List of target species

The primary target species of the survey are the Balearic Shearwater and the Basking Shark, while Ocean Sunfish and any marine mammals (whales, dolphins and seals) are additional main targets. Full observational data will be collected for these species, enabling accurate assessment of timing and abundance, direction of movement, influence of weather conditions etc.

Other migratory seabirds that are relatively scarce, e.g. large shearwaters and scarcer skuas, will be recorded with less detail but with sufficient information to allow comprehensive analysis of sightings.

All other seabirds, e.g. Manx Shearwater and Kittiwake will be recorded in a basic fashion, i.e. day/half-day totals and direction of movement. A full list of target species and their appropriate recording level is shown below.

Level 1 (day/half-day total, time, direction, distance, age/plumage, length/size, behavioural notes)

• Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus
• Basking Shark Cetorhinus maximus
• Ocean Sunfish Mola mola
• Any cetaceans (whales, dolphins)
• Any turtles
• Any rare seabirds considered by BBRC, e.g. Fea’s Petrel Pterodroma feae. Little Shearwater Puffinus baroli, Wilson’s Storm-petrel Oceanites oceanicus.

Level 2 (day/half-day total, time, direction, age/plumage)

• Cory’s Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
• Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis
• Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus
• European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus
• Leach’s Storm-petrel Oceanodroma leucorhoa
• Pomarine Skua Stercorarius pomarinus
• Long-tailed Skua Stercorarius longicaudus
• Sabine’s Gull Larus sabini
• Puffin Fratercula arctica

Level 3 (day/half-day total, direction) Common Scoter Melanitta nigra Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus Great Skua Stercorarius skua Mediterranean Gull Larus melanocephalus Little Gull Larus minutus Kittiwake Rissa tridactyla Guillemot Uria aalge Razorbill Alca torda Any wildfowl (swans, geese and ducks), divers, grebes, waders, terns, auks not already listed above Any seals Any jellyfish

Observers are also be encouraged to submit any interesting records of migrant land birds or insects, for inclusion in daily updates on the SeaWatch SW website. Note that Fulmar Fulmarus glacialis and Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis are abundant local breeding species and so are not included in the survey, and Gannet Morus bassanus is too abundant to be accurately counted.