Common Dolphin

Research EducationConservation

 

Mission Statement.

The Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) is a non-profit voluntary conservation body established in 1995 that aims to further the conservation of cetaceans (whales and dolphins) and other marine life through scientific investigation and educational activities.

On this site find out more about the many different species of whales, dolphins and seabirds that are seen from P&O Ferries' Pride of Bilbao, as well as more about the work of the BDRP research teams and Wildlife Liaison Officer.
Contacts and details of group merchandise are available and don't forget to check regularly for the latest sightings.

Supporters of BDRP can find further information about Splash newsletter and the standing order supporter's scheme here: Supporter's Toolkit

Marinelife/BDRP Blog

Marinelife/Biscay Dolphin Research Programme has now set up a Blog so we can share with you our sightings and trip reports in more detail. We do hope you enjoy reading the blog. Our researchers and wildlife officers will be posting entries from trips on all our different routes so please do check back regularly for updates.

Please click on the Blog icon to be forwarded to the Marinelife/BDRP blog.


Common Dolphin

P&O Trips

ANNOUNCEMENT: BDRP Cetacean & Seabird Identification Workshops for 2010 ALL SOLD OUT!

Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin

Biscay Dolphin Research Programme is delighted to announce the Cetacean & Seabird Identification Workshops for 2010 on the P&O cruiseferry ‘Pride of Bilbao’are now available for booking. Come and join some of the most experienced cetacean and seabird researchers in the UK for a fully interactive workshop where you will learn all the basic skills needed to observe and identify these fantastic animals at sea.

This workshop is ideal for anyone with a general interest in marine wildlife, students studying Marine Biology or similar subjects, people who want some firsthand experience of field work as well any prospective Marine Mammal Observers (MMO’s).

The 2010 workshop dates are now sold out. Please watch this space for news on our 2011 workshops and trips.

 

For further information and all booking details, please click here:
Details >>

ANNOUNCEMENT: BDRP Whale & Dolphin Watching Theme Cruises for 2010 now available for booking.

Whale & Dolphin Watching Theme Cruises

We are delighted to announce that in association with P&O Ferries, BDRP will be running four special Whale and Dolphin theme cruises this year, sailing over four days from Portsmouth to Bilbao and back, through one of the best localities in the world for whale watching.


Prices are from £99, inclusive of cabin (based on 2 people sharing an inside ensuite 2 berth cabin) and the trips are running on the following dates:

* 16-19 September 2010
* 19-22 September 2010

For further information and all booking details, please click here:
Details >>

Please book your trips for any of P&O Ferries' routes through our website where possible, click this link for details.
The premier ferry company for travel through the English Channel and Bay of Biscay between England, France and Spain. Their continued support in our partnership facilitates our research and educational programmes aboard the Pride of Bilbao.
Any internet product that P&O Ferries sells through their website, which includes minicruises, when booked through this link will earn funding for our research.

 

Whale Watching

Click for details

 

Latest News and Sightings

28/08/10 - BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 20 - 23 August 2010 - Russell Neave, Andy Philips

Large Rorqual sp. 1, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 12, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 9, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 47, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 201, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 21, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 31, Dolphin Sp. 36, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 27

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 6, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 62, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 5, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 1, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 4, European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 13, Gannet Morus bassanus 250, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 6, Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 1, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 2, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 10, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 1, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini 8, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 22, Black Tern Chlidonias niger 1, Puffin Fratercula arctica 1, Guillemot Uria aalge 1, Tern Sp. 2, Large Gull Sp. 2

Sanderling Calidris alba 1, Dunlin Calidris alpina 1, Sand Martin Riparia riparia 1

more >>

18/08/10 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 15 - 17 August 2010 - John Arnott, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Research Teams Manager

Weather: Southbound NE-NNW 5, Northbound N 2-1
Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Rorqual Sp. 1, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 6, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 3, Beaked Whale Sp. 5, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 37, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 381, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 2, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 240, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 2, Dolphin Sp. 6, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 45, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 2

more >>
Common Dolphin

Common Dolphin

14/08/10 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 6 - 8 August 2010 - John Arnott, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Research Teams Manager

Weather: Southbound SW 5-2, Northbound NNE-NNW 2-4
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 1, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Rorqual Sp. 7, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 23, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 1, Beaked Whale Sp. 1, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 21, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 1302, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 3, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 57, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 115, Dolphin Sp. 342, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 4

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 4, Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 1

more >>

06/08/10 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 3 - 5 August 2010 - John Arnott, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Research Teams Manager

Weather: Southbound WNW - WSW 3-4, Northbound NW 5-6
Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2, Beaked Whale Sp. 3, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 9, Whale Sp. breach 1 (possible Sperm Whale), Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 533, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 4, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 4, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 5, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 2

more >>

04/08/10 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 30 July - 2 August 2010 - Clive Martin, BDRP Senior Wildlife Officer, Martin Gillingham

Weather: Southbound NW 3, Northbound NW 2-3
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 2, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 6, Large Rorqual sp. 2, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 3, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 10, Beaked Whale Sp. 2, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 38, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 1061, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 102, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 19, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 30

more >>

31/07/10 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 27 - 30 July 2010 - Clive Martin, BDRP Senior Wildlife Officer

Weather: Southbound NW 3, Northbound NW 3-4, 0 in the English Channel
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 2, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 3 (1 breached 12 times), Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 2, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 1, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 8, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 491, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 97, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 14, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 68

more >>
Minerva

Minerva

29/07/10 – News: An Educational Research Trip to Iceland

Marinelife is very pleased to announce a continuation of our exciting collaboration with Swan Hellenic which will see us on board the Minerva on her scheduled round trip from Dover, UK to Iceland via the Orkney Islands, Shetland Islands, clockwise round Iceland and Faroe Islands, which left on Wednesday 28th July 2010. Emma Webb and Mike Bailey from Marinelife will be carrying out an extensive passenger education programme as well as monitoring marine wildlife seen during the entire trip.

We hope to be able to keep you updated with our progress and sightings on a daily basis from the ship. Please do keep visiting our blog to read the latest updates and to see the latest photographs. We do hope you enjoy reading about this exciting research trip.

Marinelife Blog >>

01/02/10 - Trip Update: BDRP Biscay trips running as planned in summer 2010

Following P&O Ferries announcement of the Portsmouth-Bilbao route withdrawal at the end of September 2010, we would like to reassure all supporters and passengers that our Whale & Dolphin Theme Cruises and Cetacean & Seabird Identification Workshops will be running as planned. Places are going fast on the Workshops and we anticipate that these will be a complete sell-out. Theme Cruises are also now available for booking via P&O Ferries. Please click here: BISCAY TRIPS for more information on both these trips. We will also have a Wildlife Officer on every sailing until the ship stops running in late September.

For more information about the Bilbao service withdrawal please visit the P&O website at: P&O Press Release

Contact Information:

Telephone +44 (0)1202 827957
Email Clive Martin

Email Darren Fanner with questions or comments about this web site.