SeaWatch SW is a volunteer-based project that started in 2007 and is scheduled to run until 2011 at least. The main aim is to better understand the distribution and behaviour of migratory marine megafauna, both for scientific and conservation purposes. The priority is the Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater, but other migratory seabirds as well as Basking Sharks, Ocean Sunfish and cetaceans are the focus of intensive monitoring off southwest England. SeaWatch SW is supported by a number of scientific and conservation organisations, and is co-ordinated from the National Oceanography Centre, Southampton (NOCS).

The survey phase of the project is based at Gwennap Head, near Lands End in Cornwall, from mid-July to mid-October. During that period, we need volunteer observers to assist with observation and recording of target species. Further details about how to get involved, latest sightings, and the conservation and scientific background to the project can be found using the links above, and results from previous years are outlined in the annual report (below). Any enquiries should be directed to the project co-ordinator.

We hope you enjoy the website, and look forward to seeing you in Cornwall in summer 2009!

Latest news

Send us your UK Balearic Shearwater sightings now!
One of the main aims of SeaWatch SW is to provide a central point for Balearic Shearwater recording in UK and Irish waters; this will allow us to put project results into a national context. 2007-08 results are already feeding into ongoing conservation efforts led by RSPB and JNCC at both a national and international level. We are grateful to all observers who have provided us with records, and urge anyone who sees a Balearic Shearwater in the UK and Ireland in 2009 to contact us with details of the sighting, and/or submit their record to Birdguides.

NEW Balearic Shearwater reports for January to March 2009
A total of 69 records were received for the first quarter of 2009 and, as with the previous two years, the majority came from southwest England between Cornwall and Dorset. For the third year running there was a marked influx into southwest waters in January, associated with large numbers of other seabirds such as auks and Kittiwakes. No count exceeded six, although notable records included the first winter record for the Isle of Wight and the first January record for East Sussex. A Marinelife survey in Lyme Bay on 19 Feb not only produced a Balearic Shearwater, but also close views of a highly unseasonal Great Shearwater (with possibly the same bird seen from the SeaWatch SW sister site at Trevose Head earlier in the month). Monthly summaries and distribution maps can be found on the Results page.

NEW Volunteer observer team assembled for 2009 Gwennap Head survey
For the third year running SeaWatch SW will be conducting intensive ‘effort-based’ monitoring off Gwennap Head (near Land’s End in Cornwall) from 15 July to 15 October. Seabird Observers are now in place for the entire 93 days, and we are pleased to welcome back several familiar faces (Nick Adams, Kevin Bainbridge, Ken Shaw, John Swann, Tony John, Marcus Ward and Russell Wynn) and some new recruits (Andy Gibb, Derek Julian and Tristan Reid). The Seabird Observers are supported by Marine Wildlife Observers, including two NOCS-based students using SeaWatch SW data (Alice Jones and Natalia Lopez). Note that keen volunteers of any experience level are still invited to take part as Marine Wildlife Observers; further details and an updated observer schedule can be found on the Get involved page.

NEW Studies on Basking Shark foraging behaviour scheduled for summer 2009
SeaWatch SW has recently secured funding to undertake research into what controls the appearance of Basking Sharks off the Gwennap Head watchpoint. Project work undertaken by Masters-level students from NOCS, using 2007 and 2008 SeaWatch SW data, has revealed that Basking Shark appearances off the watchpoint are influenced by tidal state and the rugged topography of the offshore Runnelstone Reef. This year we will be sampling the sharks’ prey (particularly small crustaceans called copepods, that form part of the zooplankton) over different environments at various stages of the tidal cycle. The results will help us understand what controls surface appearances of this Endangered species at one of their UK hotspots, and will help inform ongoing conservation strategy.

NEW Colleagues in NW Spain produce 2008 sea-watching report
A new report is now available online outlining the results of intensive monitoring from the Estace de Bares headland in Galicia, northwest Spain during 2008. This headland is well placed to observe westwards seabird migration through the southern Bay of Biscay in the summer and autumn. The survey team recorded 282,198 birds in 519 hours of observations, mostly concentrated in the August to November period, with the commonest species being Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Cory’s Shearwater, Common/Arctic Tern, Kittiwake and Sooty Shearwater. The results for some of the most abundant species provide an interesting comparison with the 2008 SeaWatch SW data from Gwennap Head. Some species peaked at roughly the same time at the two sites, e.g. Balearic Shearwater, Arctic Skua, Sandwich Tern and Common/Arctic Tern, with the skuas and terns appearing to move rapidly south in a short period in late August and early September. However, some species peaked markedly later off northwest Spain, e.g. Manx Shearwater, with most birds having left southwest UK by late August, but the main passage through southern Biscay occurring in September. Analysis of these patterns in future years may provide insights into migration strategies of certain species, complementing recent tagging-based studies. The report is in Spanish and is packed full of tables, graphs and beautiful line drawings, and is well worth a look. It can be downloaded at: http://terranova-sl.es/pdf/BoletinEstOrnitEstacedeBares2008.pdf

NEW Do you want your local patch to become a SeaWatch SW sister site?
To support the intensive effort-based survey at Gwennap Head, a series of sister sites has been established around southwest UK to put sightings into a regional context. Existing sister sites include Berry Head (Devon), Trevose Head (Cornwall) and Strumble Head (Pembrokeshire). We are now looking to include other well-watched sites across the UK and Ireland. So if you are a keen sea-watcher and you anticipate covering a local site for more than 100 hours between 15 July and 15 Oct 2009, we would love to hear from you! Data will be used to assist in science and conservation-based studies of the Critically Endangered Balearic Shearwater and other migratory seabirds. The only requirement is to record the number of hours watched each day and the number of each species recorded. To get an idea of how the data are used see the 2008 Annual Report, and contact the project co-ordinator if you would like further details.