22 Fin Whales, 30 unidentified large rorqual, 1 Minke Whale, 132 Common Dolphins, 30 Striped Dolphins, 10 Bottle-nosed Dolphins and 22 unidentified dolphins.

Other marine life included 6 Ocean Sunfish and hundreds of unidentified Tuna.

Birds recorded from the ship included 2 Manx Shearwaters, 7 Great Skuas, 5 Storm Petrels, 1 Common Tern and a migrant Oystercatcher.

Highlights in Spain included Sandwich Tern, a Cirl Bunting, Peregrine, Melodious, Sardinian and Fan-tailed Warblers, Black Redstart and several Serins. 10 species of butterfly included Clouded Yellow and Long-tailed Blue.

The Company of Whales has been providing effort-related sightings data for ORCA for over ten years. This data has been utilised for a number of key research projects on cetaceans, ranging from the distribution of common dolphins in areas of the Western Approaches to the English Channel where they are susceptible to bycatch in fishing gear, through to new discoveries which have revealed the presence of rare beaked whales close to the Spanish coast.

ORCA is extremely grateful to the work of The Company of Whales, its guides, and staff, for gathering and submitting this information, which is essential if we are to further understand marine mammals in the European Atlantic and the threats that they face.

For further information on The Company of Whales and their Bay of Biscay holidays, please check out their website at www.companyofwhales.co.uk
E-mail the or phone their office on 01950 422483.