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YACT LISTALIGHT WILDLIFE RECORDS, October 2008- January 2009

Method

Animals of interest were recorded on our travels. When on land for a decent period of time (Portugal, Morocco and Graciosa, Canary Islands) bird species were noted. All animals sighted during our Atlantic crossing were noted. Where species became too numerous and regularly seen (flying fish) we only recorded significant sightings.

Results

Other than the cetaceans (see separate web page) our main companions during the crossing were the pelagic birds, storm petrels and shearwaters. The magnificent white-tailed tropic birds were also regularly observed after we were about half way across the Atlantic.

Species- Common name	Species- Latin name	Date	Time	Lat	Long	Location	Comments
Sunstar sp. Purple sunstar?	Solaster endeca	09.10.08	Low tides	42'09.48	008'54.28	Vigo, Spain	Large colony of purple- magenta- red sun stars on harbour wall. Also mussels and barnacles.
Jelly fish sp.	?	10.10.08	10.42- 11.30	42'08.70	008'56.26	Off-shore, Spain	Intermittent 'shoals' of jellyfish- long like snakes, shorter silvery caterpillar like with suckers.
Grey heron	Ardea cinerea	14.10.08	1300 and 1900			Nr Vigo, Spain	c.40 herons in small stream entering sea, stabbing at fish, fighting one another. Also 12 roosting on nearby roof top.
Grey mullet	?	15.10.08	All day			Leixos, nr Porto.	C. 300 mullet feeding on detritus near Lista and elsewhere. Mature and juvenile present. Surface feeding like terrapins.
Manx shearwater	Puffinus puffinus	19.10.08	1030	38'41.54	009'28.58	Off-shore. Portugal	Flying passed boat.
Northern gannet	Morus bassanus	19.10.09	1030	38'41.55	009'28.59	Off-shore. Portugal	Flying passed boat.
Lesser black-backed gull	Larus fuscus	19.10.10	1030	38'41.56	009'28.60	Off-shore. Portugal	Rafts of gulls.
Yellow-legged gull	Larus cachinnans	19.10.11	1130	38'41.57	009'28.61	Off-shore. Portugal	Rafts of gulls.
Common guillemot	Uria aalge	23.10.08	1000	38'41.8	009'25.1	Cascais habour, nr Lisbon
Mediterranean gull	Larus melanocephalus	23.10.09	1812	38'41.9	009'25.2	Cascais habour, nr Lisbon
Kittiwake	Rissa tridactyla	23.10.08	1812	38'41.10	009'25.3	Cascais habour, nr Lisbon
Fulmar	Fulmarus glacialis	23.10.08	1812	38'41.11	009'25.4	Cascais habour, nr Lisbon
Balaeira cliff tops:	Maritime grassland, exposed rock and scrub, weedy-abandoned areas and houses. Species include creeping knot grass, arable weeds, wild carrot, rock samphire and creeping fig? Steep, craggy sea cliffs on the edge of Balaeira:
Crested lark	Galerida cristata	29.10.08	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	Numerous individuals flying, hopping along ground and calling.
Common sky lark	Alauda arvensis	29.10.09	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	Calling.
Eurasian gold finch	Carduellis carduellis	29.10.09	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	Large flocks feeding on weeds and calling.
Common starling	Sturnus vulgaris	29.10.10	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	Large flock calling.
Meadow pipit	Anthus pratensis	29.10.11	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	Flitting and calling on cliff tops.
Black redstart	Phoenicurus ochruros	29.10.12	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	Prolific on the cliff tops, in the scrub and on the ground. Singing, fighting and calling.
Eurasian crag martins	Ptyonoprogne rupestris	29.10.13	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	Two diving over cliff top and weaving, looping, swooping amongst vegetation on top
Eurasian Curlew	Numenius arquata	29.10.14	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	On low tides in harbour.
Common sandpiper	Actitis hypoleucos	29.10.15	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	Scooting along concrete quay.
Ruddy turnstone	Arenaria interpres	29.10.16	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	Flying out of surf, bobbing on exposed rocks at tide level.
Sandwich tern	Sterna sandvicensis	29.10.17	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	On buoys by boat and weaving over boats.
Yellow-legged gull	Larus cachinnans	29.10.18	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	In harbour and flitting around boats.
Mediterranean gull	Larus melanocephalus	29.10.19	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	In harbour.
Black-headed gull	Larus ridibundus	29.10.20	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	In harbour.
Pied wagtail	Motacilla alba	29.10.21	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	Flitting on cliff tops and around the boats in harbour.
House sparrow	Passer domesticus	29.10.22	Early morning			Balaeira, Portugal	Within house ruin.
Eurasian griffon vulture	Gyps fulvus	03.11.08	1400	37'00.5	008'55.2	Balaeira, Portugal	Trail of 73 griffon vultures soaring from North to harbour and then gliding away to South and East. Perhaps towards Gibraltar before crossing to Africa to winter. Incredible site! They remained above Lista for about 2 hrs before flying away.
White stork	Ciconia ciconia	03.11.08	1401	37'00.6	008'55.3	Balaeira, Portugal	One, loan white stork flying with the griffon vultures.
Common squid	Loligo vulgaris	5.11.08	712	33'56.1	008'43'44	Off-shore, nr Morocco	Squid found on Lista's decks. Huge, inky eyes. Tendrils at head- 2 very long ones. Sharp beak-like mouth. Swims up water column at night. Actively hunts prey- small fish and crustaceans.
Leatherback turtle?	Dermochelys coriacea?	5.11.08	900	33'54.1	008'43.1	Off-shore, nr Morocco	Turtle in waves. Unable to identify.
Common starling	Sturnus vulgaris	5.11.08	1100	33'54.2	008'43.2	Off-shore, nr Morocco	Exhausted starling alighted on Lista Light. Ate oak cake and water mash from my hand. Pepped up after feed/watering. Sang on safety rails and shuffled/ flew around the boat- to bowsprit and on to mizzen gaff. Stayed with us for 2 hours, before another starling arrived and they flew off together! They flew East towards Morocco.
Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita	5.11.08	1348	33'48.0	008'40.78	Off-shore, nr Morocco	Chiffchaff alighted on boat for 20 minutes. Moved around deck. Could not interest it in water or food. Flew off.
Morocco- Bike ride from Marrakech to Atlas mountains and Rabat:
Cirl bunting	Emberiza cirlus	14/15.11.08				By road	On road out of Marrakech, heading east. Within olive orchards, one male on ground searching for seeds in mixed flock of finches and sparrows. Regularly darting to cover of bushy, thorn hedge. Six males also heard singing in trees along roadside.
Common chaffinch	Fringilla coelebs	14/15.11.08				By road, Rabat	On road out of Marrakech, heading east. Within olive orchards with cirl bunting. In hotel gardens, Rabat.
House sparrow	Passer domesticus	14/15.1108				As above	On road out of Marrakech, heading east. Large colony in hotel gardens.
Blackcap	Sylvia atricapilla	14/15.11.08				Foothills and nr Marrakech	In orchard hedge- female and male, also in foothills of Atlas, in scrub by road.
Moussier's redstart	Phoenicurus moussieri	14/15.11.08				By road	In flat country, with Atlas mountains in distance. Stunning male bird, flicking by side of road, picking insects from scrub. Another male dead by roadside later.
Great grey shrike	Lanius exubitor elegans	14/15.11.08				As above	Often seen sitting on fences and flying after prey. Elegans is the North African sub specs.
Crested lark	Galerida cristata	14/15.11.08				Road sides	In the low land flitting in road side herbage.
Black bird	Turdus merula	14/15.11.08				Orchards, Atlas, Rabat	Hotel gardens.
Sparrow hawk	Accipiter nisus	14/15.11.08				Atlas mountains, Rabat	Flying over head. Also within hotel grounds in Rabat chasing bird.
Coal tit	Parus ater	14/15.11.08				Atlas mountains	Foraging in conifer trees.
Blue tit	Parus caeruleus	14/15.11.08				Orchards, Atlas	Foraging in trees.
Great tit	Parus major	14/15.11.08				Orchards, Atlas	Singing.
Wren	Troglodytes troglodytes	14/15.11.08				Orchards, Atlas	Singing.
Grey heron	Ardea cinerea	14/15.11.08				Atlas, ski resort	By lake in high Atlas.
Red-billed chough	Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax	14/15.11.08				Atlas, ski resort	Large flocks circling mountains- over 15. Also drinking from lake by ski resort.
Raven	Corvus corax	14/15.11.08				Atlas mountains	Honking from conifer trees and flying over head.
Little owl	Athene noctua	14/15.11.08				Orchards, Atlas	Flew out of olive tree.
Sand grouse sp.	Pterocles sp.	14/15.11.08				Atlas mountains	A covey erupted from hillside below us and flew away quickly. Did not have time to properly i.d. them.
House bunting	Emberiza striolata sahari	14/15.11.08				Marrakech	On the roof tops of houses in the city.
White stork	Ciconia ciconia	14/15.11.08				Marrakech, Rabat	Huge nests on buildings sighted in the distance in M. Also two individuals seen in ploughed field on the road out of the city. Rabat: nests with storks on trees amongst Roman ruin site.
Eurasian griffon vulture	Gyps fulvus	15.11.08				Marrakech	Dried specimen in the market place. Also crocodile and zebra skins.
Common bulbul	Pycnonotus barbatus	15.11.08				Rabat, Atlas foothills.	Beautiful melodious song in gardens in Rabat and in scrub by side of road near the Atlas.
Tortoise	?					By road	Only a shell remaining c.15cm long in the verge.
Kestrel	Falco tinnunculus	15.11.08				Rabat	Pair calling from roof of hotel and flying around grounds.
Pied wagtail (Moroccan)	Motacilla alba subpersonata	15.11.08				Rabat	Hotel gardens. By pool.
Serin	Serinus serinus	15.11.08				Rabat, Islas Cies, Spain	Singing from top of conifer tree in Rabat hotel grounds. Large flocks feeding on seeds on ground, calling and singing, Ilas Cies.
Preying mantis		15.11.08				Rabat	On garden cultivar and also on hedge in Roman ruins.
Blue tit	Parus caeruleus ultramarinus	15.11.08				Rabat	Hotel gardens. NW African subspecies, blue back.
Nightjar sp.	Caprimulgus sp.	15.11.08				Rabat	Flew over hotel gardens at dusk. To quick to determine sp.
Robin	Erithacus rubecula	15.11.08				Orchards, Atlas	Singing.
Ground squirrels?		14.11.08				Atlas mountains	Striped squirrel like mammals scampering on rocks on mountains side.
El Jadida, Morocco. Bird watching on rubbly beach at low tide:
Ringed plover	Charadrius hiaticula	20.11.08	Early morning				Individuals moving along strand line.
Grey plover	Pluvialis squatarola	20.11.08	Early morning				Individuals moving along strand line.
Sanderling	Calidris alba	20.11.08	Early morning				Large flocks present. Also on a stretch of beach c5 km away where very large flocks of 100 + aggregate.
Redshank	Tringa totanus	20.11.08	Early morning				An individual.
Curlew	Numenius arquata	20.11.08	Early morning				A few individuals moving along beach and near to boat in port piping.
Whimbrel	Numenius phaeopus	20.11.08	Early morning				Two individuals.
Dunlin	Calidris alpina	20.11.08	Early morning				Small groups (4-5) working the strand line.
Turnstone	Arenaria interpres	20.11.08	Early morning				Flock of c.60.
Yellow-legged gull	Larus cachinnans	20.11.08	Early morning				Large flock of loafing gulls.
Lesser black-backed gull	Larus fuscus	20.11.08	Early morning				Large flock of loafing gulls.
Mediterranean gull	Larus melanocephalus	20.11.08	Early morning				Large flock of loafing gulls.
Barn swallow	Hirundo rustica	20.11.08	Early morning				Two individuals flying along beach.
Spotted flycatcher	Muscicapa striata	20.11.08	Early morning				One bird foraging in mature tree above park.
Fish sp.		28.11.08	1600	29'42.7	013'10.4	Off-shore, approaching Canary Islands.	Black and white striped fish swimming at Lista's stern. Mackerel shaped. With us until arrival in Graciosa. Lista is creating her own ecosystem!
Turtle sp.		28.11.08	1601	29'42.8	013'10.5	Off-shore, approaching Canary Islands.	Two turtles sighted c. 20m from boat, unsure of species.
Graciosa, Canary Island. Occasional sightings near harbour, in scrub and sand dunes.
Grey plover	Pluvialis squatarola	29.11.08					Individuals by harbour and also one on rocky coastline.
Sanderling	Calidris alba	29.11.08					Small group by harbour jetty.
White-tailed tropic bird	Phaethon lepturus	16.07.07					Observed by Italian couple near to boat, when nearing Graciosa. Bird attempted to land, but flew away.
Linnet	Carduellis cannabina	5.12.08				Sand dunes and scrub	Large flocks of over fifty flying amongst scrub, calling and singing.
Berthelot's pipit	Anthus berthelotti	5.12.08				Sand dunes and scrub	Scurrying around dunes and perched on scrub like mice. Common, with typical peeping pipit call.
Sandwich tern	Sterna sandvicensis	5.12.08				Sea	Flying along coastline.
European Hoopoe	Upupa epops	5.12.08				Sand dunes	Feeding in low vegetation- grassy areas and near vegetable patch. Four individuals observed.
Canaries Chiffchaff	Phylloscopus collybita subsp.	5.12.08				Sand dunes and scrub	Ubiquitous throughout the interior of the island, feeding on insects, perched on scrub.
Shrike sp.	Lanius sp.	5.12.08				Sand dunes and scrub	Perched on scrub in the middle of the island singing. Incredible song- chilling, guttural. Black cap, white chin. Otherwise grey with white wing panels.
Trumpeter finch	Buscanetes githagineaus	5.12.08