Sightings Archive.

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December

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 20 - 22 December 2005 - Jackie Smith, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Weather conditions good for both legs: Southbound 1-2, Northbound 3 and blue skies.
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 114, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 2

BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 17 - 19 December 2006 - Russell Neave, John Arnott, Dan Brown

Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 20, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 296, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 5, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 52, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 14, Dolphin Sp. 3

Eider Somateria mollissima 4, Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 124, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 528, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 96, Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 10, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 71, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 6, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 7, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 44, Little Gull Larus minutus 1, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 54, Gull Sp. 250, Guillemot Uria aalge 68, Razorbill Alca torda 1, Auk Sp. 10

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 14 - 16 December 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Weather conditions fair deteriorating to near gale
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis circa 500

The movement of Common Dolphin up the Channel continues.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 11 - 13 December 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Difficult to Fair observation conditions
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 134, 1 Dead Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus (possible) in Santurtzi Harbour

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 8 - 10 December 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Weather conditions Southbound Gale Force 8 down to Force 4; Northbound Excellent viewing conditions - wind NE 3-4
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 1350

Once again the large group of 1000 circa observed in a similar position to last trip.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 5 - 7 December 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Weather conditions Southbound Force 5-6 with heavy swell and squalls; Northbound Force 6>3 with heavy squalls

Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 1200 (inclusive of one large pod of circa 1000 situated in the most easterly position in the English Channel this year), Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 5 (including 1 juvenile)

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 2 - 4 December 2005 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Weather conditions Southbound Force 11; Northbound Force 8 with heavy swell
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 3, Dolphin species 12

Due to weather conditions AMBAR survey aborted.

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November

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 29 November - 1 December 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 210, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 120, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 45

The seasonal movement of Common Dolphin into the Southwest approaches to the English Channel continues with some groups well into the Channel.

The ship's timings allowed monitoring of the area close to the Northern Shelf Break and both Striped Dolphin and Bottlenose Dolphin were encountered - Striped Dolphin on the shelf and associating with Bottlenose Dolphin.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 26 - 28 November 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Northerly Force 4-7 winds
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 171, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 2

BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 23 - 25 November 2006 - Nigel Symes, Bob Groves, Derek Barber

Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 133, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 8

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 251, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 1, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 1, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 335, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 3, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 25, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 10, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 4, Common Gull Larus canus 9, Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 5, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 6, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 229, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 17, Little Gull Larus minutus 3, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 1, Puffin Fratercula arctica 9, Guillemot Uria aalge 16, Razorbill Alca torda 1

Stock Dove Columba oenas 5, Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 1, Starling Sturnus vulgaris 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 20 - 22 November 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP / BDRP Research Team on survey

Easterly Force 5-7 winds
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 112, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 8, Dolphin species 2, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 1

Migrants birds included Song Thrush, Starling, Stock Dove.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 17 - 20 November 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Excellent Southbound viwing conditions, difficult Northbound
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 2000+, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 3, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1

Common Dolphin seasonal movement progressing Northbound, but only small numbers in the Channel. Mainly associated with the shelf waters of Northern Biscay.
Fin Whale considerably decreased.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 14 - 16 November 2005 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Difficult viewing conditions
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 13, Dolphin Species 2, Large Rorqual blow 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 10 - 14 November 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 517, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 1, Large Rorqual blow 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 7 - 10 November 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Difficult observation conditions
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 642

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 5 - 7 November 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Weather fair southbound. Early Northbound excellent, but rapid deterioration to gale conditions.
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 659, Cuvier´s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 3, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 15, Sei Whale Balaenoptera borealis 1 - probable, but close proximity to 2 Fin Whale.

The sightings of the large numbers of Shearwaters witnessed this Autumn has finally come to an end with just small numbers of Sooty Shearwater and Balearic Shearwater being seen.

Note the still relatively high numbers of Fin Whale being encountered.

AMBAR Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 2 - 4 November 2005 -
Antonio Vázquez, Maria Ovando, Marcos Zarraga

Common Dolphin Delphinus delphinus 537, Unidentified Dolphin 4

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 9, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 7, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 1, Storm-petrel Hydrobates Pelagicus 1, Leach's Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa 7, Gannet Morus bassanus 425, Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius 1, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 39, Common Gull Larus canus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 4, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 17, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 95, Larus sp. 38, Puffin Fratercula arctica 13, Guillemot Uria aalge 40, Razorbill Alca torda 5, Alcidae sp. 21, Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 2, Red-throated Diver Gavia stellata 1, Meadow Pipit Anthus pretensis 10, Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba 2, Starling Sturnus vulgaris 29

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 2 - 4 November 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Weather very poor - gale conditions.
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 24, Whale species 1

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October

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 30 October - 1 November 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Conditions southbound Gale; Northbound good, but obviously restricted daylight at this time of year.

Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 604, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 6, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1

The Sperm Whale was one of the most southerly I have observed in Southern Biscay.

As an observation, I feel that the seasonal movement of Common Dolphin into the southwest approaches / English Channel is late in starting.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 27 - 29 October 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Conditions southbound near Gale - Gale; Northbound excellent
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 14, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 35, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 3, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 6, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 2, Cuvier´s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 24 - 26 October 2005 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao (with Dan Brown assisting observations)

Conditions southbound fresh to near gale; Northbound fair - good
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 35, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 35+, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 130, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus/Large rorqual blows 22, Dolphin species 32, Beaked whale species 1, Breaching whale 1

BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 21 - 23 October 2005 - James Phillips, Jo Wharam, John Day

Fair to poor viewing conditions
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 52, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 54, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 7, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 6, Large rorqual species 1, Dolphin species 20+, Ocean sunfish Mola mola 5

Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis 1, Cory's Shearwater Puffinus diomedea 161, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 348, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 11, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 4, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 9, Wilson's Petrel Oceanites oceanicus 1, Leach's Petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa 2, Small Hydrobatidae Petrel species 16, Gannet Morus bassanus 685, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 1, Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres 1, Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius 3, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 34, Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 1, Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus 3, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 1, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 7, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 5, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 6, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 6, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini 1, Guillemot Uria aalge 25, Auk species 9, Kingfisher Alcedo atthis 1, Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 18, Pipit species 3, 'Alba' Wagtail species 1, Song Thrush Turdus philomelos 1, Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 1, Starling Sturnus vulgaris 9, Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs 1, Linnet Carduelis canabina 1, Goldfinch Carduelis carduelis 4, Siskin Carduelis spinus 5, Finch species 4

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 17 - 20 October 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Good to fair viewing conditions
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 510, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus/Large rorqual 17, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 4, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 30, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 20, Dolphin sp 200, Beaked Whale sp 3

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 14 - 17 October 2005 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Good to fair viewing conditions
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 732, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus/Large rorqual 25, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 4, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 12

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 12 - 14 October 2005 - Jackie Smith, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Good to fair viewing conditions
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 505, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 20, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 6, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 1, Dolphin sp 20

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 8 - 11 October 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Weather conditions fair
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 250, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 90, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 10, Dolphin sp 10

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 6 - 8 October 2005 - Jackie Smith, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Good viewing conditions
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 120, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 63, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus/Large Rorqual blows 8, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 1, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Dolphin sp 7, Beaked Whale sp 2

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 3 - 5 October 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Weather conditions good on both legs
Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 550, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 79, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 1, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 13, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus/Large Rorqual blows 14, Sei Whale Balaenoptera borealis 2, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 3

Many migrants including Song Thrush, Meadow Pipits, Wagtails, Geese, Avocets and Merlin. Still good numbers of Great Shearwaters, Sooty Shearwaters and some Cory's Shearwaters.

AMBAR Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 1 - 3 October 2005 - Antonio Vázquez, Altair Gonzalez, Marcos Zarraga

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 14, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncates 82, Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphinus 623, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 3, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1, Cuvier´s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 1

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 4, Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 1, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 73, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 526, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 74, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 3, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 2, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 1063, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 4, Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 5, Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus 1, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 126, Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 3, Long tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus 1, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini 7, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 20, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 4, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 12, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 8, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 1, Puffin Fratercula arctica 2, Guillemot Uria aalge 40

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September

BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 24 - 26 September 2005 - Russell Neave, Sara Thompson, Emma Webb

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 2, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 82, Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 87, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 14, Dolphin species 5, Whale species 4, small cetacean species 4, Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 3

Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 5, Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 387, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 208, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 74, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 3, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 3, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 63, Gannet Morus bassanus 691, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 40, Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 2, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini 10, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1, Grey Heron Ardea cinera 2, Avocet Recursions avosetta 3, Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus 1, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 16, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 1, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 16, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 1, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 1, Guillemot Uria aalge 1, Sand Martin Riparia riparia 3, Swallow Hirundo rustica 5, Wagtail Species 2, Finch Species 47, Pipit Species 3

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 21 - 23 September 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 16, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 53, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 40, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis ~500, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 20, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba ~100, Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae (possible) 1

Immense Tuna boils and frenzy with Shearwaters Gannets and Fin Whale. Possible Humpback breaching and dolphin.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry BDRP Cetacean & Seabird public cruise 17-20 September 2005 - Clive Martin, Tom Brereton, John Arnott, Dan Brown, Amanda Hyam, Adrian Shephard

Excellent weather conditions
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 7, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 56, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 3, 2 unidentified Mesoplodon (Sowerby's types), Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 16, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 3, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 50, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 795, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 134, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 543, Dolphin sp. 120

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 4, Tuna sp Thunnus sp

Seabirds included Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 1,762, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 286, Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis 2, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 1, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 3, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 18, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini 7, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 3, Wilson's Petrel Oceanites oceanicus (possible) 1, Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 6, Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus 2, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 46, Black Tern Chlidonias niger, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea

Land birds included Kestrel, Peregrine, Redstart, Whitethroat, Grey Wagtail. Also an unlucky Firecrest in Santurtzi, which was trodden on (not by BDRP) outside before flying into the ferry terminal building, where it flew into one of the windows (twice). It was OK later and flew off (after being traumatised further for good photos - shame about the sleepy eye though!).

Theme Cruise Report>>

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 15 - 17 September 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Difficult viewing conditions
Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus/Large Rorqual 33, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 159, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 7, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 29, Beaked Whale Sp breach 1.

Fin Whale observed close to Ushant

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 9 - 11 September 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Reasonable Viewing conditions Southbound, Gale Northbound
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 110+, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 3, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 770, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 30, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 17, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 20, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 1 (breach), Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 20, possible Kogia species 1

Dorset Sighting: Dolphin in West Bay

20 dolphin sp. (probable Common), seen in West Bay during the first week of September by local fisherman

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 5 - 8 September 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Excellent viewing conditions both legs
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 2, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus\Large rorqual 116, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 1,085, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 40, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 47, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 79, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 4, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 3, Mesoplodont species 4

Good showings of Great/Cory's/Sooty Shearwater and one Little Shearwater seen.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 2 - 5 September 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Good viewing conditions both legs
Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 6, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus\Large rorqual blows 30, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 450, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus circa 30, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 200, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 2, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 25+, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 2, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 3

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 31 August - 2 September 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Northern Bottlenose Whale Hyperoodon ampullatus 2 (probable), Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus\Large rorqual 61 , Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 340, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 140, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 3, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2

Many Tuna "boils" with huge sardine / baitfish shoals.
Excellent sightings of Great/Cory/Sooty Shearwaters.

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August

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 28 - 30 August 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Excellent observation conditions
Sowerby's Beaked Whale Mesoplodon bidens 3, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 4, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 20, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 357, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 3, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 156, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 91, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus\Large rorqual 75

Large numbers of Tuna shoals.

Great, Cory's, Manx, Sooty, Little Shearwaters, Sabine's Gull.

Note
The concentration of Fin Whale in one section of the transect was the largest that I have witnessed with over 52 being counted in a 1 hour period.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 25 - 28 August 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Fair observation conditions with force 6 at times
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 6, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 30, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 32, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 3, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 8, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus\Large rorqual 20

BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 21 - 24 August 2005 - Nigel Symes, Jeff Picksley, Darren Fanner

Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 28, Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 430, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 11, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 9, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 3 (probable), Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 17, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 8

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 3

Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis 2, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 1,098, Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 398, Grey Phalarope Phalaropus fulicarius 1, Sabine's Gull Larus sabini 5, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 1, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 5, Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 52, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 11, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 82, Gannet Morus bassanus 570, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 13, Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus 1 (another 1 was probable), Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 168, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 1, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 6, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 4, Black Tern Chlidonias niger 18, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 2, Turnstone Arenaria interpres 6, Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe 1, ‘Commic’ Tern Sterna sp 24

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 19 - 21 August 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Difficult viewing due to weather conditions and late schedule
English Channel northbound excellent viewing conditions
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 25, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 24, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 4, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris (breaching) 1, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 18, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 3

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 16 - 19 August 2005 - Jackie Smith, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Late schedule but fair viewing conditions consequently very few sightings
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 3, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 170, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 4

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 13 - 15 August 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Mirror calm to good viewing conditions
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 26, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 191, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 9, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 3, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 20, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 60, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus\Large rorqual 33, Beaked Whale sp. (probable Sowerby's Beaked Whale) 2

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 4, Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 25,
Shark sp. probable Blue or Tope 5, lots of Tuna frenzies observed
(mirror calm conditions aided these observations)

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 9 - 12 August 2005 - Jackie Smith, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Viewing conditions good to fair
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 36, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 473, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 1010, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 4, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 35, Dolphin sp. 10, Large rorqual blows 12

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 7 - 9 August 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Calm Southbound, Force 6-7 Northbound day 1, Mirror calm Northbound day 2
Thanks to all the experienced observers onboard
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 108, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 47, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 15, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 8, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 827, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas (in Channel) 12 with calf, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 5

Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 4, Sunfish Mola mola 18

Flock of Great/Cory's/Balearic/Manx with reports of a Little Shearwater not seen by all and a possible Levantine Shearwater.

AMBAR Survey: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 5 - 8 August 2005 - Olatz Lazkano, Ilazki Goenaga, Marcos Zarraga

Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 13, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 448, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 8, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 33, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 3, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 201, Dolphin species 92

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 3, Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 3, Tuna species 8 schools

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 4 - 6 August 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Good viewing conditions though out
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 32, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 38, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 180, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 77, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 125, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 9

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 1 - 3 August - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP, Matt Hobbs BDRP (tour leading for Company of Whales)

Excellent sea conditions and a different transect yielded incredible sightings of Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 3,701. Many juveniles were seen in the groups, which on one occasion were in excess of 1,200 individuals.

Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus/Large Rorqual 48, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 47, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 362, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 3, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 1 (reported by others), Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 8, Beaked Whale sp. 3, Dolphin sp. 21

Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 1, Sunfish Mola mola 12, Small Billfish 1

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July

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 29 - 31 July 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Fair to difficult Northbound
Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 5, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 192, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 10, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 10, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus/Large Rorqual 13

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 26 - 28 July 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Southbound very difficult viewing due to heavy rain
Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 1, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 94, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 35, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba circa 100, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 3, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 13, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 4, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 4, Beaked whale species 2

Several flocks of Great Shearwater observed feeding above bait balls.

BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 23 - 25 July 2005 - Nigel Symes, Jeff Picksley, John Day

Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 8, Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 145, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 13, Risso’s Dolphin Grampus griseus 2, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 6, Cuvier’s Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 1, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 16, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 3, Large rorqual species 1

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 7, Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 2

Wilson’s Petrel Oceanites oceanicus 1, Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 37, Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 24, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 9, Mediterranean Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 6, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 12, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 43, Gannet Morus bassanus 413, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 1, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 94, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 32, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 14, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 1, ‘Commic’ Tern Sterna sp 3

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 12, Calidris waders 2, Swift Apus apus 3

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 20 - 22 July 2005 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Fair viewing conditions
Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 35, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 308, Large Rorqual blows 3

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 13 - 16 July 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Calm Southbound, Force 4 Northbound
Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 8, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 19, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 7, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 47, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 6, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 106, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 6

Sunfish Mola mola 3, Atlantic Grey Seal Halichoerus grypus 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 10 - 13 July 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Fair viewing conditions
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 288, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 180, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 32, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 4, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 3, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 8, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 8, Rorqual blows 9, Dolphin species 672

Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 5

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 7 - 10 July 2005 (BDRP conducting the first Whale & Dolphin Theme Cruise of 2005 for P&O Ferries) - Clive Martin, Tom Brereton, James Phillips, John Arnott, Adrian Shephard, Amanda Hyam

Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 14, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 382, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 18, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 332, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 7, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 3, Humpback Whale Megaptera novaeangliae 1, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 4, Sowerby's Beaked Whale Mesoplodon bidens 4, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 5, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus/Large Rorqual 6, Dolphin species 28

Sunfish Mola mola 5, Turtle species (size indicated a Leatherback) 1, Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 3

Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 2, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 5, Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 1, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 4, Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus 12

Theme Cruise Report>> 

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 5 - 7 July 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Difficult viewing conditions
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 1,235 (one group of about 1,000), Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 15, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 28, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 3, Dead Dolphin 1

Sunfish Mola mola 7

AMBAR Survey Report: Bilbao-Portsmouth ferry 3 - 6 July 2005 - Ilazki Goenaga, Altair González, Marcos Zarraga

Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 30, Short-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 834, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 32

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 9, Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 4

Gannet Morus bassanus 429, Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 27, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 6, Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 2, Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 21, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 3, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 49, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 6, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 6, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 3, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 1, Guillemot Uria aalge 2, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 1, Rock Dove Columba livia 2

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 2 - 5 July 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Difficult viewing conditions
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 140, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 162, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 15, Dolphin sp. 150, Small Cet sp. 3

Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 4, Shark sp.

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June

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 28 June - 1 July 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Difficult viewing conditions, fair at times
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 1,336, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 250, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 5, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 1

Sunfish Mola mola 1

BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 26 - 28 June 2005 - Russell Neave, Duncan Fyfe, Chris Bielby

Fair, fog & hazy conditions throughout
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 147, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 391, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 30, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 3, Rorqual blow 1, Dolphin species 28

Billfish 1, Sunfish Mola mola 1, Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 47, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 11, Gannet Morus bassanus 272, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 3, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 90, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 27, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 119, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 29, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 10, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 4, Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 73, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 1, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 1, large Gull species 1, smaller Shearwater species 1

Swift Apus apus 12, Meadow Pipit Anthus pratensis 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 22 - 25 June 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Hazy -Fog on both legs
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 1,030, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 617, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 78, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 35, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 4

Note
As opposed to same time last year the Fin Whale is being seen in very small numbers. This may be due to prevailing hazy conditions making observation of "blows" difficult.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 19 - 22 June 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Fair conditions throughout
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 385, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 180, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 5, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 5, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 2, Dolphin sp 30

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 17 - 19 June 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Fog southbound otherwise good conditions
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 208, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 555, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 2, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 5, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 4 (inc. breaching animal), Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 4, Dead Whale 2 (1 in the English Channel probable Fin Whale)

Sunfish Mola mola 12

Cory's Shearwaters Calonectris diomedea in very large numbers 500+

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 14 - 16 June 2005 - Jackie Smith, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Generally good sea states but hazy
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 224, Mixed group of Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba and Common Dolphin with Common prevailing, estimated as 800 but probably many more, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 128, Dolphin Sp 106, Fin Whale 1, Rorqual Blows 3

Sunfish Mola mola 2

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 11 - 13 June 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Good to excellent viewing conditions
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 585, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 564, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 62, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 4, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 3, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 3 (including probable juvenile), Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 8, Dolphin species 471, Large Rorqual Blows 1

Note to Cuvier's sighting: I have never observed such behaviour as seen with this sighting. Sighted ahead and then took a short dive. Appeared again off Port Beam at about 1000mts.
Active quick rolls.... tight circling and abrupt directional changes.... "energetic" blowing.... tight group... Animals remained close to the surface as they displayed these behaviours.
8 animals in this pod - One adult scarred male observed......possible juvenile seen by others.

Interpretation
Could have been some form of sparring within group... ?
Could have been invasion by another male not seen ?
Could have been some form of calf protection as others recognised a smaller animal in the centre of the pod ?

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 8 - 11 June 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Difficult viewing for duration of voyage
Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 16, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 90, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 16, Dolphin species 45, Large Rorqual Blows - probable Fin Whale 3

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 5 - 7 June 2005 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Viewing conditions fair to calm
Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 7, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 300, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 108, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 2, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 5, Large Rorqual Blows 5, Beaked whale species 5, Dolphin species 101

Tuna species, Sunfish Mola mola 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 2 - 4 June 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Viewing conditions flat calm southbound and fair northbound
Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 4, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 9, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 126, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 139, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 181, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 7, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 2, Dolphin species 8

Tuna species, Sunfish Mola mola 2

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May

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 30 May - 1 June 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Excellent Viewing conditions
Sowerby's Beaked Whale Mesoplodon bidens (prob) 1, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 2580 (one group of circa 2000), Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 3 (2 adults, 1 calf), Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 10, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 8, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 194 (many calves), Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 37, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Whale sp subsurface 50mts ahead of bow.

BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 26 - 29 May 2005 - Adrian Shephard, Bob Graves, Darren Fanner

Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 25, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 163+, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 122, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 3, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 5 (including calf), Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 7+, Large rorqual species 4, Dolphin sp. 12

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 92, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 68, Gannet Morus bassanus 514, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 3, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 17, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 3, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 65, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 4, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 13, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 2, ‘Commic’ Tern Sterna hirundo/paradisaea 4, Guillemot Uria aalge 1, Razorbill Alca torda 2, Gull sp 8, Auk sp 2, Shearwater sp 5, Tern sp 1

Collared dove Streptopelia decaocto 2, Turtle dove Streptopelia turtur 3, Swift Apus apus 2, Yellow wagtail Motacilla flava 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 23 - 26 May 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Difficult viewing conditions
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1 (Spyhopping), Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 3, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 50, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 80, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 2, Dolphin sp 2

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 21 - 23 May 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Weather conditions throughout very difficult
Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 20, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 8, Beaked Whale sp (prob. Cuvier's) 4

Sunfish Mola mola 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 18 - 20 May 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 274, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 38, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 7 (including calf), 1 dead Large rorqual (within 2.5 nautical miles of previous sighting), 1 dead dolphin ensnared in fishing net

Collared Doves Streptopelia decaocto 14

General notes

It has been very quiet on the northern shelf and northern shelf slope for some time. This relates to the usual seasonal movement of Common Dolphin.

An ingress of Fin Whale into this area in early April has not continued. Casual data indicates this as being expected with the main seasonal ingress due as summer progresses. Fin Whale are being encountered further to the south.

On the northbound journeys patience has been required with good sightings currently taking place but predominantly close to the Northern Slope 4000-2000 mt contours.

Some very good sightings of Beaked whale species including Cuvier's and Northern Bottlenose Whale. Sperm Whale sightings overall have been good but as usual luck is required.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 15 - 17 May 2005 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Difficult viewing conditions easing for the Northbound passage
Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 12, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 6, Dolphin Sp. 10, Large Rorqual Dead

Sunfish Mola mola 3

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 12 - 14 May 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Excellent viewing conditions
Very Quiet southbound leg. Northbound was mainly mirror calm and consequently gave ideal conditions for monitoring with astonishing results!!

Northern Bottlenose Whale Hyperoodon ampullatus 4, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 1,955, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 2, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 100, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 76, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 97, Beaked Whale sp. 5, Large Whale sp. 1

Shark sp. (prob. Blue) 1, Sunfish 1

Birds on migration
Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita, Yellow Wagtail Motacilla flava, Pied Wagtail Motacilla alba, Turtle Dove Streptopelia turtur, Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto, Barn swallow Hirundo rustica, Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus, LBJs!, Egrets.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 9 - 11 May 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Previous Casual Data indicates that this is generally a quiet time for Cetacean sightings and this, as with the previous few trips, has been the case

Reasonable Viewing Conditions. 4/5 wind states
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 153, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 5, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 1, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 5, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 6 - 8 May 2005 - Jackie Smith, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Good viewing condition both legs
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 63, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 6, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2, Large Rorqual Blows 2

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 3 - 5 May 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 120 with Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 6, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 3, Beaked Sp (possible Northern Bottlenose Whale) 1

Amazing Caribbean Blue sea in Southern Biscay (probable phytoplankton blooms)

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 30 April - 2 May 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Viewing Conditions on both legs of journey varied between THICK FOG and poor visibility
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 72, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 15, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 4, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena (in deep water) 1, Beaked Species 1

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April

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 26 - 29 April 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Viewing conditions - fair to excellent Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 17, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 80, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 110, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 8, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 13, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 8

BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 24 - 27 April 2005 - James Phillips, Jo Wharam, Duncan Fyfe

Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 4, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 25, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 39, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 4, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 2, Large rorqual species 3, Dolphin sp. 7+

Ocean Sunfish Mola mola 2, Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus 2

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 57, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 18, Gannet Morus bassanus 257, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 4, Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 1, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 13, Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 1, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 1, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 3, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 65, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 4, Little Gull Larus minutus 44, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 4, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 3, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 12, Guillemot Uria aalge 4, Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 5, Gull sp 1, Auk sp 4

Peregrine Falco peregrinus 1, Merlin Falco columbarius 1, Collared dove Streptopelia decaocto 3, Barn swallow Hirundo rustica 17, Passerine sp. 5, Pipit sp. (Anthus) 3, Phylloscopus warbler spp. 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 21 - 23 April 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Viewing conditions Southbound - Difficult, Northbound - Good, 31 sightings Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 178, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 4, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 6, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 16, Sperm Whale (bull) Physeter macrocephalus 1 (fluked), Large sp Rorqual 7 (prob. Fin), Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 18 - 20 April 2005 - Jackie Smith, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao

Difficult viewing conditions Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 20, Large Rorqual Blows (indicating 3 animals)

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 15 - 17 April 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Poor viewing conditions Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 38

Dorset Sightings: Common Dolphin, Bottlenose Dolphin & Harbour Porpoise

50 Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis off Portland on 15 April (have been reported of late in Lyme Bay by yachtsmen/fishermen)

2 Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena in Weymouth Bay on 15 April

Up to 15 Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus seen regularly of late off Portland/West Bay

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 12 - 14 April 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Excellent viewing conditions for both south and northbound, 30 sightings
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 216, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 65 (& 2 dead in the vicinity of Spanish mackerel fishing fleet), Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 7, Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 6 (4 adults & 2 calves - see photo), Large sp Rorqual 15 (prob. Fin)

Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 6, Chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 9 - 11 April 2005 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Fair to good viewing conditions
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 77+, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 5, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 1, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 7, Large Rorqual Blows (probable Fin Whale) 9, Dolphin Sp 6, Medium whale breach (possible Beaked Whale sp) 1.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 5 - 8 April 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Viewing conditions good
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 100+, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 6, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 10

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 3 - 5 April 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer & AMBAR

Viewing conditions difficult to fair - fog!
Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 3, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 5, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 102, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 1, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus ~10, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 5,

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March

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 31 March - 2 April 2005 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Difficult viewing conditions, especially northbound
Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 2, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 8, Fin Whale
Balaenoptera physalus 2, Large Rorqual Blows (in the vicinity of the two confirmed
Fin Whales) 3, Dolphin Sp 28.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 28 - 30 March 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Very poor viewing conditions overall
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 47, Atlantic White-sided Dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus 3, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2

BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 24 - 27 March 2005 - John Arnott, Dan Brown, Karen Anderson

Variable viewing conditions, 29 sightings
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 120, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 64, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba56, Atlantic White-sided Dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus12, Beaked Whale breach 1, Beaked Whale breach with 3 probable Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris in breach vicinity, Dolphin species 10

Sunfish Mola mola 1

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 64, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 6, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 1, Gannet Morus bassanus 277, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 1, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 7, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 9, Common Gull Larus canus 3, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 1, Yellow-legged Gull Larus cachinnans 5, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 168, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 35, Little Gull Larus minutus 1, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 4, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 3, Puffin Fratercula arctica 1, Guillemot Uria aalge 52, Razorbill Alca torda 3, Small wader sp. 12, Gull sp. 3, Auk sp. 13, Wood Pigeon Columba palumbus 1, Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 1, Starling Sturnus vulgaris 5

WLO NOTE: Amazing display by Bottlenose Dolphin with much acrobatics. The Atlantic White-sided Dolphin seen clearly and close to ship.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 19 - 21 March 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Conditions fair to calm, hazy throughout. 29 sightings
Killer Whale Orcinus orca 1 (lone juvenile), Northern Bottlenose Whale Hyperoodon ampullatus 3, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 9 (inc. small juvenile), Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 67, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 23, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 6, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 70, Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 2, dead dolphin sp 1

Sunfish 2, Shark sp 1

Swallow, Chiffchaff, Meadow Pipits

1 sheep balloon (full sized) with string attached !!!!

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 16 - 18 March 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 100, Bull Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 1, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 30
Note that the Striped Dolphin seen for the first time this year on the Northern Shelf Slope.....daylight lengthens!

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 12 - 15 March 2005 - John Arnott, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Calm sea. Excellent viewing conditions. Route; 180 degrees
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 136, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 4 in association with Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 2, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 1 (probable), Dolphin sp 4, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 1 dead.

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 9 - 12 March 2005 - Jackie Smith, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 100, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 1, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 8, Large Rorqual Blows (probable Fin Whale) 2, Dolphin Sp 10, Dolphin carcass 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 7 - 9 March 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Calm Conditions
Atlantic White-sided Dolphin Lagenorhynchus acutus 6, seen shortly after leaving Bilbao and in association with a large fishing fleet (Mackerel, sardine and anchovy fishing season.)
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1 (breaching and tail smacking), Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 1, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 10, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 103 (Note that as per previous years the Common Dolphin groups at this time of the year are generally small in number and that the totals being seen are in line with a probable departure from the South West Approaches.)

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 3 - 6 March 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Difficult viewing conditions
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 96

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February

BDRP Survey Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 26 - 28 February 2005 - Darren Fanner, Adrian Shepherd, Emma Webb

Variable viewing conditions
25 Sightings
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 139+, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 4, Beaked Whale Sp. 1, Small Cetacean Sp. 1, Dolphin Sp. 25+

Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis 29, Gannet Morus bassanus 365, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 9, Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla 23, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 14, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 83, Guillemot Uria aalge 35, Razorbill Alca torda 3, Gull sp. 16, Auk sp. 19, Song Thrush, Large Jellyfish

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 22 - 25 February 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Risso's Dolphin Grampus griseus 2, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 645(One group of 600), Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 25, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 1

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 19 - 22 February 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Viewing conditions fair to poor
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 294+, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 10, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 2 (probable)

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 17 - 19 February 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Excellent viewing conditions for southbound leg
Sperm Whale Physeter macrocephalus 1, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 1, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 10, Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 903, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 8, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 3 (possible), Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 6

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 13 - 16 February 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Difficult viewing conditions
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 48

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 11 - 13 February 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Heavy Swell and Gales made observation difficult
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 160 (13 groups)

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 8 - 10 February 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Fair conditions improving to mirror calm in S. Biscay
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 441, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 30, Harbour Porpoise Phocoena phocoena 2 (probable)

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 4 - 7 February 2005 - Amanda Hyam, BDRP Relief Wildlife Officer

Good viewing conditions
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 129, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 2, Fin Whale Balaenoptera physalus 3, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata1, Cuvier's Beaked Whale Ziphius cavirostris 1, Beaked whale sp 1 (possible)

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 1 - 4 February 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Fair Conditions prevailed
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 52, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 4, Striped Dolphin Stenella coeruleoalba 6, Long-finned Pilot Whale Globicephala melas 3

Dorset Sightings: Bottlenose Dolphin

Up to 7 Bottlenose Dolphin including a small calf on the 5th off Portland.

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January

WLO Report: Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 29 January - 1 February 2005 - Clive Martin, BDRP Wildlife Officer, Pride of Bilbao, Director BDRP

Fair Conditions prevailed throughout trip
Common Dolphin Delphinus delphis 156, Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 4, Minke Whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata 1 (probable)

Dorset Sightings: Bottlenose Dolphin

Up to 8 Bottlenose Dolphin including a small calf on the 20th, 21st, 24th 26th & 31st off Portland.

7 Bottlenose Dolphin off Durlston on the 30th.

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