08/06/2013: first Wilson's storm-petrels of the year and group of Risso's dolphins

On Saturday 8th June we leave O Grove harbour at 8:00 h in the morning to perform the first pelagic trip of the year. In the 'ría' both sea and ornithological atmosphere were calmed, and only an immature great black-backed gull resting at a mussel raft deserved an 'extra' look. Already at the 'ría' mouth we observe the first shearwaters and gannets, starred by participants, although sea announced a 'bouncing' tring when we sail in front of Sálvora island. After a first "chum", we noticed the first European storm-petrels, increasing their numbers in the second "chum" at 12 nm W of Ons island, with a group of about 50 individuals, being joined by some more birds later, amounting to 130. Common terns were also seen, along with sooty shearwaters. In the route we ticked the first Wilson's storm-petrels of the year and, also in the way back, an excellent group of about 40 Risso's dolphins, being widely enjoyed by participants.

Here below are the results. Highlights are marked in bold; M: mammals:

Latin name	English name	Number	Notes
Calonectris diomedea	Cory's shearwater	9
Puffinus griseus	Sooty shearwater	2
Puffinus mauretanicus	Balearic shearwater	16	Low number
Oceanites oceanicus	Wilson's storm-petrel	2	During trip. First of 2013
Hydrobates pelagicus	European storm-petrel	130	In groups (a record number so far)
Morus bassanus	Northern gannet	127	Mainly adults
Phalacrocorax aristotelis	Shag	56	Low number
Stercorarius skua	Great skua	15	High number
Larus michahellis	Yellow-legged gull	370	Mainly adults, approximate number
Larus fuscus	Lesser black-backed gull	3	2 adults, 1 subadult
Larus marinus	Great black-backed gull	1	Subadult
Sterna hirundo	Common tern	11
Motacilla flava	Yellow wagtail	1	At Pombeiro islet
Corvus corone	Carrion crow	1	At a mussel raft
M: Grampus griseus	Risso's dolphin	40	With three calves!

Photos (c) José Luis Fernández Carnero:

Northern gannet (Morus bassanus), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero

Northern gannet (Morus bassanus), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero

European storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero

Wilson's storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero

Cory's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea borealis), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero

Sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero

Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero

Great skua (Stercorarius skua), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero

Common tern (Sterna hirundo), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero

Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero

Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero

Risso's dolphin (Grampus griseus), 08/06/2013, off Ons islands (c) J. L. Fernández Carnero