Research • Education • Conservation
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/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.
P&O Trips
To book a trip on any of P&O Ferries' routes, please
book through your trips through this link where possible.
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
Latest News and Sightings
01/09/08 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 27 - 29 August 2008 - Clive Martin, Senior Wildlife Officer, Director BDRP
Weather: Southbound W 2-3, Northbound NE 2-5
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 37, Minke Whale Balaenoptera
acutorostrata 4,
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Harbour Porpoise |
Rorqual Sp. 29, Beaked Whale Sp. 1 (breach), Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 656, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 12, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 43, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 57, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 7
Bird Report courtesy of Ken Dunningham, Mark Garner
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 11, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris
diomedea 3, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 4, Macaronesian
(Little) Shearwater Puffinus baroli 1, Manx Shearwater Puffinus
puffinus 10, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 7, European
Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 19, Great Skua Stercorarius
skua 8, Parasitic (Arctic) Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 2,
Common Tern Sterna hirundo 6, Black Tern Chlidonias niger 2...
01/09/08 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 21 - 23 August 2008 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer
Weather: Southbound SSW – WSW 3-0 , Northbound NW 6-3
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 25, Minke Whale Balaenoptera
acutorostrata 2, Rorqual Sp. 94, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus
1, Beaked Whale Sp. 1 (breach), Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala
melas 12, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 250, Risso's
Dolphin Grampus griseus 3, Striped Dolphin Stenella
coeruleoalba 128, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus
17, Dolphin Sp. 31, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 6
01/09/08 (updated) - BDRP & Ultimate Pelagics Cruise Report: MV Princess Danae 16 - 21 August 2008
Fin Whale Balaentoptera physalus 40, Large Rorqual spp 103, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 4, Sowerby's Beaked Whale Mesoplodon bidens 1, Beaked Whale spp 4, Long-Finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 53, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 29, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 122, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis Dolphin spp 44, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 11, Unidentified Whale spp 2.
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Cory's Shearwater |
Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 3, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 122, Tuna spp 2, Turtle spp 1
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 235, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 668, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 35, Macaronesian Shearwater Puffinus baroli 6, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 67, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 58, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 14, European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 267, Wilson's Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus 6, Gannet Morus bassanus 2663, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 50, Red (Grey) Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius 5, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 113, Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus 5, Parasitic (Arctic) Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 26, Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus 12, Little Gull Larus minutus 1, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini 70, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 245, Black Tern Chlidonias niger 19, Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 2...
28/08/08 - STOP PRESS: More 2-berth cabins released for September 2008 Whale & Dolphin Theme Cruises. DON'T MISS OUT - BOOK NOW TO AVOID DISAPPOINTMENT!
There are still spaces available on the following Whale and Dolphin Theme Cruises
* 16 - 19 September 2008
* 19 - 22 September 2008
and P&O Ferries have released more 2-berth cabins which are available for booking now. Please note that the booking system is operated by P&O and a limited number of 2-berth cabins are released at a time. If there are no 2-berth cabins available when you try to book, please keep trying as there will be some more released every few days.
Prices are from £99, inclusive of cabin (based on 2 people sharing an inside ensuite 2 berth cabin). For reservations please call 08716 64 64 64 & quote “Whale and Dolphin Mini-cruise 83680”
.28/08/08 - BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 24 - 26 August 2008 - Duncan Fyfe, Andrew Boulden, Carley Elson
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 32, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Large Rorqual sp. 22, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 2, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 9, Beaked Whale Sp. 1, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 8, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 569, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 65, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 7, Dolphin Sp. 15, Cetacean Sp. 1, Blackfish sp. 3, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 9, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 9, Shark Sp. 1
Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 57, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 14, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 3, Macaronesian Shearwater Puffinus baroli 3, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 5, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 7, large Shearwater Sp. 32, European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 10, Petrel sp. 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 629, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 30, Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus 1, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 150, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini 5...
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Sunfish |
28/08/08 - WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry Pride of Bilbao 24 - 26 August 2008 - Emma Webb, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Marinelife Community & Operations Officer
Weather: Southbound NNE-NNW 4 - 2; Northbound NNE-NNW 1/2
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 2, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 33, Large Rorqual spp 28, Sei Whale
Balaenoptera borealis 1 (possible - reported by others), Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Long-Finned Pilot
Whale Globicephala melas 16, Large Blackfish spp 3, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 11, Large Beaked Whale spp 2, Medium Beaked Whale
spp 3 (2 breaching), Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 54, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 553, Striped
Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 80, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 14, Dolphin spp 7, Large Whale spp 3
Large shark spp 1, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 15
Contact Information:
Telephone +44 (0)1202 827957
Email Clive Martin
Email Darren Fanner with questions or comments about this web site.
Registered Charity No. 1110884
Copyright of BDRP 2008