Friends of Biscay

26/11/2023

In his new book "Eat, P**p, Die," UVM wildlife expert Joe Roman explores the fascinating lives of whales, seabirds, insects and other animals as they traverse their homes, from a few thousand kilometers of ocean to a few inches of soil.

13/06/2017

Nice bit of writing by Hazel Pittwood ORCA's wildlife officer on the 'Brittany Ferries' ship the 'Cap Finistere'. She mentions some of the threats faced by our cetaceans.

Hello and bonjour! Hazel here – welcome to my blog post for week 10 aboard the Brittany Ferries Cap Finistère. Things got off to a fantastic, or perhaps I should say FINtastic (sorry…) …

31/05/2017

Dear 'Friends of Biscay'. I hope you like my new cover logo 'Wild About Whales'. This was specially designed for me by my dear friend Shen Yan Liow. I'm thinking of getting some 'T' shirts produced bearing the logo. Do you think it would be popular? Please let me know. Please note that the cover photo is only temporary the official 'Friends of Biscay' logo is the 'Biscay Triangle' depicted on the 'Facebook' page.
I haven't been out in the Biscay since last September and I'm eager for a Biscay 'fix'. I'm sure I'll get out there soon. My plans for the future are to have a couple of Biscay trips each year exclusively for 'Friends of Biscay'. This would be a totally 'independent' non fee paying trip which you would book yourselves via 'Brittany Ferries' as you normally would. It's just a way for 'old' and 'new' Biscay fans to meet up and join each other on a deckwatch and to socialise in the evening and to enjoy the couple of hours we have in Santander before the return leg of the voyage to Plymouth. I would of course be there to help you spot animals and I'm sure I would be joined by other Biscay veterans too. Would any of you find that idea attractive? Do please let me know.
Elfyn Pugh
Independent and 'accredited' Wildlife Guide.
Page manager of 'Friends of Biscay'.

12/02/2017

The 'Green Flash' is a real phenomenon. I have seen it a few times whilst crossing the Bay of Biscay. On rare occasions I have seen the 'green/blue' flash too. Attached is the scientific explanation for it.

19/12/2016

If you crossed the Bay of Biscay this year and have written a report or a blog then please share your experiences with all of us who have a passion to protect it for wildlife and future generations of mankind. Have a great Christmas and New Year everyone.

11/09/2016

I manage the 'Friends of Biscay' 'Facebook' page. The Biscay is one of my favourite places on Earth and its vitally important to marine life. It is a complex eco-system. Gradually various conservation organisations are building up an accurate picture of the social dynamics of the whales and dolphins which periodically inhabit the Bay either to forage or breed. It will undoubtedly take decades to understand the true picture. The marine conservation charity ORCA have been conducting surveys of the Bay on ships of opportunity such as passenger ferries and cruise ships for well over a decade and consequently the charity has amassed a considerable amount of data on the distribution and abundance of cetaceans in the bay. ORCA surveyors conduct surveys on the 'Pont Aven' ferry during the summer months and wildlife officers work on both the Pont Aven and the Cap Finistere ferries collecting vital data on on these animals and also engage with the ships passengers journeying to Spain. Gathering the data requires a great deal of effort on the part of the surveyors and wildlife officers. ORCA are on the threshold of a new era in data recording and have been trialling the use of a new portable electronic data recorder called a 'logger'. This has been successful and the device is proving popular with personnel using the device. It is a far more efficient and accurate method of data recording and negates the use of paper documentation and consequently printing costs for the charity.
I set up the 'logger' appeal on the 'Just Giving' website in order to raise funds for ORCA to purchase one or more of the eight loggers required for all of the charities survey routes. Probably two loggers will be required for the Biscay route. I am well on target to acquire one such logger so do please help me reach my target and even acquire two of the devices! Every little helps. Follow the link to my 'Just Giving' donation page below. Many thanks.

Elfyn is raising money to help ORCA

08/09/2016

If you want to get more involved with protecting whales and dolphins, use your free whale & dolphin spotter kit to let us know which marine mammals you have seen.

10/10/2015

This is one of the best books I have ever bought which has pride of place on my bookshelf. Its an 'enormous' tome though so its more of a great 'coffee table' book to browse through occasionally rather than a field guide!

Handbook of the Mammals of the World: 4

20/09/2015

This is what a good storm looks like in the Bay of Biscay in September. You could still see whale blows in these conditions and the shearwaters were in their element. We saw Great, Cory's, Sooty, Balearic and Manx. Fabulous! This is not 'good' for migrant birds though as many perish in these conditions. If you cross the Biscay you have got to expect this kind of weather and make contingent plans with regard to your onward travel arrangements. Look at the forecast beforehand and if storm force winds are predicted then its a good bet that the ferries will be delayed. My advice is to stay somewhere at your port of arrival and travel the following day or if you have a vehicle at that port then you should be OK. This is not rocket science its about planning ahead and understanding the sea.