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SEABIRDS AT SEA: SIGHTINGS FROM BRITISH RESEARCH SHIPS

May 29th-June 25th, 1999

120 km WNW of Shetland

The trip from Glasgow to the work area produced several regular seabirds, including Black Guillemot, Puffin, Manx Shearwater and European Storm-Petrel. Non-bird sightings included Common Dolphins, Common Porpoises, Long-Finned Pilot Whales and Grey Seals. One evening two House Martins roosted on the ship during their journey north. From May 31st onwards we were in the work area about 120 km WNW of Shetland. Several 'blue' Fulmars were noted, as well as Great and Arctic Skuas. Three large divers (probably Great Northern) were distantly seen heading north on June 1st, when a tired Snipe landed on the deck. Cetaceans included single Sperm and Fin Whales. Only one Leach's Storm-Petrel was seen. A brief port call to Stornoway (Isle of Lewis) on June 14th produced a bonus in the form of a first-summer Glaucous Gull in the harbour. Red-throated Divers, Ravens and Greylag Geese were also seen around the harbour.

September 14th-October 13th, 1997

Southampton - Canary Islands

We left Southampton on September 14th for a six-day passage to the Canary Islands. Straight away it was obvious birds were on the move, and the first day in the western English Channel produced 16 Great Skuas and 150 Gannets, all moving south-west. On September 15th we began to cross the Bay of Biscay, and saw a Little Shearwater that was unfortunately just outside British waters. A juvenile Long-tailed Skua headed south straight overhead, and good numbers of Great and Arctic Skuas, Gannets and Common Terns were also moving south. On 16th we were about 60 miles off NW Spain and experienced a small 'fall' of passerines. This included Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Redstart, Robin, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff and Yellow Wagtail. Most of these birds only paused briefly before continuing their journey south. Seabirds were relatively scarce, but included a few Little and Cory's Shearwaters. The following day (17th) saw us about 100 miles off west Portugal. The seabirds were again unspectacular but this was made up for by some very unusual migrants. Two Yellow Wagtails and a Reed Warbler preceded the unusual sight of four Grey Herons flying south overhead, presumably on passage to their wintering area. However, things became even stranger when we drifted by a black object sitting on the sea. I was amazed to find it was a very lost Moorhen, being eyed up hungrily by a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull! This bird was probably a migrant from northern Europe, as this population migrates south and winters as far down as Iberia, Morocco and even sub-Saharan Africa. A few Red Admirals and Silver-Y-Moths were also seen on the ship at this time. By the 18th we were 140 miles SW of Portugal. A single Great and two Little Shearwaters were eclipsed by a stunning flock of ten adult Pomarine Skuas, while four Yellow Wagtails touched down briefly before continuing south. A couple of Great Skuas were also noted. On 19th we were 180 miles NW of the Moroccan coast, and a juvenile Wheatear landed onboard. Common Terns were still moving south, and another two adult Pomarine Skuas were seen. The following day we were rapidly approaching the Canary Islands. About 80 miles north of Tenerife we began to see large numbers of Cory's Shearwaters, as well as five Madeiran Storm-Petrels and another Pomarine Skua. However, the highlight was my first ever Bulwer's Petrel, quickly followed by four more. From September 21st to the end of the cruise we were working within a few miles of the western Canary Islands. Seabirds included hundreds of Cory's Shearwaters, several Little and Great Shearwaters, and nine Pomarine Skuas (all pale adults). Passerines became scarcer but a few Yellow Wagtails were still being seen, together with single Swallow and Redstart. Two Whimbrels flew SW (24th). Insects included Hummingbird and Convolvulus Hawk Moths. One night I was working in the main lab when I was surprised to see a light-dazzled Storm-Petrel crash-land on the floor. Upon closer inspection it was revealed as a Madeiran Storm-Petrel, and it was carefully photographed before being released at dawn (click here for in-the-hand pic). All in a days work!

February 20th - March 6th, 1997

Madeira - Lisbon

A week on Madeira before the cruise produced some good birds, such as Berthelot's Pipit and Plain Swift. The cruise began on February 24th, and the first six days south of Madeira produced small numbers of Little and Cory's Shearwaters, Madeiran Storm-Petrels and a Painted Lady. March 2nd and 3rd saw the ship heading NE towards Lisbon, and a stiff NE wind saw some passerine arrivals about 200 km off Morocco. These included a Hoopoe, a white-spotted Bluethroat, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Kestrel and two Racing Pigeons. On March 5th we were about 100 km south of Portugal and Great Skuas and Gannets began to appear. A female Black Redstart visited the ship briefly, and two Painted Ladies skipped by. The cruise ended with a steam into Lisbon which produced more of the regular seabirds and two turtle species.

Summary

Hopefully this short article has provided some insight into the variety of birds that can be seen in European waters. One thing that has become apparent to me in the last three years is the number of land-bird migrants that use the ship as a staging post. We have a relatively small ship, so one wonders how many birds use the really big container ships as a resting place. I'm now hoping for a cruise that sees me sitting in the middle of the North Sea on a drizzly October day.

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	SEABIRDS AT SEA: SIGHTINGS FROM BRITISH RESEARCH SHIPS May 29th-June 25th, 1999 120 km WNW of Shetland The trip from Glasgow to the work area produced several regular seabirds, including Black Guillemot, Puffin, Manx Shearwater and European Storm-Petrel. Non-bird sightings included Common Dolphins, Common Porpoises, Long-Finned Pilot Whales and Grey Seals. One evening two House Martins roosted on the ship during their journey north. From May 31st onwards we were in the work area about 120 km WNW of Shetland. Several 'blue' Fulmars were noted, as well as Great and Arctic Skuas. Three large divers (probably Great Northern) were distantly seen heading north on June 1st, when a tired Snipe landed on the deck. Cetaceans included single Sperm and Fin Whales. Only one Leach's Storm-Petrel was seen. A brief port call to Stornoway (Isle of Lewis) on June 14th produced a bonus in the form of a first-summer Glaucous Gull in the harbour. Red-throated Divers, Ravens and Greylag Geese were also seen around the harbour. September 14th-October 13th, 1997 Southampton - Canary Islands We left Southampton on September 14th for a six-day passage to the Canary Islands. Straight away it was obvious birds were on the move, and the first day in the western English Channel produced 16 Great Skuas and 150 Gannets, all moving south-west. On September 15th we began to cross the Bay of Biscay, and saw a Little Shearwater that was unfortunately just outside British waters. A juvenile Long-tailed Skua headed south straight overhead, and good numbers of Great and Arctic Skuas, Gannets and Common Terns were also moving south. On 16th we were about 60 miles off NW Spain and experienced a small 'fall' of passerines. This included Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, Redstart, Robin, Reed Warbler, Chiffchaff and Yellow Wagtail. Most of these birds only paused briefly before continuing their journey south. Seabirds were relatively scarce, but included a few Little and Cory's Shearwaters. The following day (17th) saw us about 100 miles off west Portugal. The seabirds were again unspectacular but this was made up for by some very unusual migrants. Two Yellow Wagtails and a Reed Warbler preceded the unusual sight of four Grey Herons flying south overhead, presumably on passage to their wintering area. However, things became even stranger when we drifted by a black object sitting on the sea. I was amazed to find it was a very lost Moorhen, being eyed up hungrily by a juvenile Yellow-legged Gull! This bird was probably a migrant from northern Europe, as this population migrates south and winters as far down as Iberia, Morocco and even sub-Saharan Africa. A few Red Admirals and Silver-Y-Moths were also seen on the ship at this time. By the 18th we were 140 miles SW of Portugal. A single Great and two Little Shearwaters were eclipsed by a stunning flock of ten adult Pomarine Skuas, while four Yellow Wagtails touched down briefly before continuing south. A couple of Great Skuas were also noted. On 19th we were 180 miles NW of the Moroccan coast, and a juvenile Wheatear landed onboard. Common Terns were still moving south, and another two adult Pomarine Skuas were seen. The following day we were rapidly approaching the Canary Islands. About 80 miles north of Tenerife we began to see large numbers of Cory's Shearwaters, as well as five Madeiran Storm-Petrels and another Pomarine Skua. However, the highlight was my first ever Bulwer's Petrel, quickly followed by four more. From September 21st to the end of the cruise we were working within a few miles of the western Canary Islands. Seabirds included hundreds of Cory's Shearwaters, several Little and Great Shearwaters, and nine Pomarine Skuas (all pale adults). Passerines became scarcer but a few Yellow Wagtails were still being seen, together with single Swallow and Redstart. Two Whimbrels flew SW (24th). Insects included Hummingbird and Convolvulus Hawk Moths. One night I was working in the main lab when I was surprised to see a light-dazzled Storm-Petrel crash-land on the floor. Upon closer inspection it was revealed as a Madeiran Storm-Petrel, and it was carefully photographed before being released at dawn (click here for in-the-hand pic). All in a days work! February 20th - March 6th, 1997 Madeira - Lisbon A week on Madeira before the cruise produced some good birds, such as Berthelot's Pipit and Plain Swift. The cruise began on February 24th, and the first six days south of Madeira produced small numbers of Little and Cory's Shearwaters, Madeiran Storm-Petrels and a Painted Lady. March 2nd and 3rd saw the ship heading NE towards Lisbon, and a stiff NE wind saw some passerine arrivals about 200 km off Morocco. These included a Hoopoe, a white-spotted Bluethroat, White Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Kestrel and two Racing Pigeons. On March 5th we were about 100 km south of Portugal and Great Skuas and Gannets began to appear. A female Black Redstart visited the ship briefly, and two Painted Ladies skipped by. The cruise ended with a steam into Lisbon which produced more of the regular seabirds and two turtle species. Summary Hopefully this short article has provided some insight into the variety of birds that can be seen in European waters. One thing that has become apparent to me in the last three years is the number of land-bird migrants that use the ship as a staging post. We have a relatively small ship, so one wonders how many birds use the really big container ships as a resting place. I'm now hoping for a cruise that sees me sitting in the middle of the North Sea on a drizzly October day.