Seabird & Whale Trip Report 17th & 18th Sept
The 17th Sept was our biggest Minke Whale day of the year so far. Both trips were led by YCN guide Jono Leadley. The whale season has been late this year alongside the herring spawning and mackrel, so we were really pleased when we finally found increasing numbers of whales later in September. The rough weather in late August and early Sept prevented us from sailing so these two trips were even more exciting!
Minke Whale 17-09-21 © Jono Leadley
One Minke Whale seen on the 17th had a large chunk broken off the top of its dorsal fin. A really curious shape. Looking through photos supplied by Robin Petch (Sea Watch Foundation Ambassador), I noticed one photo of a whale nicknamed 'Stubby' last seen on the 8th Sept 2011. Could this be Stubby on the 17th Sept 2021? Further research needed...
Is this Stubby last seen in 2011... © Jono Leadley 17-09-21
Stubby photo taken from Whitby Whale trip on 8 Sept 2011
Seabird migration was well underway on these trips with our first Red-throated Divers of the autumn, Sooty and Manx Shearwaters and a nice surprise with five Pale-bellied Brent Geese in the harbour. Sadly there were at least 50 dead razorbills and guillemots seen from the boat but many others looking in good health. Thankfully since this trip we have not seen anything like as many dead, and still many live auks. We are hoping the recent moratlity was short lived.
Pale-bellied Brent Geese in Staithes Harbour © Jono Leadley
Big thanks to Sarah Burton who sent us some photos she took on the trip! and to YCN guide Jono Leadley for great guiding! See full trip list below.
Atlantic Grey Seal © Sarah Burton
Northern Gannet juvenile © Sarah Burton
Razorbill © Sarah Burton
Richard Baines
YCN Guide and Director
Trip Date | 17/09/2021 | 18/09/2021 |
Mammals | ||
Grey Seal | 1 | 5 |
Minke Whale | 11 | 6 |
Bottlenose Dolphin | ||
Harbour Porpoise | 1 | 5 |
Birds | ||
Pale-bellied Brent Goose | 5 | 5 |
Wigeon | 20 | |
Teal | 10 | |
Shoveler | 6 | |
Pintail | 1 | |
Common Scoter | 33 | 45 |
Red-throated Diver | 5 | 5 |
Fulmar | 10 | 15 |
Sooty Shearwater | 1 | |
Manx Shearwater | 1 | |
Gannet | 25 | 30 |
Cormorant | 10 | 5 |
Grey Heron | 1 | |
Oystercatcher | 3 | 2 |
Curlew | 1 | 3 |
Arctic Skua | 1 | |
Atlantic Puffin | 2 | 2 |
Razorbill | 100 | 100 |
Common Guillemot | 25 | 30 |
Black-headed Gull | 20 | 40 |
Common Gull | 2 | |
Herring Gull | 50 | 50 |
Lesser Black-backed Gull | 1 | |
Great Black-backed Gull | 5 | 10 |
Kittiwake | 10 | 10 |
Sandwich Tern | 3 | 7 |
House Martin | 8 | 10 |
Sand Martin | ||
Swallow | 4 | 12 |
Northern Wheatear | 1 | |
Nuthatch | 1 | |
Skylark | 3 | |
Meadow Pipit | 25 | 8 |
Pied Wagtail | 2 | |
Jackdaw | 10 | 10 |
Linnet | 100 | 100 |
Other fauna | ||
Moon Jellyfish | 1 | |
Red Admiral | 1 | |
Lion's-mane Jellyfish | 2 | 2 |
Painted Lady | 1 | 2 |
Small Tortoiseshell | 20 | 30 |
Large White | 10 | 15 |