2002 CETACEAN SIGHTINGS

PLEASE NOTE: Reference to any of the cetacean sightings recorded on Company of Whales cruises can only be quoted or reproduced with the prior permission of The Company of Whales

14 - 17 December 2002 - Biscay Dolphin Research Project (BDRP) aboard Pride of Bilbao

Undoubted highlight were 3 Humpback Whales. Also 2 Minke Whales, 27 Pilot Whales, 239 Common Dolphins, 10 Bottlenose Dolphins, 2 Harbour Porpoise, 56 unidentified dolphins. Birds included 1 Fulmar, 243 Gannets, 21 Bonxies, 61 Kittiwakes, 4 Razorbills, 15 Guillemots, 1 tern sp. and 3 geese sp.

23 - 26 November 2002 - Biscay Dolphin Research Project (BDRP) aboard Pride of Bilbao

2 Minke Whales, 1 Cuvier's Beaked Whale, 6 Pilot Whales, 644 Common Dolphins, 38 Striped Dolphins, 28 Bottlenose Dolphins, 2 Harbour Porpoise, 2 unidentifiable medium/large whales, 21 unidentified dolphins. Birds included 40 Shearwater sp., 1 Fulmar, 1 Cormorant 794 Gannets, 26 Bonxies, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 318 Kittiwakes, 4 Razorbills, 65 Guillemots and 5 Puffins.

4 Sperm Whales, 16 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 62 Common Dolphins, 30 Striped Dolphins, 2 Risso's Dolphins, 1 probable Cuvier's Beaked Whale, 1 unidentifed beaked whale, 23 unidentified dolphins and 5 Tuna. Birds included 286 Great Shearwaters, 4 Sooty Shearwaters, 8 Storm Petrel, 1 Arctic Skua and 11 Bonxies. Visible migration from the ship included 200 Meadow Pipits, 15 Wheatears, Robin, Grey Wagtail, Skylark and Brimstone butterfly. In Spain we recorded Wryneck, Griffin Vulture, 20+ Adonis Blue and Berger's Clouded Yellow.

1 Minke Whale, 7 Fin Whales, 18 Pilot Whales, 5 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 18 Common Dolphins, 135 Striped Dolphins, 2 Harbour Porpoise, 7 unidentifed beaked whales, 22 unidentified dolphins, 4 Ocean Sunfish and 120+ Tuna. Birds included 80 Great Shearwaters, 2 Corys Shearwaters, 40 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Pomarine Skua, 15 Great Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 4 Sandwich Terns, 10 Common Terns, 25 'Commic' Terns, 1 Black Tern and 15 Storm Petrels. In Spain we recorded Honey Buzzard, Mediterranean Gulls, Clouded Yellow, Adonis Blue and Wall Lizards.

 

 

The undoubted highlight was a large bull Sperm Whale which we watched sound diving in the Abyssal Plain on the return leg of the trip. Other cetacean and marine life included 1 Fin Whale, 2 Pilot Whales, 88 Common Dolphins, 26 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 3 Striped Dolphins, 3 large rorquals, 1 unidentified dolphin, 80+ Tuna and 2 Ocean Sunfish. Birds included 190 Great Shearwaters, 5 Corys Shearwaters, 1 Manx Shearwater, 160 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Sabine's Gulls, 1 adult Long-tailed Skua, 6 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skua, 1 Storm Petrel and 1 Grey Phalarope. Migrants visible from the ship included 9 Knot, Tree Pipit, Reed Warbler, Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff and a Robin. In Spain we recorded Wryneck, Serins, Red-backed Shrikes and butterflies included Adonis Blue and several Wall Browns.

10 Fin Whales, 11 Pilot Whales, 108 Common Dolphins, 10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 260 Striped Dolphins, 6 large rorquals, 5 unidentified dolphins and 1 unidentified beaked whale. Birds included 800 Great Shearwaters, 2 Little Shearwaters, 5 Corys Shearwaters, 60 Sooty Shearwaters, 6 Balearic Shearwaters, 1 Manx Shearwater, 5 Sabine's Gulls, 3 Bonxies, 12 Common Terns, 1 Arctic Tern and 1 Sandwich Tern. Visible migration from the ship included Short-eared Owl, Yellow Wagtail and 10 Grey Heron.

2 Fin Whales, 11 Pilot Whales, 4 Minke Whales, 3 Cuvier's Beaked Whales, 336 Common Dolphins, 45 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 8 Harbour Porpoise, 70 Striped Dolphins, 8 Risso's Dolphins, 4 large rorquals, 8 unidentified dolphins, 20 Tuna and 10 Ocean Sunfish. Birds included 37 Storm Petrels, 1500 Great Shearwaters, 5 Little Shearwaters, 20 Corys Shearwaters, 20 Sooty Shearwaters, 12 Sabine's Gulls, 17 Bonxies, 2 Arctic Skua, 3 Common Terns, 1 Wilson's Petrel and 5 Fulmar.

 

 

The undoubted highlight of the trip was stunning views of 7 False Killer Whales which passed just a few metres from the starboard side of the ship. We also recorded 5 Fin Whales, 34 Pilot Whales, 1 Minke Whale, 397 Common Dolphins, 71 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 5 Harbour Porpoise, 40 Striped Dolphins, 2 large rorquals, 42 unidentified dolphins and 1 unidentified beaked whale. Birds included 12 Storm Petrels, 500 Great Shearwaters, 70 Corys Shearwaters, 10 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 11 Sabine's Gulls, 2 Pomarine Skua, 18 Bonxies, 4 Arctic Skua, 2 Long-tailed Skua, 5 Common Terns, 1 Sandwich Tern, 10 'Commic' Tern, 16 Ringed Plover and a Ruff. In Spain we had excellent views of Melodius Warblers, Wrynecks, Griffon Vultures and at least 10 Red-backed Shrike. Butterflies were thin on the ground but we recorded Green-veined White, Speckled Wood and Holly Blue.

2 Killer Whales, 9 Fin Whales, 2 Cuvier's beaked Whales, 3 Pilot Whales, 1 Minke Whale, 88 Common Dolphins, 6 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 2 Harbour Porpoise, 114 Striped Dolphins, 6 large rorquals, 80 unidentified dolphins and 10 unidentified beaked whales. Birds included 3 Storm Petrels, 1200 Great Shearwaters, 120 Corys Shearwaters, 12 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Manx Shearwater, 4 Sabine's Gulls, 1 Black Tern, 1 Pomarine Skua, 15 Bonxies and 5 Arctic Skua. Migrants on the ship included 19 Ringed Plover, 1 Sanderling, 1 Turtle Dove, 3 Collared Doves, 1 Reed Warbler, a male Crossbill and a Pied Flycatcher.

 

 

15 Fin Whales, 4 Cuvier's beaked Whales, 19 Pilot Whales, 64 Common Dolphins, 18 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 2 Harbour Porpoise, 6 large rorquals, 20 unidentified dolphins and 1 unidentified beaked whale. Birds included 6 Storm Petrels, 75 Great Shearwaters, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 2 Sabine's Gulls, 5 Common Terns, 1 Black Tern, 2 Bonxies, 3 Arctic Skua and 6 Grey Phalarope. Migrants on the ship included Short-eared Owl, 2 Crossbills, 1 Pied Flycatcher, 1 White Wagtail and 4 Grey Heron. In Spain butterflies included Long-tailed Blue, Holly Blue and Clouded Yellows, whilst birds included Wrynecks, Red-backed Shrike, Peregrine, Short-toed Eagle and Melodiuos, Sardinian and Fan-tailed Warblers.

With strong winds and heavy seas relatively fewer cetaceans were seen on this trip. Monkey Island was therefore the place to be as we were rewarded with excellent sightings. We recorded 3 Fin Whales, 14 Pilot Whales, 40 Common Dolphins, 14 Striped Dolphins, 3 Harbour Porpoise, 2 large rorquals and 5 unidentified dolphins. Birds included 30 Storm Petrels, 80 Great Shearwaters, 3 Corys Shearwaters, 3 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Little Shearwater, 1 Manx Shearwater, 31 Sabine's Gulls, 10 Common Terns, 7 Black Terns, 5 Bonxies and 2 Arctic Skua. Migrants on-board included Garden Warbler, Whitethroat, Tree Pipit, Ringed Plover, Silver Y Moth and Clouded Yellow. The birding in Spain was excellent with Hoopoe, Griffin Vultures, Cirl Buntings, Wryneck, Red-backed Shrikes, Nightingales, Melodious Warblers and a large fall of Pied Flycatchers recorded.

 

 

11 Fin Whales, 5 Minke Whales, 4 Cuvier's beaked Whales, 20 Pilot Whales, 2 Killer Whales, 82 Common Dolphins, 75 Striped Dolphins, 159 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 57 Harbour Porpoise, 1 large rorqual, 55 unidentified dolphins and 5 Basking Shark. Birds included 12 Storm Petrels, 1 Great Shearwater, 1 Corys Shearwater, 5 Sooty Shearwaters, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 15 Common Terns, 3 Arctic Terns, 1 Black Tern, 6 Bonxies, 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Arctic Skua and 1 Grey Phalarope. Visible migration from the ship included 1 Melodious Warbler (which gave stunning views down to a few feet), 1 Reed Warbler, 1 Wheatear, 1 Swallow, 2 Yellow Wagtails and a Collared Dove. In Spain we recorded 2 Wryneck, Melodious Warblers, Sardinian Warblers, Griffin Vultures and Booted Eagles. Insect highlights included Jersey Tiger Moth and Brimstone Moth.

15 Fin Whales, 7 Minke Whales, 3 Cuvier's beaked Whales, 30 Pilot Whales, 4 Northern Bottlenose Whales, 330 Common Dolphins, 115 Striped Dolphins, 4 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 6 Harbour Porpoise, 8 Risso's Dolphins, 10 large rorquals, 20 unidentified dolphins and 5 Ocean Sunfish. Birds included 10 Storm Petrels, 150 Great Shearwaters, 5 Corys Shearwaters, 9 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 1 Little Shearwater, 15 Common Terns, 5 Arctic Terns, 3 Black Terns, 17 Sabine's Gulls, 2 Bonxies, 1 Arctic Skua and 2 Grey Phalarope. Visible migration from the ship included 2 Turnstones, 60 Knot, 20 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Whimbrel and a Nightingale!

22 Fin Whales, 6 Minke Whales, 5 Cuvier's beaked Whales, 24 Pilot Whales, 325 Common Dolphins, 85 Striped Dolphins, 127 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 13 Harbour Porpoise, 5 large rorquals and 87 unidentified dolphins. Birds included 2000+ Great Shearwaters (several large rafts), 30 Corys Shearwaters, 20 Manx Shearwaters, 10 Sabine's Gulls, 3 Bonxie, 1 Arctic Skua and 2 Storm Petrels.

8 Fin Whales, 9 Pilot Whales, 85 Common Dolphins, 53 Striped Dolphins, 30 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 4 Risso's Dolphins, 10 Harbour Porpoise, 19 large rorquals and 50 unidentified dolphins. Birds included 12 Great Shearwaters, 2 Corys Shearwaters, 8 Sabine's Gulls, 1 Pomarine Skua and 12 Storm Petrels.

Undoubted highlight was possibly the same BLUE WHALE which was seen 20 miles north of its previous position on the 5th! Also 7 Fin Whales, 2 Minke Whales, 4 Cuvier's beaked Whales, 30 Pilot Whales, 1170 Common Dolphins, 32 Striped Dolphins, 77 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 3 Risso's Dolphins and 13 large rorquals. Birds included 16 Great Shearwaters, 8 Corys Shearwaters, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 10 Grey Phalaropes, 16 Sabine's Gulls (inc. a flock of 14), 1 adult Long-tailed Skua, 3 Arctic Skuas, 3 Bonxies, 13 Storm Petrels, 1 Black Tern, 2 Common Terns, 4 Common Scoter and 2 Grey Plover. In Spain we enjoyed a singing Wryneck, Melodious and Sardinian Warblers, Pied Flycatchers and 15 Griffon Vultures along with Chalkhill and Adonis Blues, Clouded Yellows, Gatekeepers and Red Admirals. Travellers Charis White and Liz Machin write "the trip was wonderful - Monkey Island was the place to be and being up there made all the difference. Rob Still and Dave Gray were brilliant guides in telling us what we were seeing and what to look out for and expect. We hope to be on another of your trips in the near future".

Undoubted highlight was a BLUE WHALE with 5+ Fin Whales at 1730 BST on the 5th - the second record of the species for the Company of Whales and only the third accepted record for Biscay! Also 13 Fin Whales, 1 Sei Whale, 9 Minke Whales, 16 Cuvier's beaked Whales, 50 Pilot Whales, 1 probable Northern Bottlenose Whale, 1193 Common Dolphins, 169 Striped Dolphins, 121 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 5 Risso's Dolphins, 18 Harbour Porpoise, 3 unidentified beaked whales, 66 unidentified Dolphins, 8 Ocean Sunfish and a Common Seal. Birds included 2 Wilson's Petrels, 6 Great Shearwaters, 4 Corys Shearwaters, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 4 Sabine's Gulls, 1 juvenile Long-tailed Skua, 1 Arctic Skua, 10 Bonxies, 60+ Storm Petrels, 2 Black Terns, 6 Common Terns and a Grasshopper Warbler on board!

2 Fin Whales, 1 probable Sei Whale, 1 Cuvier's Beaked Whale, 2 Pilot Whales, 160 Common Dolphins, 5 Harbour Porpoise, 4 unidentified large rorquals and 16 unidentified Dolphins. Birds included 1 Little Shearwater, 25 Cory's Shearwaters, 5 Great Shearwaters, 4 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Balearic Shearwaters, 5 Bonxies and 2 Common Terns. Our walk in Spain produced 30+ Griffon Vultures, Booted Eagle, Hobby and Honey Buzzard whilst Butterflies included Spanish Argus, Cleopatras, Clouded Yellows and Long-tailed Blues.

4 Fin Whales, 1 Cuvier's Beaked Whale, 26 Pilot Whales, 62 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 310 Common Dolphins, 215 Striped Dolphins, 4 Harbour Porpoise, 1 unidentified large rorqual, 31 unidentified Dolphins and 1 Swordfish. Birds included 10 Cory's Shearwaters, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 2 Manx Shearwaters, 2 Balearic Shearwaters, 8 Bonxies and a Turtle Dove!

1 Minke Whale, 3 - 4 Cuvier's Beaked Whales, 29 Pilot Whales, 110 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 715 Common Dolphins, 180 Striped Dolphins, 2 Harbour Porpoise, 1 large unidentified rorqual, 2 unidentified Dolphins, 1 Ocean Sunfish and 20+ Tuna sp. Birds included 1 Pomarine Skua, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Manx Shearwater, 2 'large' (Great or Cory's) Shearwaters, 3 Storm Petrels, 10 Whimbrel and, amazingly, a Pallid Swift with 2 Common Swifts. The former is the first acceptable record for the Bay of Biscay and yet another first for The Company of Whales!

2 breaching Minke Whales, 4 Cuvier's Beaked Whales, 15+ Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 9 Common Dolphins, 505 Striped Dolphins, 3 unidentified large rorquals and 25 unidentified Dolphins. In Spain we recorded Booted Eagle, a variety of warblers, Great Green Bush Cricket and our guest James Havers recorded the following hoverflies of note: Episyrphus balteatus, Eristalis tenax and Sphaerophoria scripta.

1 Minke Whale, 7 Pilot Whales, 3 Cuvier's Beaked Whales, 23 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 339 Common Dolphins, 52 Striped Dolphins, 2 Harbour Porpoise and 57 unidentified Dolphins. In Spain we recorded Honey Buzzard, Red-backed Shrikes, Griffon Vultures and both Sardinian and Melodious Warblers. Butterflies included Wood White, Swallowtails and Cleopatras.

1 Minke Whale, 90 Pilot Whales, 3 Cuvier's Beaked Whales, 2 unidentified beaked whales, 85 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 175 Striped Dolphins, 1 Risso's Dolphin, 222 unidentified Dolphins PLUS 3 Atlantic White sided Dolphins - this is a very unusual record, the animals were in the southern bay which is further south than their typical distribution. They were seen in the path of the ferry and were keeping a very low profile, just displaying large sloped dorsal fins, but one animal breached clear of the water close to the ferry. Also 3 Ocean Sunfish and 1 Basking Shark.

1 Minke Whale, 4 Cuvier's Beaked Whales, 10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 5 Striped Dolphins, 4 Risso's Dolphins, 10 unidentified dolphins.

3 - 4 June 2002 - Pride of Bilbao

The following reports have reached us via BRDP and UK Cetnet list server: 1 Fin Whale, 5 Minke Whales, 2 Sperm Whales, 2 Cuvier's Beaked Whales, 7 unidentified Beaked Whales, 34 Pilot Whales, 508 Striped Dolphins, 49 Common Dolphins, 5 Bottle-nosed Dolphins, 5 Harbour Porpoise and 1 Basking Shark. A Purple Heron was also reported west of the Channel Islands.

23 - 26 February 2002 - Pride of Bilbao

A dedicated survey across the Bay of Biscay on board the Pride of Bilbao by ORCA volunteers recorded 469 Common Dolphins, 2 Bottlenose Dolphins, 2 Cuvier's Beaked Whales and 20+ Common / Striped Dolphins. Birds included 33 Great Skuas, 14 Puffins, 43 Guillemots, 5 Razorbills, 1000+ Kittiwakes, 1 Red-throated Diver and 39 Greylag Geese!