Many thanks again for the update Offman.
-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
Bay of Biscay (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Offman
- Start date
Offman
Well-known member
Morning All,
Wind currently, 10Knts, E-ESE.
This am we had around 60 odd birds circling us prior to sun up, mostly Wagtails and Skylark, I did hear Goldcrest also. On deck we have our residents plus Common Redstart.
When my duties allow I'll go for a wander out on deck, there's nothing like birdwatching wearing a hard hat, safety glasses, bright orange overalls, gloves and heavy boots!
Cheerz
Wind currently, 10Knts, E-ESE.
This am we had around 60 odd birds circling us prior to sun up, mostly Wagtails and Skylark, I did hear Goldcrest also. On deck we have our residents plus Common Redstart.
When my duties allow I'll go for a wander out on deck, there's nothing like birdwatching wearing a hard hat, safety glasses, bright orange overalls, gloves and heavy boots!
Cheerz
KenM
Well-known member
Great stuff!....sounds like you could be sartorially speaking, setting new trends. "Hi Vis Gear" might become "de rigour" for future twitches.
Offman
Well-known member
Morning All,
Well were underway for a short port call in France before returning to our previous location.
Fingers crossed for our 'residents' they're going to wake up in sight of land.
Nothing new to add to yesterdays sightings except a single Auk (sp) heading East
More soonest
Cheerz
Well were underway for a short port call in France before returning to our previous location.
Fingers crossed for our 'residents' they're going to wake up in sight of land.
Nothing new to add to yesterdays sightings except a single Auk (sp) heading East
More soonest
Cheerz
KenM
Well-known member
What is the duration of your deployment in the Bay Offman?
My interest in your situation is based on my own monitoring of the Canary Wharf complex of buildings, between 2000-20005 (when the lights were run dusk till dawn).
Clear skies in Spring and Autumn could produce conservative estimate c40 migrant passerines either side of Citi tower (c100 birds). Of the totals monitored during the said period, c50 percent (species only..not volume) were uncommon to scarce locally and nationally.
Thus it would be interesting (if your deployment is a long one to compare).
Cheers and "Happy Hunting"
My interest in your situation is based on my own monitoring of the Canary Wharf complex of buildings, between 2000-20005 (when the lights were run dusk till dawn).
Clear skies in Spring and Autumn could produce conservative estimate c40 migrant passerines either side of Citi tower (c100 birds). Of the totals monitored during the said period, c50 percent (species only..not volume) were uncommon to scarce locally and nationally.
Thus it would be interesting (if your deployment is a long one to compare).
Cheers and "Happy Hunting"
Offman
Well-known member
Morning All,
Were back, but have moved slightly inshore, 47.04, -4.95 for Google maps, the water depth has risen from 3000 metres up to 100 metres.
Sneaked out for a quick look when it was dark and we had a few dolphins feeding on fish attracted to our lights, and now the light is coming up we have plenty of gulls along with the odd Manx Shearwater.
Will try later for a better look and id's
Cheerz
Were back, but have moved slightly inshore, 47.04, -4.95 for Google maps, the water depth has risen from 3000 metres up to 100 metres.
Sneaked out for a quick look when it was dark and we had a few dolphins feeding on fish attracted to our lights, and now the light is coming up we have plenty of gulls along with the odd Manx Shearwater.
Will try later for a better look and id's
Cheerz
Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
Bonjour Offman, Did your 'residents' jump ship when you called into port (swapping your soggy biscuits for some fresh croissants perhaps?)?
Cheers
Richard
Cheers
Richard
Offman
Well-known member
Just had a quick 10 mins on the bridge wing.
Circa 500+ Manx Shearwater now hanging around, along with 2-300 gulls, mostly juv LBBG, and juv Herring Gull.
Single juv Kittiwake, single Great Skua, and 2 or 3 Sooty Shearwater.
2 Chaffinches decided to remain on board despite our port call in Brest, and a single dead Skylark found on bridge wing.
Cheerz
Circa 500+ Manx Shearwater now hanging around, along with 2-300 gulls, mostly juv LBBG, and juv Herring Gull.
Single juv Kittiwake, single Great Skua, and 2 or 3 Sooty Shearwater.
2 Chaffinches decided to remain on board despite our port call in Brest, and a single dead Skylark found on bridge wing.
Cheerz
Mark Lew1s
My real name is Mark Lewis
Any Balearic shearwaters? Whenever I'm in that part of the world they seriously outnumber the manxies.
Offman
Well-known member
Morning All,
Wind Easterly, 15 Knts, Calm (ish) seas.
Approximately 300 birds circling us, Redwing, Song Thrush, Skylark, Goldcrest, Common Redstart, Wagtails and at least 6 SE Owls, does qualify as a parliament ?
We'll see what's left on-board after the sun is up later.
Cheerz
Wind Easterly, 15 Knts, Calm (ish) seas.
Approximately 300 birds circling us, Redwing, Song Thrush, Skylark, Goldcrest, Common Redstart, Wagtails and at least 6 SE Owls, does qualify as a parliament ?
We'll see what's left on-board after the sun is up later.
Cheerz
Richard Prior
Halfway up an Alp
Morning Offmann,
I don't know if 6 S-e Owls is a parliament, sounds more like an assassination squad to me, hopefully there'll be more than just owl pellets left on board after dawn breaks!
Well done on your Great Shearwaters, they're smart lookers aren't they!
Richard
KenM
Well-known member
Offman
Well-known member
Just back from a tour of the back deck.
We also have Black Redstart, Starling, Blackcap and Chiff Chaff on-board. Another dead Skylark, and 2 of the SE Owls have decided to remain, too full to fly ?
The Great Shearwaters are still flying by, and a flock of mixed Gulls are roosting alongside us. It would appear that they all spent the night feasting around us, I guess eating fish attracted to our lights, along with a small school of Dolphins, I have no idea what they were. They appeared not to have any distinctive marks.
Cheerz
We also have Black Redstart, Starling, Blackcap and Chiff Chaff on-board. Another dead Skylark, and 2 of the SE Owls have decided to remain, too full to fly ?
The Great Shearwaters are still flying by, and a flock of mixed Gulls are roosting alongside us. It would appear that they all spent the night feasting around us, I guess eating fish attracted to our lights, along with a small school of Dolphins, I have no idea what they were. They appeared not to have any distinctive marks.
Cheerz
christine
Well-known member
It must get pretty choppy out there Offman, i often use Brittany Ferries and the Santander route is nearly always delayed due to the weather. Happily i'm always on the less rough Portsmouth to Caen crossing!
This may sound like a daft question, but do the birds you find hitch a lift on other ships in the area?
This may sound like a daft question, but do the birds you find hitch a lift on other ships in the area?
Offman
Well-known member
Morning All,
Were underway back to Holland for a few weeks and I'm away home. There's a chance we'll be back but that's not confirmed yet. The vessel is blacked out except for our running lights and there's nothing outside.
I'll have a look later to see if our resident gang of Chaffinch are still on board as well as the Owls.
In reply to Christine, I couldn't really say, I often wonder if some of the USA rarities that make it over have hitched a lift, I seem to remember an article from years ago regarding Liverpool Docks and rarities.
Cheerz
Were underway back to Holland for a few weeks and I'm away home. There's a chance we'll be back but that's not confirmed yet. The vessel is blacked out except for our running lights and there's nothing outside.
I'll have a look later to see if our resident gang of Chaffinch are still on board as well as the Owls.
In reply to Christine, I couldn't really say, I often wonder if some of the USA rarities that make it over have hitched a lift, I seem to remember an article from years ago regarding Liverpool Docks and rarities.
Cheerz
Similar threads
