A message from above

Also on board of Tridens is ornithlogist Tim Sykes. Tim is counting seabirds and cetaceans according to an international accepted protocol developed by European Seabirds at Sea (ESAS). He sits in an observerbox which is fixed on top of the bridge. Probably he is more grateful for the nice weather than anyone on board. 



Tim at work in the 'observer box' on top of the bridge of Tridens



“There’s something mesmerising about watching the sea from a moving vessel.  Just as well really, when so much of the North Sea is seemingly devoid of visible wildlife!  I’m on board the RV Tridens to survey for seabirds and marine mammals, and it’s quite amazing to cover mile after nautical mile of potential wildlife habitat without actually recording anything.  But, sooner or later, you know you’ll come across a ‘hot-spot’ and the feeding activity can become frantic; it can be challenging to even write everything down quickly enough!





Fulmars become clumpsy under windless conditions.



At this time of year, our seabirds in Europe are all foraging out at sea to find food for their chicks back at the colonies on land.  Most noticeable on this survey, are the gannets, fulmars, kittiwakes and other gulls, and auks too (guillemots, razorbills and puffins).  A few other species have been encountered also, having wandered a bit further from their breeding grounds than normal – great skuas, manx shearwaters, and storm petrels.



Great Skua's amongs fulmars in the wake of the vessel.



For others though, the breeding season is drawing to a close already: whilst the first few guillemot chicks are already swimming out to sea, we’ve also encountered two ‘land-birds’ on the boat this week, in the form of a collared dove and a common crossbill!  In a way it’s sad to think that, whilst we humans are still enjoying mid-summer, these birds are already moving into position for the winter months ahead.



White-beaked dolphin



Minke whale



We’ve also had a measure of excitement in mammalian form, as minke whales are just starting to move north through this area, and white-beaked dolphins too are in evidence.  The latter have been making their presence known on occasion by performing spectacular acrobatic leaps, and in the right conditions can be seen at a distance of up to 8km away!



I always think it’s worth enduring the quiet times out here, as the busy times can offer such amazing wildlife encounters which are very rarely seen from dry land!"

Pictures by Tim Sykes.



Grey seal





Fulmar