September 10th 2008

Mini Cruise Bay of Biscay Day three
After a restless night woke in the English Channel to a north westerly wind getting stronger and more westerly throughout the day. Plenty of Gannets and a few small birds were flitting about the decks eventually finding a Wheatear, Reed Warbler, White Wagtail 2 and Tree Pipit. As we continued up the English Channel there was again more bird activity with Harbour Porpoise, Great Skua 14, Artic Skua 2, Manx Shearwater 30+, Kittiwake 10, many more Gannets, 40+ Fulmars and Storm Petrel 3, and Puffin while waders were represented by Whimbrel 11 and Turnstone 3 all heading west. Minkie Whale was the star of the day and a welcome bonus. As we neared the Isle of Wight a flock of 17 Common Scoter went east and on approaching Portsmouth Harbor there were Common Tern 4, Sandwich Tern 2, Little Egret sitting on one of the anchored ships we passed and a Grey Phalarope flying towards land. After the usual security controls I disembarked with my normal wobbly leg syndrome and arrived home in time to put mine and Dave's traps on.

Richard