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

New scheduled pelagic - 8th June

After the canceled trips of April and May, on Saturday 8th June a new pelagic will be carried out from O Grove harbour, hoping to be the first pelagic of the year, the so-called "shearwater pelagic". If the sea condition and weather is good, we will have the chance of observing Balearic shearwater (Puffinus mauretanicus), Cory's shearwater (Calonectris diomedea), British storm-petrel (Hydrobates pelagicus) and hopefully some great skuas (Stercorarius skua) and Wilson's storm-petrel (Oceanites oceanicus). 

Departure from O Grove harbour will be at 8:00 h a.m. and return is scheduled at 15:30 h. Price of the pelagic will be 65 €/per person (55 € for the members of the Grupo Naturalista Hábitat), and it includes a light lunche on board. There is not recharge for the "chum" or bait for the seabirds.

Cory's shearwater on 13.10.2012 by José Luis Lorenzo "Colón"

Book here!: seabirdsgalicia (at) gmail.com

02/03/2013. First boat trip of the year: inner part of the ria of Arousa

By 8:30 a.m. of Saturday 2nd March, a group of birders were ready to depart from O Grove harbour and to enjoy a boat trip at the inner part of the ría de Arousa. The date was somewhat late for some wintering waterfowl (e. g., most of the surface-feeding ducks), but there was a great chance to observe interesting species, as Red-breasted Mergansers, Black-necked Grebes and some auk species. And they were there! Short after leaving the harbour, we recorded a group of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin, besides a good number of Sandwich Terns and Common Gulls. Further north, Razobill and Great Black-backed Gull were spotted, and, close to O Vao beach, at A Illa de Arousa, the first Common Scoters were located. Passage next to As Cunchas and O Porron beached was productive aswell: three Red-breasted Mergansers and another group of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin. At Rianxo bay, we enjoyed with good nombers of Black-necked Grebes (most of them with their elegant summer plummage), Common Scoters and even a early Common Swallow. The route towards the island of Rúa had several highlights, with the observation of two very quite Great Northern Loons and eight Common Guillemots. The way back to O Grove harbour passed next to the islet of O Galiñeira, bringing us the chance of observe more individual of some species previously seen in other areas of the route.

This table details the numbers for each species seen in the route. In bold: highlights. In italic: approximate numbers.

English name	Latin name	Total
Common Scoter	Melanitta nigra	94
Red-breasted Merganser	Mergus serrator	3
Great Northern Loon	Gavia immer	3
Black-necked Grebe	Podiceps nigricolis	60
Great Cormorant	Phalacrocorax carbo	191
European Shag	Phalacrocorax aristotelis	49
Northern Gannet	Morus bassanus	2
Grey Heron	Ardea cinerea	2
Little Egret	Egretta garzetta	15
Common Buzzard	Buteo buteo	3
Oystercatcher	Haematopus ostralegus	10
Grey Plover	Pluvialis squatarola	1
Greater Ringed Plover	Charadrius hiaticula	120
Kentish Plover	Charadius alexandrinus	2
Sanderling	Calidris alba	61
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	4
Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata	8
Ruddy Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	18
Great Skua	Stercorarius skua	3
Black-headed Gull	Chroicocephalus ridibundus	294
Mediterranean Gull	Larus melanocephalus	18
Common Gull	Larus canus	3
Yellow-legged Gull	Larus michahellis	569
Lesser Black-backed Gull	Larus fuscus	95
Great Black-backed Gull	Larus marinus	9
Sandwich Tern	Sterna sandvicenis	17
Razorbill	Alca torda	4
Common Guillemot	Uria aalge	8
Wood Pigeon	Columba palumbus	1
Barn Swallow	Hirundo rustica	1
Carrion Crow	Corvus corone	3
Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin	Tursiops truncatus	15

Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus) 2/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Black-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus ridibundus) 2/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

European shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) & Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus)2/03/2013 (c) Juan Diéguez Vázquez

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) 2/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra) 2/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), 02/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), 02/03/2013 (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez

Black-necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis), 02/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Razorbill (Alca torda), 02/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Razorbill (Alca torda), 02/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Common Guillemot (Uria aalge), 02/03/2013 (c) Juan Diéguez Vázquez

Common Guillemot (Uria aalge), 02/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Common Guillemot (Uria aalge), 02/03/2013 (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez

Common Guillemot (Uria aalge), 02/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), 02/03/2013 (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez

Great Northern L3oon (Gavia immer), 02/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), 02/03/2013 (c) Juan Gómez Escariz

Great Northern Loon (Gavia immer), 02/03/2013 (c) Xoán Diéguez Vázquez