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Monday, June 10, 2013

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