Bay of Biscay 25-28. 10. 2006

Although this was meant to be mainly a family holiday I was looking forward to seeing just what was present in the bay, at a later time of the year than most people visit. I was expecting to see less cetaceans than I would have done in August & September but there is very little information about what exactly is present in the bay at this time. The trip did not get off to a good start as the ships arrival at Portsmouth had been delayed due to adverse weather in Biscay. We finaly set off some eight hours late and the next morning when I went up on deck we were still well inside the English Channel rather than rounding Finisterre as usual. Quite a few Bonxies were present but not much else of interest. Eventually by late afternoon we began to leave the Continental Shelf and I started to pick up a few Bottle-nosed and Common Dolphins before it went dark.

26/10/2006

Early the next morning I went up on deck and in the half light saw a few birds on deck including Chaffinch, Robin, Chiffchaff and one or two other unidentified birds. The sea it semed fairly quiet at first but I soon noticed what appeared to be a distant large group of waders flying just above the surface of the sea, then another closer flock before I saw an even closer flock and realised that they were in fact Skylarks. Huge numbers were passing while I continued scanning the sea for seabirds and cetaceans and so eventually I decided that I would have to start seriously counting them. Over the next 2 - 3 hours I counted 2400 passing in a south-westerly direction over the ocean in a broad front that must have extended for over 50 miles. As I was only able to count birds at a mile or so range at maximum at any one time, the actual numbers passing must have been huge. Among them were a few Meadow Pipits but the vast majority were Skylarks. Several flocks passed directly over the ship but none attempted to land, suggesting that they were quite happy on what was probably a normal migration route.

Just before we entered Santurtzi Harbour I had to go below deck to get ready for disembarkation while large numbers of Skylarks were still passing the ship, heading west along the coast. Around the harbour at Santurtzi suprisingly few Yellow-legged Gulls were present compared with the large numbers that are present earlier in the autumn.

Yellow-legged Gull Santurtzi 27/10/2006

Due to running late we were only allowed three hours in Spain rather than the usual four hours as the Captain wanted to make up time. I caught a taxi up the hill and walked back, while the family went around the town. Up the hillside at Santurzi good numbers of birds were present, though not quite the variety of migrants that are present in Aug-Sept. Some species seemed much more obvious at this time of year such as Serin and Sardinian Warbler. Several Skylarks were present, but surprisingly few considering the numbers passing on the sea. It seemed that most were heading for a landfall much further to the west, perhaps Galicia or Portugal, it would be interesting to know? Back on the ship, even before we left the harbour, it was obvious that very large numbers of Skylarks were still passing, but unfortunately I had to go below deck for dinner and spend some time with the family so I was not able do any serious counting. Some while later, while watching Skylarks passing from the porthole in our cabin I noticed a small group of Cuvier's Beaked Whales and so we rushed upstairs to get a better look. They had gone by the time we got on deck but not long after another pod was found and we got good views. We also saw a few large Rorqual blows which according to the wildlife officer on board were most probably Sei Whales, based on the behaviour of the animals, the appearance of the blow, and time of year etc. Large numbers of Skylarks continued to pass though perhaps slightly less than earlier in the day and by now a higher number of Meadow Pipits were with them, though Skylarks were still the dominant species. Gradually as time passed the ratio of Meadow Pipits was increasing until they were passing in almost equal numbers. In the last hour or so before dark numbers began to dwindle but some were still passing until almost too dark to see. At dusk a Peregrine came in and made several attempts to land on the funnel of the ship and was still flying around the ship after dark.

Sardinian Warbler Santurtzi 27/10/2006 Stonechat Santurtzi 27/10/2006

Early the next morning we had already entered the English Channel and on board in the poor early morning light was a superb male Black Redstart. Unfortunately it did not hang around until it was light enough to get any photographs but a fem/imm seen later was more obliging. Bonxies were again present in good numbers in the Channel, though otherwise it was quiet and we arrived back at Portsmouth on time having made up the lost time.

Black Redstart on deck 28/10/2006

All in all an excellent and enjoyable trip, though when we set off I was not expecting Skylarks to provide the most exiting wildlife spectacle of the trip, but if we had set off from Portsmouth on time I would certainly have been unaware of the scale of this movement.

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