An early rise and on deck for 7am conditions were a bit blowy and things started slow, a few gannets and an occasional dolphin to spark interest. The first bird of interest was a sooty shearwater, Things picked up and a great shearwater was picked up. I missed the next great shear that was much closer in buying lunch. The afternoon provided more dolphins mostly common although a few bottle nosed showed quite well. The first fin whale appeared very close to the boat, and was followed by many more during the afternoon and evening. I missed some pilot whales which was a bit disappointing, I also missed a dogfish sp. The first hitchhiker put in its appearance a willow warbler on the chimney of the boat. A group of storm petrels showed reasonably close in along with some tuna. Several other small groups of stormy and individuals were spotted from time to time. This was followed by another hitchhiker a wheatear that seemed to stay for the rest of the journey. A great shearwater was sat on the sea very close to the boat giving excellent views before it flew. A bonxie and a pale phase artic skua took attention away from the regular stream of fin whales and some unidentified roqual whales. One fin whale surfacing as close to the boat as possible without hitting it. A sunfish passed by glimmering in the evening sun. The last bird of the evening was a common tern sat on a pallet as it floated by. The sun set and that was it for the day.

Another early start to leave the boat at 7am, we did not know where the hill was where everyone goes birdwatching, it is quite obvious to look at but its is a convoluted route through many small back streets. We just followed some of the many birdwatchers who knew the way. Some birdwatchers got a taxi to the top, apparently the local taxi companys know where to go, the rate of 20 euros was a bit steep. We reached the bottom of the hill, the sparrows were not house sparrows or Spanish sparrows but some mix of varying degrees but not quite classic Italian sparrows. They were plentiful. The gardens and allotments low down produced a cetti’s, and fan tailed warbler. A little further up sand and house martins darted round mixed in with a few swallows. Another birder pointed out a red backed shrike. A tree pipit, nightingale and lots of serins were seen further up the hill just below the picnic area. One of the groups found a melodious warbler, and another was found a little further down the hill. Light drizzle started and we headed down via the nightjar perched on a roof found by one of the other groups on the way up.

It was still raining on board, although the gulls at the harbour did not seem bothered, the only one of note was an adult yellow legged. The rain soon cleared as we sailed and the first cetaceans spotted were pilot whales showing quite close. A few Cory’s showed well, a couple of bonxies, sandwich tern and plenty of gulls and gannets were seen. Then cuvier’s beaked whales I only saw one but there were several, more cory’s and then the blows, fin whales started coming thick and fast one lunge feeding close in. Then the call came and I rushed to the other side of the boat, I quickly picked up the shearwater small pale faced - a little shearwater, confirmed by the rest of the birdwatchers. There were several pods of striped dolphins some showing well, whales were being seen until dark forced us inside.

A lie in made us miss harbour porpoise and a minke whale, birds were few and far between mainly gannets. There were only a few wildlife watchers on deck and numbers dwindled as time, then came the call great shear, it was quickly picked up and watched for a few mins. We checked the position, just near the channel islands. Bonxies, comon terns, gannets and fulmars were seen along with a shearwater sp. too distant to id. As we approached the Isle of Wight bird sightings dwindled and all the tourists

Little Shearwater, Great Shearwater, whales.