Northern Experience Pelagic Trip Programme 2010 · Martin Kitching · Added 13 July 2010

The Northern Experience Pelagic Trip Programme for 2010 is as follows. As usual DBC members qualify for discounted prices, and these are outlined in the schedule below. 

Friday 23rd July 2010 A 4-hour evening pelagic departing Royal Quays Marina at 18:00.  Cost £20 per person.  Target species; Storm Petrel, Great Skua, cetaceans

Friday 30th July 2010 A 4-hour evening pelagic departing Royal Quays Marina at 18:00.  Cost £20 per person.  Target species; Storm Petrel, Great Skua, cetaceans

Friday 6th August 2010 A 4-hour evening pelagic departing Royal Quays Marina at 18:00.  Cost £20 per person.  Target species; Storm Petrel, Great Skua, cetaceans

Thursday 12th August 2010 A 10-hour pelagic to the Farne Deeps departing Royal Quays Marina at 08:00.  Cost £60 per person.  Target species; White-beaked Dolphin, Common Dolphin, Minke Whale

Saturday 4th September 2010 An 8-hour day pelagic departing Royal Quays Marina at 09:00.  Cost £35 per person.  Target species; skuas, shearwaters, cetaceans

Saturday 11th September 2010 A 4-hour Whale and Dolphin Cruise departing Seahouses Harbour at 10:00.  Cost £30 per person.  Target species; White-beaked Dolphin, Minke Whale, Harbour Porpoise. 

Saturday 18th September 2010 An 8-hour day pelagic departing Royal Quays Marina at 09:00.  Cost £35 per person.  Target species; skuas, shearwaters, cetaceans

Our pelagic trips from Royal Quays take place on the SarahJFK, a 44ft converted lifeboat which is used for sea-angling charters and for the last nine years has been chartered for our pelagic trips.  The boat offers an excellent vantage point for observation of wildlife.  All of our Royal Quays pelagics are limited to a maximum of 12 participants, allowing all on board a good opportunity to see any birds or cetaceans which are found.  Some truly outstanding opportunities for photography occur on our pelagic trips as well, with many birds being attracted very close to the boat. 

Our Whale & Dolphin Cruise from Seahouses will be on Glad Tidings V. 

Our pelagic trips have proved very successful and they are an excellent way to enjoy our offshore wildlife in the company of other enthusiasts who are always willing to help any less experienced participants.  The more experienced may well find that the North Sea is a new frontier.  Pelagic wildlife is very unpredictable but highlights of our trips on the SarahJFK have included the 1st British North Sea Wilson's Petrel (2002), Long-tailed Skua (2002), Sabine's Gull (2005), Harbour Porpoise (2006), Minke Whale (2006, 2007, 2008), Great Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater and Pomarine Skua (2007), excellent views of Sooty Shearwater in each of the last eight years and several very close encounters with White-beaked Dolphins. 

Participants should bring their own food and drink and warm/waterproof clothing. 

To reserve a place on any of these trips, please contact Martin Kitching: martin@newtltd.co.uk or (01670) 827465 and send a deposit of £10 per person per trip (cheque payable to `Northern Experience Wildlife Tours Ltd', non-refundable if you cancel at a later date) to NEWT Ltd, 18 Frances Ville, Scotland Gate, Northumberland, NE62 5ST.  The balance of payment is due 2 weeks before sailing. 

Martin Kitching