dr Richard Billington, University of Plymouth.

2ND JUNE 2011

Cornwall, Lands End

1 Bottlenose Dolphin (adult) seen travelling West at 13:30 hrs and a Basking Shark observed feeding at 15:00 hrs. Sighting reported by Kathryn Driscoll.

MARINElife & CEFAS Surveys: Western Approaches

2ND JUNE 2011

Western Approaches

28 European Storm Petrel were seen 121 miles NE of Bishops Rock, Isles of Scilly, between 07:11 and 13:21 hrs; all individuals were sighted at the back of the boat whilst trawling. 1 Sooty Shearwater was also seen during this trawl at 12:32hrs. 2 European Storm Petrel were seen 165 miles NE of Bishops Rock, Isles of Scilly, at 17:44. They were also seen at the back of the boat during a trawl. Sea state 2-4, wind direction NE-SW.

1ST JUNE 2011

Western Approaches

25 European Storm Petrel seen whilst trawling 120 miles W of Bishops Rock, Isles of Scilly at 10:25 hrs. 1 Sooty Shearwater was also seen during this trawl at 10:35 hrs and 1 adult Sabine's Gull (summer plumage) at 10.40 hrs.

9 European Storm Petrel were seen whilst trawling 200 miles W of Ile D'ouessant between 17:45 and 18:30 hrs. 1 adult Pomarine Skua (dark morph) was also seen during this trawl at 19:47 hrs and a further 20 European Storm Petrel at 19:47 hrs. Sea state 2-4, wind direction WNW-SW.

You can follow R.V. Cefas Endeavour's survey route here.

1ST JUNE, 2011
English Channel off Start Point, Devon
3+ White-beaked Dolphins heading NE at about 06:30hrs, seen from Dartangler 4nm SE from Start Point. Further out (approx. 30nm) 20+ European Storm-petrels and a Bonxie.

English Channel, Lyme Bay
1 Great Skua and 1 Puffin seen 11 miles due South of Seaton, Devon, during an angling trip. Sighting reported by John Wallington, skipper of Outcast, Seaton.