'Seabirds and marine mammals off SW Galicia, all year-round. Didactic, exciting experience at the best value!'

Sunday, October 30, 2011

New species - 29 october 2011

On 29th October 2011 a new pelagic trip was performed in the 'Chasula'. As the forecast was not OK for a long (12 miles offshore) pelagic trip, captain decided to visit a well-known fishing point called "Os Setembros", just 7 miles W of Ons islands, were both seabirds and marine mammals were seen in summer.

Nine participants (including TV group) plus the crew observed the following species (bold: highlights, italics: approximate numbers), including new species for Seabirds Galicia: Charadrius hiaticula, Larus sabini, Rissa tridactyla, Alca torda and Anthus pratensis:


Melanitta nigra 42
Puffinus gravis 86
Puffinus mauretanicus 5
Oceanites oceanicus 2
Hydrobates pelagicus 23
Morus bassanus 55
Phalacrocorax carbo 10
Phalacrocorax aristotelis 150
Ardea cinerea 2
Egretta garzetta 3
Charadrius hiaticula 10
Calidris alpina 1
Arenaria interpres 9
Stercorarius skua 5
Stercorarius pomarinus 7
Stercorarius parasiticus 1
Larus melanocephalus 5
Larus sabini 1
Larus ridibundus 50
Larus fuscus 250
Larus michahellis 230
Larus marinus 3
Rissa tridactyla 1
Sterna sandvicensis 4
Alca torda 2
Anthus pratensis 2
Motacilla alba 1
Hydrobatidae 2
Larus sp. 150


Cetacea 1
(this individual was seen breaching twice, no certain ID).

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

No ornithological trip - As Pozas- October, the 15th

Stercorarius pomarinus & Morus bassanus 15/10/2011

The last saturday (15/10/11), we spent a fishing journey aboard the Chasula. We were around the area known with the name of As Pozas, placed at the west from Sálvora island and 8 milles outland. It was a /nice fishing journey, and also favorable for the observation of birds and other wildlife, although this time, "Wilson" did not appear.

This is the list of species observed:

Larus fuscus  150
Larus marinus   6
Larus ridibundus   155
Larus michahellis   235
Sterna sandvicensis   1
Phalacrocorax aristotelis   110
Phalacrocorax carbo   15
Falco peregrinus   1
Morus bassanus 140
Melanitta nigra   10
Calonectris diomedea 16
Puffinus gravis   6
Puffinus mauretanicus   9
Puffinus griseus   13
Puffinus puffinus   2
Stercorarius skua   2
Stercorarius pomarinus   3
Stercorarius sp   2
Álcido   1
Ardea cinerea   3
Arenaria interpres   2

Were also seen a sunfish, Mola mola, and the star of the day: a minke whale, Balenoptera acutorostrata, which spend with us all the journey.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Good pelagic trip - 12 Oct 2011

A pelagic trip was performed on 12th October 2011, being observed (and photographed) a good quantity of birds of several species (bold: highlights, italic: approximate numbers):


Arenaria interpres 6
Calonectris diomedea 24
Charadrius hiaticula 1
Haematopus ostralegus 1
Hydrobates pelagicus 31
Larus fuscus 470
Larus marinus 9
Larus melanocephalus 14
Larus michahellis 1435
Larus ridibundus 201
Melanitta nigra 2
Morus bassanus 100
Oceanites oceanicus 5
Phalacrocorax aristotelis 308
Phalacrocorax carbo 44
Puffinus gravis 182
Puffinus griseus 1
Puffinus mauretanicus 13
Stercorarius parasiticus 1
Stercorarius pomarinus 6
Stercorarius skua 14
Sterna sandvicensis 9
Alcidae 1
Hydrobatidae 7
Larus sp. 50
Scolopacidae 1
Stercorarius sp. 1


Delphinus delphis 53
Delphinidae 2


Mola mola 1

Saturday, October 1, 2011

Successful pelagic trip - 1st October 2011

Oceanodroma castro, 1/10/2011 (c) Xoán Diéguez


Today, 1/10/2011, a pelagic trip on-board 'Chasula' boat was performed with success, reaching 12 nm off W Ons island. From 8:00 to 18:00 h, 11 participants plus crew were able to observe these species (in bold, highlights, in italic aproximate quantities; highlight: Oceanodroma castro):


Melanitta nigra 5
Calonectris diomedea 20
Puffinus gravis 225
Puffinus griseus 8
Puffinus puffinus 3
Puffinus mauretanicus 14
Oceanodroma castro           
Oceanites oceanicus
1
7
Hydrobates pelagicus 37
Morus bassanus 139
Phalacrocorax aristotelis 100
Ardea cinerea 1
Falco peregrinus 1
Arenaria interpres 2
Actitis hypoleucos 1
Larus melanocephalus 10
Larus ridibundus 221
Larus argentatus 2
Larus fuscus 940
Larus michahellis 664
Larus marinus 4
Stercorarius skua 20
Stercorarius pomarinus 2
Stercorarius parasiticus 3
Stercorarius longicaudus 1
Sterna sandvicensis 24
Sterna hirundo 7
Sterna paradisaea 1
Sterna albifrons 1
Motacilla cinerea 2
Motacilla alba 2
Procellariidae 1
Puffinus sp. 1
Hydrobatidae 13
Larus sp. 50
Stercorarius sp. 6
Motacilla sp. 5


Delphinus delphis 33
Delphinidae 3


Prionace glauca 25
Mola mola 1


Vanessa atalanta 1
Pieridae 1
Lycaenidae 2

And some photos:
Puffinus gravis (c) Xoán Diéguez.

Puffinus gravis (c) Xoán Diéguez.

Puffinus gravis (c) Xoán Diéguez.

 Puffinus gravis (c) Alejandro Torés.

Hydrobates pelagicus (c) Xoán Diéguez.

Oceanodroma castro (c) Xoán Diéguez.


 Oceanites oceanicus (right) (c) Alejandro Torés.

Falco peregrinus hunting a Larus ridibundus (c) Xoán Diéguez.

 
Stercorarius skua (c) Xoán Diéguez.

 Stercorarius skua (c) Xoán Diéguez.

 Sterna hirundo (c) Xoán Diéguez.

Delphinus delphis (c) Xoán Diéguez.