14/11/2015: first November pelagic!

We left O Grove harbour early, at 8:15 h, with clear sky and light northerlies. After ticking the first Mediterranen Gulls and European Shags, we faced Aguiño (in the NW corner of the 'ría' of Arousa) as the wind increased in strenght. Some waders, Greater Black-backed Gulls and herons were spotted at the mussel rafts, and two Northern Gannets popped up near Aguiño. The sea became rough off Sagres islets, but Isidro the skipper decided to go SSW to avoid the facing waves and take benefit of the swell and wind. From that point onwards, trip was quite confortable. The first Great and Balearic Shearwaters appeared as close as 3 nm off Sálvora island and a weak southward migration of Atlantic Gannets was also noted. A Sunfish was also observed.

The first chum was freed 6 nm off Sálvora island, and dozens of Great Shearwaters and gulls came to it. First Kittiwakes (an adult and a juvenile) were detected, and a beautiful adult Arctic Skua (Parasitic Jaeger) was also seen.

As we faced the second chum, the wave height increased and Isidro decided not to go further on, so we stopped 8 nm off Sálvora island for chumming. Many of the Great Shearwaters and gulls followed the 'Chasula' from the first chum to the second, and 'settled' in the latter. Good chance to photography and even to hear the calls of these nice shearwaters, with a 'bonus' of three Sooty Shearwaters, Great Skuas, Kittiwakes and many Mediterranean Gulls. Moreover, two Razorbills on migration were seen.

The way back to the 'ria' was confortable and quite, with few birds and another Sunfish. Fresh mussels and, remarkably, tasty spider-crabs were enjoyed by the participants and crew, and, once inside the 'ría', three Atlantic Bottlenosed Dolphins were seen at close distance.

This was our first pelagic in November, since the beggining of 'Seabirds Galicia' in 2011. Here below is the list of recorded species, with highlights in bold and approximate numbers in italics:

And some pictures, (c) José Luis Lorenzo "Colón"  and (c) Cosme Damián Romay:

Sunrise. 14/11/2015. O Grove, SW Galicia (c) C. D. Romay.

European Shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis). 14/11/2015. 'Ría' of Arousa, SW Galicia (c) C. D. Romay.

European Shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis). 14/11/2015. Sagres Is., Ribeira, SW Galicia (c) C. D. Romay

Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis), 14/11/2015, 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

Three Great Shearwaters (Ardenna gravis). 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) C. D. Romay.

Great Shearwaters (Ardenna gravis), 14/11/2015, 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

Resting flock of Great Shearwaters (Ardenna gravis) and José Luis Fernández Carnero. 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) C. D. Romay.

Great Shearwater (Ardenna gravis), 14/11/2015, 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

Great Shearwaters (Ardenna gravis), 14/11/2015, 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

Great Shearwaters (Ardenna gravis), 14/11/2015, 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

Great Skua (Catharacta skua). 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) C. D. Romay.

Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), adult. 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

Kittiwakes (Rissa tridactyla), juvenile and adult, plus a Mediterranean Gull (L. melanocephalus) first winter. 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), adult. 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

 

 

 

Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), juvenile. 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) C. D. Romay.

Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), adult. 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) C. D. Romay.

Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), juvenile. 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), juvenile. 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), juvenile. 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla), juvenile. 14/11/2015. 6nm off Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

 

Mediterranean Gull (Larus melanocephalus), adult. 14/11/2015. 'Ría' of Arousa, SW Galicia (c) C. D. Romay.

Atlantic Bottlenosed Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus). 14/11/2015. 'Ría' of Arousa, SW Galicia (c) C. D. Romay.

Iago and Isidro at the 'Chasula', 14/11/2015, near Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".

Spider crab and Sálvora Island, 14/11/2015, near Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón"

Lunch at the 'Chasula', 14/11/2015, near Sálvora island, SW Galicia (c) J. L. Lorenzo "Colón".