Stena Nordica Survey

Steve and Hannah joined the Stena Nordica for the first survey of 2019. We had a warm welcome from the Master and all the crew and settled down in unfamiliar surroundings. On Stena Europe we carry out the surveys from the Bridge wings which are open to the elements but the Nordica has a totally enclosed bridge. We were both dressed for a bracing day and had jumpers in reserve for the evening return but were doing our survey through windows in the cosy warmth of the bridge. Strumble did not produce its usual porpoises to help us get our eyes in so we proceeded offshore. We eventually got a single porpoise followed quite quickly by three more singles but it was very quiet. Visibility was moderate to poor but not bad enough to explain the lack of action. Fortunately the resident bottlenose dolphin just off Rosslare Harbour gave us a glimpse to end the crossing. The return started slowly our first porpoise coming after almost half an hour with another three minutes later. We then had a barren spell for over an hour eventually hitting a bit of a hot spot. Three porps followed by two singles and finally a pair. Bad light stopped play at 20.27. What was so unusual about the day was that porpoise usually cluster inshore on both the Welsh and Irish side but today the bulk were well offshore. Bird life was quite interesting with a constant stream of swallows, house and sand martins heading for Ireland five whimbrel mid channel flying North and plenty of manx shearwaters and the usual auks. Two black guillemot and two hooded crows in Rosslare completed the picture. Our thanks to all at Stena both ashore and afloat for all their assistance making the survey a pleasure.