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Survey results
2010 survey results
To see the daily totals from the 2010 survey, click here.
2009 survey results
The 2009 Annual Report will be released soon. To see the daily totals from the 2009 survey, click here.
Results from 2008 SeaWatch SW survey
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The SeaWatch SW Annual Report 2008 is available to download using the links below. To volunteer your time as an observer in 2009, please see our page on how to get involved. The SeaWatch SW team would like to thank all visiting observers who have contributed to sightings at the Gwennap Head watchpoint during the 2008 survey period.
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Balearic Shearwaters in UK and Irish waters
The Balearic Shearwater is currently listed as critically endangered, with the total (declining) world population estimated at just 10,000-30,000 individuals. However, in the last decade, up to 1000-5000 birds have been recorded annually in UK and Irish waters. These are internationally important numbers, so identification of key feeding/roosting areas and migration pathways around our coasts is vital for effective conservation measures to be put into place.
We therefore urge anyone who sees a Balearic Shearwater in UK waters in 2009 to submit details to the project co-ordinator as soon as possible. In addition, records can be phoned or emailed to Birdguides, who are one of our project sponsors. All records will be added to the project database, and included in monthly summaries and distribution maps (see below). We also encourage observers to submit their records to the relevant country recorder as normal. For tips on Balearic Shearwater identification click here.
Balearic Shearwater report for August and September 2009
A total of 236 records were received for August, referring to an absolute maximum of 973 birds. The distribution of records in southern UK was similar to July, but there was a marked increase in sightings around Irish and North Sea coasts. No counts higher than 20 were made between 1-20 Aug, with double-figure counts restricted to just four sites: Porthgwarra and Pendeen (Cornwall), Berry Head (Devon) and Bridges of Ross (Clare). However, 30 were then seen passing Pendeen on 21st. The largest influx saw 37 passing Porthgwarra on 27th and 31 off Pendeen and 20 off St Ives (Cornwall) the following day. The month ended with 41 off Start Point (Devon) on 30th-31st, including a notable flock of 18 on the latter date.
There were fewer records received for September (173), but the absolute maximum of 1218 birds was higher than in August. This is due to some large counts being made at a small number of sites in southwest England, with the highest being a new Devon record of 145 off Berry Head on 2nd (including two Yelkouan-type birds). This influx was recorded elsewhere on the south coast, with 24 off Dungeness (Kent), 80 off Portland Bill (Dorset) and 31 off Porthgwarra. Exceptional numbers of Sooty Shearwaters were associated with this influx, but barely any Manx Shearwaters were recorded. Intriguingly, counts of up to six Balearic Shearwaters off Norfolk and East Yorkshire the following day were associated with counts of 700-900 Manx Shearwaters; a reversal of the situation in the English Channel. Also on 3rd, counts of 20-40 Balearic Shearwaters came from Portland Bill, Porthgwarra and Pendeen, with the latter site recording another 56 birds on 4th.
Porthgwarra was the dominant site for the next few days, with 104 seen from 6th-8th, although a count of 15 off Galley Head (Cork) was notable (with another 15 off there on 16th), Numbers generally decreased after 10th, although further influxes recorded by SeaWatch SW surveyors at Porthgwarra included 49 on 23rd and 45 on 28th. Two of the most northerly records of the year came on the last day of the month, with singles passing North Ronaldsay (Orkney) and Tarbat Ness (Highland). A singleton was also seen passing Stronday (Orkney) on 8th.
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Balearic Shearwater reports for July 2009
A total of 156 records were received for July, which is comparable to the 2007 and 2008 total. However, numbers in the first fortnight were very low, with the only notable count being seven off Little Orme (Conwy) on 7th. Numbers passing through Lyme Bay (seen from Berry Head, Devon) gradually increased mid-month, with 10 on 11th, 15 on 13th and 25 on 14th. The start of the SeaWatch SW survey at Porthgwarra (Cornwall) then saw 36 head west on 16th, with 15 off St Ives (Cornwall) on 17th and up to 15 off Hengistbury Head (Dorset) on 19th indicating that birds were starting to penetrate northwards and eastwards.
The following few days (18th-24th) saw sporadic counts of to 10-30 birds came from Porthgwarra, Berry Head and Portland Bill (Dorset). The first major influx of the year was then recorded from Porthgwarra on 25th-26th, with 99 birds seen moving west over the two days. Berry Head also logged 34 moving south out of Lyme Bay on the latter date. Most of these birds were in fresh plumage, and the general lack of moulting birds was noted at several of the main sites.
The last few days of the month were unexceptional, although Marinelife surveys in Lyme Bay and Poole Bay regularly recorded small numbers of birds foraging around offshore fishing boats, with one seen diving under a raft of weed in pursuit of fish.
Very few records were received away from the southwest, with scattered singles in the southeast and just five records of one or two birds along North Sea coasts. Several records of up to three birds came from southern Irish headlands and the Pembrokeshire coast.
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Balearic Shearwater reports for Apr-June 2009
Just a single record was received for April, with one passing Berry Head (Devon) on 9th (together with 7458 Manx Shearwaters) This follows on from just two records in March. Most lingering birds have departed UK waters at this time.
A total of 28 records were received for May, all but six of which were from southwest England between Cornwall and Dorset. The first was one moving west off Sheringham (Norfolk) on 7th, while regular observations from Portland Bill (Dorset) saw up to five offshore from this date onwards. A scatter of records of one or two birds came from several other sites in Dorset, Devon and Cornwall. Other sightings included singles off Brownstown Head (Waterford) on 8th, Hurst Beach (Hampshire) on 11th, Selsey Bill (West Sussex) on 16th and Splash Point, Seaford (east Sussex) on 17th.
A poor total of 16 records were received for June (compared to 58 in June 2008). The vast majority of sightings came from Portland Bill, with up to four offshore on several dates. Elsewhere, records of one or two birds came from Durlston CP (Dorset) and Porthgwarra and Lizard Point (Cornwall). The relative lack of birds seen in June may be related to the dominance of calm, settled weather. In such conditions sea-watching effort is much reduced. However, the low numbers recorded from the well-watched site of Portland Bill suggests that genuinely few Balearic Shearwaters were present in the region. It may be that birds were reluctant to disperse north across the Western Channel given the lack of favourable winds.
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Balearic Shearwater reports for Jan-Mar 2009
The first quarter of 2009 saw a similar pattern to the previous two years, with most records restricted to southwest England and a marked influx in January, before numbers declined through February and March.
A total of 46 records were received for January, compared to just 13 records received for Nov-Dec 2008. The first report of the year was one off Portland Bill (Dorset) on 7th, and numbers peaked in the final week with six there on 25th and six at Carbis Bay (Cornwall) on 28th. The majority of sightings came from the southwest between Cornwall and Dorset. The exceptions were one flying east off Splash Point, Seaford and Beachy Head (East Sussex) on 15th (the first January record for the county), what was probably the bird off Dungeness (Kent) on 16th and 17th, and one flying east off Sheringham (Norfolk) on 23rd. It was noticeable that many birds were reported to be feeding or migrating with large numbers of auks, Kittiwakes and other seabirds.
In February a total of 21 records were received, with all but three being from Cornwall. The exceptions were two flying west off Ventnor (Isle of Wight) on 13th (the first winter record for the Isle of Wight), and singles off Devon and Dorset. The Dorset bird was seen during a Marinelife boat survey in Lyme Bay on 19th, which also produced great views of a highly unseasonal Great Shearwater. The peak counts were six off Trevose Head (Cornwall) on 5th and 14th. Most records were from the first half of the month, and only one was seen after 20th.
Only two records were received for March, with singles off Porthgwarra (Cornwall) on 7th and Portland Bill (Dorset) on 12th.
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