BDRP conducting the second Whale & Dolphin Theme Cruise of 2005 for P&O Ferries
Portsmouth-Bilbao ferry 17 - 20 September 2005 - Clive Martin, Tom Brereton, John Arnott, Adrian Shephard, Amanda Hyam, Dan Brown
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
Sunfish Mola mola, Tuna sp Thunnus sp
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus 18, Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea 286, Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis 1,762, Little Shearwater Puffinus assimilis 2, Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 3, Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 1, Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 1, Wilson's Petrel Oceanites oceanicus (possible) 1, Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus 6, Great Skua Stercorarius skua 46, Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus 2, Black Tern Chlidonias niger 1, Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea 1, Common Tern Sterna hirundo 4, Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis 8, Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini 7, Common Scoter Melanitta nigra 5, Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo 6, Gannet Morus bassanus 757, Black-headed Gull Larus ridibundus 14, Herring Gull Larus argentatus 147, Yellow-legged Gull Larus michahellis 2440, Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus 70, Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus 5, Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis 1
Robin Erithacus rubecula 1, Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus 1, Meadow pipit Anthus pratensis 1, Swallow Hirundo rustica 2, Sand Martin Riparia riparia 1, Kestrel Falco tinnunculus 1, Whitethroat Sylvia communis 1, Pintail Anas acuta 5, Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 4, Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 7, Black Redstart Phoenicurus ochruros 1, Peregrine Falco peregrinus 1
The second of the years’ theme cruises proved to be another great success for all involved, with some wonderful sightings. We recorded over 1,700 individual animals of at least 9 different species over the 3 days of watching. The smiles and happy faces of those on the theme cruise demonstrated what a wonderful experience whale watching in the Bay of Biscay offers. For some this was their first ever experience of whales and dolphins and for others, they were returning after the successful July theme cruise.
The weather was with us, which is always a benefit, allowing for good viewing conditions for the 3 days of the trip. The sea state was good, ranging from 2 to 4 for most of the trip and even dropping to 0 to 1 as evening approached on Day 2. The skies stayed blue and the sun warm – idyllic conditions for enjoying the sea and its multitude of life.
There were some 135 people on the trip (including a good number returning from previous theme cruises) and expectations, as always, were high as the BDRP team introduced themselves and welcomed people on board the Pride of Bilbao on the first evening.
The cruise program included:
- Constant assisted watches on 11 deck.
- Guided visits to the monkey island (which acts as a wonderful 360° viewing platform above the Bridge) for 2 hour spells on the 18th and 19th, which proved to be extremely popular.
- Illustrated presentations were provided on the whales, dolphins and seabirds that we would hope to see on the trip and on BDRP’s continuing work in Biscay.
- On the last day there was a round up of the trip’s sightings and a Q&A session.
Day 1
As we headed southbound into the Northern Bay, watching began in earnest around lunchtime on the 18th after the mid-morning lecture. Early Minke Whale reports were followed by a good series of Harbour Porpoise sightings during the early afternoon with a total of 50 animals seen.
Cetacean
activity was relatively constant all day, but a greater number of species
began to be seen as we approached the continental shelf edge mid afternoon.
As this was a specific BDRP/P&O whale and dolphin theme cruise, Clive
had asked the captain if it was possible to get to the shelf edge as quickly
as possible. This meant that we could spend some time cruising along the
shelf break encountering whale and dolphin activity, before we continued
our trip towards Bilbao. This we were able to do with some wonderful sightings.
From mid afternoon we started getting distant sightings of dolphin, binocular
views of the animals confirmed them as Bottlenose and Common Dolphin and
they moved in, to bow ride the ship – there were smiles all round!
Who could fail to smile at these amazing acrobats? As the afternoon progressed,
we had further encounters with Bottlenose and Common Dolphin and a close
encounter with a small group of Pilot Whale just ahead and on the starboard
side of the ship – their black skin glinting in the sunshine. The
splashing of Striped Dolphin was also seen and a close encounter with
a mixed dolphin group composed of Striped, Common and Bottlenose Dolphin,
together with Pilot Whale, proved very exciting for passengers and the
BDRP team.
As we moved further along the continental slope, we started to pick up distant rorqual blows shooting several feet into the air. The power of the blows from Fin Whales made them easily visible with the naked eye. Then a further blow was picked up ahead of the ship, but it was smaller, angled and repeated every 30 seconds or so – raising hopes for a Sperm Whale sighting.
As we approached the whale, further blows were detected – 1, 2, 3 …… 7 in total, and their identity clinched. The Sperm Whales continued to blow repeatedly as the ship passed – everyone kept their eyes on the blows hoping for the huge whale fluke and a few lucky people got to see a couple of the Sperm Whales raise their flukes clear of the water surface as the dived – a spectacular sight.
The
sunset brought hopes for a “green flash” and these hopes were
confirmed as the sun dipped below the horizon. We continued to watch the
seas as the light faded, and then witnessed the amazing sight of the bright
orange moon rising above the horizon – an awesome end to the day.
There were some great bird encounters during the day, including Cory’s and Great Shearwaters numbering in the hundreds, together with sightings of Great and Arctic Skuas, Sabine’s Gulls, a Black Tern and a possible Wilson’s Storm-petrel. A number of migrants were also seen close to the ship, including Swallows, a Sand Martin, a Kestrel, a Whitethroat, a Robin, a Redstart, a Meadow Pipit and a Shag.
Day 2
We arrived in Bilbao in the early morning of the 19th and everybody went ashore to enjoy the various activities laid on by P&O during their short stay. By 1215 hrs ship’s time, we were on our way once more northbound and we eagerly awaited the passage into the deeper water and across the Cap Breton Canyon – home to Beaked Whale.
Distant dolphin splashes grabbed our attention, but before long a shout went out for a beaked whale sighting which proved to be a Cuvier’s Beaked Whale. Two further Cuvier’s Beaked Whale were encountered, together with 2 unidentified Beaked Whale – discussions on their possible identity lasting for some time.
As we moved further north the blows of rorqual whales, many confirmed as Fin Whales, were sighted. Many were initially distant, but some much closer encounters also occurred – we were able to clearly see the small fins as the whales surfaced, then dived.
The
late afternoon/evening period was interspersed with whale blows, Common
Dolphin and Striped Dolphin splashes, with the final sighting of the day
coming after yet another “green flash” as the sun set. The
sea state was mirror calm and ahead of the ship a lot of bird activity
over several dark patches in the sea was observed. As we approached, it
became apparent that the dark patches were several large shoals of fish
associated with hundreds of Great and Cory’s Shearwaters. We sailed
past and then encountered 2 slow swimming Striped Dolphin coming into
the bow of the ship, and a lone dolphin calf leaping clear of the water
on the starboard side as the last of the light failed – a perfect
end to the day.
Other sightings included Bottlenose Dolphin and a number of Tuna, some very close to the ship.
Birds sightings were dominated by Shearwaters, with Great, Cory’s, Sooty and a single Balearic Shearwater. Those people up on monkey island also had good views of 2 Little Shearwaters which crossed the bow of the ship and passed down the starboard side.
Day 3
The
early morning was a little overcast, but soon brightened as the morning
progressed. The only reported cetacean sighting was a single Minke Whale.
After the final briefing and trip feedback, people made their way back on deck to enjoy the good weather. But all too soon the Isle of Wight came into view and we made our way towards Portsmouth in the sunshine – everyone chatted about the sightings on the trip and relived some of the most memorable encounters.
Once again, the Bay of Biscay fulfilled everyone’s hopes for superb whale and dolphin sightings and The Team were delighted to be able to share these with so many enthusiastic passengers. We feel lucky to have had a glimpse into the lives of the cetaceans which call Biscay home.
Hopefully see you all again on the next theme cruise – keep your eyes on the website for the next dates.
The BDRP Team
Registered Charity No. 1110884
Copyright of BDRP 2006