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As our home area you can check this website for details of species
and sightings. P&O's the Pride of Bilbao is the premier
vessel to cruise to Spain, offering a regular, comfortable and cost
effective means of travelling through a variety of cetacean habitats
from the English coast.
There are 4 main areas the route passes through, these are the
English Channel, the continental shelf waters off Brittany, the
deep water of the Abyssal plain and the submarine canyons off the
north coast of Spain. Different species are associated with different
areas such as the regular Beaked Whale sightings over the submarine
canyons or the movement of Common Dolphin to overwinter off the
Brittany peninsula.
Well over 20 cetacean species (more than a quarter of the world
total) have been recorded in the bay with new records still being
added in recent years. Numbers can be well into the thousands for
dolphins and over 130 Fin Whale have been recorded on a single trip
in late summer. It is clear that the bay is important not just for
cetaceans but also for birds, as good numbers of many species are
recorded each year.
When to Watch
We record whale and dolphin sightings all year round, although
we cannot guarantee what you will see and when, as weather conditions,
time of year and the movement of marine animals determines what
you will see. When travelling on the Pride of Bilbao the
Wildlife Liaison Officer
has a program of events to assist passengers.
To book a trip on any of P&O Ferries' routes, please
book 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
when booked through this link will earn funding for our
research (not all trip types are available through the
website).
Trips
This year a variety of whale watching trips are
being run in the Bay of Biscay. Each set of trips is run slightly
differently in terms of group size and route. All trips are tour-led
by experienced guides and provide opportunities to experience the
whales and dolphins of the region to suit.
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. These follow the success of previous trips.
Check the sightings from previous Whale and Dolphin Special trips as well as BDRP's news and sightings, as a good diversity of wildlife was
recorded for the region last summer.
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:
* 9-12 July 2010
* 12-15 July 2010
* 16-19 September 2010
* 19-22 September 2010
For reservations please call 08716 64 64 64 & quote "Whale and Dolphin Special 83680."
What's included?
- En suite cabin accommodation
- Full programme of events including deck watches and presentations
- Plus don't forget to make use of the extensive range of onboard facilities during your Mini Cruise to Bilbao.
Upgrades are available to outside cabins and inclusive meal packages, please call the reservation line for details.
Places are limited to 150 per cruise so hurry and book now!
Terms and conditions apply. We regret these trips are not suitable for children under 10 years of age. As with all Wildlife Watching adverse
weather conditions can affect sightings and no guarantees of sightings can be given, this is reflected in the WLO Reports.
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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..
Biscay Dolphin Research Programme (BDRP) has been conducting whale, dolphin and seabird surveys of the English Channel and Bay
of Biscay each month, year-round continuously since 1995. BDRP is an award-winning project within the newly established charity
Marinelife that aims to further the conservation of whales, dolphins, seabirds and other marine life through scientific study and
educational activities. Because of the work we have undertaken, the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay is now recognised as one
of the most important areas in the world for whales and dolphins!
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 completely sold out. Please watch this space
for news of our 2001 workshops and trips.
Cost is £145 per person based on two people sharing a 2 bunk inside cabin. Full payment is required at the time of booking. A single
supplement of £30 is charged for anyone wanting a single occupancy cabin.
IMPORTANT: Places are limited to just 30 participants per workshop so advance booking is recommended to guarentee a place!
For an itinerary and booking form, please click here: ITINERARY/BOOKING
FORM
For enquiries please contact Emma Webb on 01621 856536
or info@marine-life.org.uk
Stages découverte des
baleines 2009
Du 12 au 15 juillet, du 11 au 14 Août (avec bus) et du 10
au 13 Septembre 2009.
la L.P.O. Aquitaine organise deux traversées
sur le Ferry Pride of Bilbao entre Bilbao et Portsmouth aller et
retour pour vous apprendre à identifier les cétacés.
D'autres
détails
Recommended Field Guides
Cetaceans: Whales, Dolphins and Seals: A Field Guide to the Marine Mammals of the World by Hadoram Shirihai,
A & C Black Publishers Ltd, 2006
OR
Whales and Dolphins of the European Atlantic by Dylan Walker and Graeme Cresswell, Wildguides, 2008
Both of the books are available from us. For more information and
to order, please follow this link: Shop
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