8 September 2012 - Sabine's bonanza

Today, 8th September 2012, a new pelagic of the Seabirds Galicia platform was performed. Leaving from O Grove harbour early morning aboard the 'Chasula', fog seems not a good welcome for the crew and 12 participants, but after 3 hours sky became cleaner and pelagic could be done without any trouble. Sea was in good condition.

List of species observed (highlights in bold, approximate numbers in italic):

BIRDS
Wigeon (Anas penelope): 2. First record for the pelagics of Seabirds Galicia!
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos): 1.
Cory's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea): 23.
Great shearwater (Puffinus gravis): 30.
Sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus): 10.
Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus): 11.
Manx shearwater (Puffinus puffinus): 1.
Wilson's storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus): 1.
European storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus): 10.
Northern gannet (Morus bassanus): 44.
European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis): 115.
Great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo): 2.
Grey heron (Ardea cinerea): 3.
Little egret (Egretta garzetta): 2.
Ringed plover (Charadrius hiaticula): 1.
Sanderling (Calidris alba): 5.
Ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres): 8.
Common sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos): 2.
Great skua (Stercorarius skua): 8.
Pomarine skua (Stercorarius pomarinus): 4.
Arctic skua (Stercorarius parasiticus): 10.
Long-tailed skua (Stercorarius longicaudus): 1, distant, seen only by 2 observers. Second record for Seabirds Galicia!
Mediterranean gull (Larus melanocephalus): 10.
Black-headed gull (Larus ridibundus): 13.
Sabine's gull (Xema sabini): 22+ (at least 47 sights, with 'duplicates'), including adults (breeding and non-breeding plummage) and juveniles. Second record and highest count for the Seabirds Galicia pelagics.
Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis): 165.
Lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus): 419.
Great black-backed gull (Larus marinus): 10.
Sandwich tern (Sterna sandvicensis): 28.
Common tern (Sterna hirundo): 16.
Arctic tern (Sterna paradisaea): 1. Second record during pelagics trips aboard the 'Chasula'.
Black tern (Chlidonias niger): 2. First record for Seabirds Galicia!
Barn swallow (Hirundo rustica): 2.
Black redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros): 1.
Carrion crow (Corvus corone): 3.

MAMMALS:
Bottle-nosed dolphin (Tursiops truncatus): 1.
Common dolphin (Delphinus delphis): 60.
Harbour porpoise (Phocoena phocoena): 3 individuals observed. First record for Seabirds Galicia.

FISH:
Sunfish (Mola mola): 1.
Blue shark (Prionace glauca): 2.

And some pictures:

The 'Chasula'. Early morning. (c) Jesús Menéndez.

Common dolphins in the mist. (c) Manolo Carregal

Common terns lingered the boat. (c) Manolo Carregal

Storm-petrels' breakfast: olive oil with fish guts. (c) Manolo Carregal

First great shearwater 'on the move'. (c) Manolo Carregal

Great shearwater. (c) Manolo Carregal

Flight shot of great shearwater (true handsome seabird, indeed). (c) Manolo Carregal

Sooty shearwater. (c) Manolo Carregal

Moulting Sabine's gull at its best! (c) Jesús Menéndez

Sabine's gull. (c) Jesús Menéndez

Two adults and one juvenil (top right) of Sabine's gull. (c) Manolo Carregal

Nice flock of Sabine's gull (different moult stage). (c) Manolo Carregal

Juvenile Sabine's gull. (c) Jesús Menéndez

Same individual, closer. (c) Manolo Carregal

Arctic skua, dark morph. (c) Manolo Carregal

Great skua (top left) with lesser black-backed gulls. (c) Manolo Carregal

September and October 2012 pelagics - provisional

The following pelagics are already scheduled for September and October, although they will depend on sea condition and weather:

- Saturday 22nd September (COMPLETE). Seabirds Galicia celebrates its 1st aniversary and good numbers of storm-petrels, skuas, terns, shearwaters and marine mammals will be the best present.

- Saturday 13th October (9 avaliable 'seats'). If conditions and passage are similar to those of 2011 (check report), good numbers of Wilson's storm-petrel and great shearwater could be detected.

Oceanodroma castro in October 2011 (c) Xoán Diéguez.

16 June 2012 - half pelagic - photos

On Saturday 16th June we tried to perform a pelagic trip aboard of the 'Chasula', but heavy swell (2.5 m wave, 8 s period) was not good for sailing beyond 1,5 miles NW Sálvora island. However, we managed to see the first Cory's shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea) of 2012 for Seabirds Galicia and an early sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus), well photographed near Sagres island. Highlights were also 3 bottle-nosed dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) near Cambados and summering ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres), great cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) and lesser black-backed gull (Larus fuscus), the last being (probable) breeding birds for the nearby Sálvora archipelago.

Up to 13 species of birds and 1 marine mammal were recorded (minimum numbers are given, in italic approximate numbers, in bold, more interesting records):

Arenaria interpres

2

Calidris alpina	2
Calonectris diomedea	7
Corvus sp.	2
Larus fuscus	2
Larus michahellis	647
Morus bassanus	10
Passer domesticus	1
Phalacrocorax carbo	1
Phalacrocorax aristotelis	49
Puffinus griseus	1
Puffinus mauretanicus	35
Tursiops truncatus	3

First at all, a brief report of the pelagic:

          

Cosme Damián Romay, Atocha Ramos, Xoán Diéguez and Xosé Luis Fernández (c) Intramar, S. L. 16/06/2012

"Around 8:10 h we departed from O Grove harbour, and soon we spotted some bottle-nosed dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at Cambados channel; those individuals did not showed well as in other pelagics, performing a shy and untrusted behaviour; thus, we decided to follow the route towars outer ría. As it was spected, waves were high (2.5 m) and had a short period, due to heavy winds of the former day, and a shift in wind direction. However, we tried 'chumming' 1.5 miles off SW Sálvora island around 10:10 h, attacting Balearic shearwaters (Puffinus mauretanicus), shags (Phalacrocorax aristotelis), Northern gannets (Morus bassanus) and yellow-legged gulls (Larus michahellis). Due to unsuitable situation of the sea, we decided to enter again at the ría, out of the Atlantic Islands NP waters, and we perform again some 'chumming' near Noro islet, with some shearwaters and gulls as guests. After a short time, we tried again the pelagic by the beautiful and legend-bearing outermost channel of Sálvora. Around 12:00 h, 1.5 miles off NW Sálvora, with a quiter sea, we left the 'chum' we still had, and we attracted Balearic and Cory's shearwaters (Calonectris diomedea), along with an early sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus). Back in the ría, near Noro, we enjoyed pod razors (Ensis siliqua), ecological potatoes from Martín "Peixe" and canned sardines. After the expedition, we returned to harbour around 15:00 h".

And some pictures, all of them (c) Xosé Luis Fernández Carnero, but the last one, being (c) C. D. Romay Cousido:

Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus) (c) X. L. Fernández Carnero

Yellow-legged gull (Larus michahellis) at chum (c) X. L. Fernández Carnero

Yellow-legged gull (c) X. L. Fernández Carnero

Northern gannet (Morus bassanus) immature (c) X. L. Fernández Carnero

Sooty shearwater (Puffinus griseus) (c) X. L. Fernández Carnero

Sooty shearwater taking off (c) X. L. Fernández Carnero

Sooty shearwater (left) with yellow-legged gulls (c) X. L. Fernández Carnero

Sooty shearwater within a flock of yellow-legged gulls (c) X. L. Fernández Carnero

Birdwatchers on board, with Sálvora island in the background (c) C. D. Romay Cousido

12 May 2012 - some pictures

Hydrobates pelagicus, Arousa canyon, 12/5/2012 (c) X. L. Fernández Carnero

Hydrobates pelagicus, Arousa canyon, 12/5/2012 (c) X. L. Fernández Carnero

Stercorarius skua, Arousa canyon, 12/5/2012 (c) X. L. Fernández Carnero

More photos and a complete report soon.

Seabirds Galicia at the Galician TV (TVG)!

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).

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

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.

Next pelagic trip - 1 Oct 2011

After the 'pilot' trip of the 10th September 2011, and hoping better sea and wind conditions, we schedule the next pelagic trip for the Saturday 1st October 2011, at the time of the World Bird Day (BirdLife International).

Please, check the different pages above to see location, route, species, tips on-board and prize.

Reserve here:

10.09.2011 - first pelagic trip

The 'Chasula' (retrieved from chasulapesca.blogspot.com)

With this post, we present our first pelagic trip from O Grove (SW Galicia). It is scheduled for the 10th September 2011, and will be done aboard of the 'Chasula' boat (14 m LOA, 3.5 m beam). This is the first birdwatching trip of the 'Chasula', and we will try to observe interesting pelagic birds W and SW of the islands of Sálvora and Ons, reaching up to 12 nm offshore.

Provisional route of the 'Chasula' (10 Sep 2011) (Google Maps)

Target species will be Sabine's Gull (Larus sabini), Wilson's Storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus) and Great Shearwater (Puffinus gravis). It is very likely that Balearic (P. mauretanicus), Cory's (Calonectris diomedea) and Manx Shearwaters (P. puffinus) will be showy during most of the trip. Dolphins and even whales can be sight as well.


'Chumming' will be performed to attact birds near the boat.


This trip is almost full ('Chasula' has a maximum capacity of 12 people plus crew). We are planning another pelagic before mid-October.

More information:

Good birding!