Bay of Biscay (1 Viewer)

Just got back from a very calm sea crossing and a very red nose! I always forget the sun block!

Plymouth to Santander 9-11 September 2002 rough bird and mammal list:

Great Shearwater 300+
Cory's Shearwater 30+
Sooty Shearwater 50+
Little Shearwater 7+
European Storm Petrel 50+
Leach's Storm Petrel 3
Great Skua 3+
Arctic Skua 5
Long-tailed Skua 5+
Sabine's Gull 10
Greater Black-backed Gull 1+
Northern Gannet many
Northern Fulmer many
Common Tern 5+

Fin Whale 12
Pilot Whale 12+
Minke Whale 1

Common Dolphin 2 pods 6+
Bottlenose Dolphin 1 pod 8+
Risso's Dolphin one pod 6+
Striped Dolphin 2 pods 10+

Harbour Porpoise 10+

many other small pods of common/striped/bottlenose and possible Sei (3+) and Blue Whale!

All Dolphins and Fin/Pilot Whales seen between 45-46 deg North in the Bay of Biscay, deep water canyon. High concentrations of shearwaters and all Cory's seen in the same area. Many Tuna viewed and several large shoals of bait fish seen in the deep water canyon being chased by Tuna and Dolphins/Whales?. Nearly all the whale and dolphin action took place on the return leg of the trip pnce we reached the deep water canyon, time wise 14:00-18:00 GMT, this is where the large flocks of shearwaters were encountered along with many Tuna and bait fish.

Happy sea watching

Paul

biscay

Hi Paul,

Great first post, Welcome to the forums.
Was this trip just a return seawatch? sounds terrific if you can get the weather for it!!

Many thanks, not bad for £99 including £30 in food vouchers, essentially 2 full days birding at sea, return leg was the best for whales and seabird numbers. Did not have time to leave the ship at Santander! there were between 9 to 11 birders on the ship plus an official 3 man team from Devon Bird Recorders.

bye for now

Paul