I joined DAUNTLESS on the evening boat transfer from Fairlie, Ayrshire Monday 29 Jun 09 and remained onboard until the ship returned to Scotstoun, Glasgow Saturday 18 Jul 09.  Despite regularly seeing hundreds of sea birds the actual number of species seen was rather limited due to the fact that the ship operated for the majority of the time within the confines of the Firth of Clyde.  

   One of the species I was hoping to see was Black Guillemot and I managed to tick-off the species before I even stepped onboard DAUNTLESS.  While I waited for the boat ‘Cruiser’ to transport me from Fairlie Pier to the ship I spotted two auks with bold white wing patches and red legs fly in and land adjacent to the pier.  The two Black Guillemots showed really well as they paddled between the uprights of the pier.  I got to see the species in ones and twos regularly whenever the ship was in close proximity to land, particularly in the waters surrounding the Cumbrae Islands.  Two birds on a yellow buoy West of Great Cumbrae Island looked particularly stunning. 

Black Guillemot, Fairlie Pier, Ayrshire - 29 Jun 09

Black Guillemot, Fairlie Pier, Ayrshire - 29 Jun 09

   Due to often operating in close proximity to the sea bird colony at Ailsa Craig the ship was often surrounded by hundreds of Manx Shearwater and Gannet that glided effortlessly over the water.  The Manx Shearwater often settled on the water in rafts that would take flight if the ship got too close.  Although I was constantly on the lookout I was unable to pick out a Balearic or Sooty Shearwater amongst the Manx.  Unfortunately, DAUNTLESS did not pass particularly close to the granite island but through binoculars thousands of individual Gannet could be identified on the southern half of the rock.  At sea Gannet could be regularly observed diving for food a spectacle that was watched by all those present on the flight deck.  I did also spot on two separate occasions a dead Gannet float by and assumed that each individual must have suffered a broken neck whilst diving for food. 

Ailsa Craig - 17 Jul 09.  Unfortunately DAUNTLESS never got particularly close - unlike previous ships I have served on. 

  Razorbill and (Common) Guillemot were another two species that were numerous.  Although large numbers were present they were dispersed over a wide area and often consisted of one or two adults with one or two juveniles.  Puffin was another species that I was hoping to connect with and I had to wait until the ship transited through the North Channel to operate for two days West of the Kintyre Peninsula.  It was there on Wednesday 15 Jul 09 that I saw first one distant followed by four much closer Puffin amongst the small groups of Razorbill and Guillemot.  In contrast to the waters East of the peninsula Razorbill appeared to be more numerous than Guillemot West of the Peninsula. 

   Although only ever seen singularly or in twos and threes Fulmar and Kittiwake were two other species that were regularly encountered out at sea.  Closer inshore Shag were regularly spotted with c40 birds often at rest along the shoreline of Little Cumbrae Island when DAUNTLESS headed through the Cumbrae Gap to rendezvous with ‘Cruiser’ or on route to anchor.  Although too distant to identify I did also spot up to three ‘Commic’ Terns on three separate occasions. 

Mac Arthur's Head Lighthouse, Sound of Islay - 15 Jul 09

   During the evening of Wednesday 15 Jul 09 DAUNTLESS transited West through the narrow channel that separates the Isle of Islay from the island of Jura.  The species seen from the flight deck for the forty-five minute passage included the following:  Black Guillemot – 11E (mainly singles);   Cormorant – 1 (eastern mainland spit);   Shag – c20 (eastern mainland spit);   Greylag Goose – 12+ (eastern mainland spit);   Kittiwake – 20+E (singles);   Guillemot – 3;   Razorbill – 1 + juv;   Herring Gull;   Lesser Black-backed Gull;   Great Black-backed Gull – 1;   Mute Swan – 4;   Grey Heron – 2 and Oystercatcher – 3.  Also spotted on the eastern mainland spit were several Grey Seal.  

    Other sightings of note from the three weeks at sea included the following:   Curlew – 1W (0817 8 Jul 09 Cumbrae Gap);   Barn Swallow – 1W (2015 at anchor 10 Jul 09 North of Great Cumbrae Island);   Rook – 132E (2057 14 Jul 09 Cumbrae Gap). 

   Non-bird sightings included Basking Shark - 2; Minky Whale (on four occasions);   Dolphin (regular);   Porpoise - 2 and Grey Seal (regular).    

 DAUNTLESS - 1 Jul 09.  Photograph courtesy of BVT Surface Fleet. 

Good birding,

Tony T   BSc (Hons) Geosci (Open)