I'm just back from a trip on the
Pride of Bilbao, one of the last few before it's taken out of service on that route.
![Whalewatching on the Pride of Bilbao](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uSlF5C5QJ5V_Rivp4boci1J2hmrU_U2G71qckyqpTvjDSVM8tnxXeHQgIOeaWi8ZPKo81u35uPsJFj_7GN1SpC8ggLLK0Ts7ShbDlS2j3F8IUh8mgrvSWB8KRKjurvPw=s0-d) |
Whalewatchers in the evening |
You can read the
Biscay Dolphin Research Programme's official sightings list, but here are a few personal highlights...
- Not-too-bad-considering views of Fin, Pilot and Sperm Whales, Bottle-nosed, Common, Striped and Risso's Dolphins, and Harbour Porpoise
- Little flock of Grey Phalaropes bobbing on the sea
- Storm Petrels across the bows
- Sabine's Gulls
- Melodious Warbler on the boat for a few hours, before flying off high towards the Channel Islands
- Swallows and Sand Martins heading south strongly
I opted to get the train into Bilbao city centre, where we did a circuit of the outside of the Guggenheim - well worth it! Breakfast (tortilla and cafe con leche) nearby was much needed
![Guggenheim Museum Bilbao](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_s4l4ROlwSB1Jbt53gLQzNtR6S1JZbB8Lae24CyuqN4do9ewZDIWg-ocJxwhGbfrv_0hQvKopnEUZ74ninne0Y9mUT_DrHNo_LMDJUUbYM1KWD2IAXqHkmkKpr12GwUfA=s0-d) |
Giant flowery puppy outside the museum (House Sparrows nest in it) |
![Guggenheim Museum Bilbao](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uAs3Z1GX3HNRN686twz7_x2iKyIEtGhdt1zlmDOShsBwAiU9xOyZcNFNjv0PxDKsjmzkreIlY2B9QOON2q7qhDuUdKDtXab3Fqsn9Mm20XI6fm_418-N08g3PqKMjaig=s0-d) |
Mysterious mist and sculpture |
![Guggenheim Museum Bilbao](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_t-8HqXpvveQ-mcovg0jteszSxHsker2QnR_wdMvsYSlKijkFh9M6HYiWSKoH6waeB0lqCxT_3GHQdxc0aWPbO2mNKwTrUUgFkeIKlvX2Gsnvjn3XOGljKQslAdwLevP0M=s0-d) |
Giant spider |
![Abando-Indalecio Prieto station](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sCLSEOtMih9vTtPykF-KRdiopeJzkwcIDw7vgdKnLDl9mhkHZ-BqhdJ9HbaIXyNwvSDFpU7XmJZtgQu9ue2oy729g9QPo9p2U9etJqqvl5b-S8caoZDYp-XLKDev89ooo=s0-d) |
Inside the station |
![South coast](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tbiHmHboFUCbFGGqapqSDAlpOgjZGu-HoRkfSAHJqhWTFJdUuuBTNACF4WLynZ_Ask_Fk8r9QudDKPWQgvDKyaOf7w12tfYlYwgOO4uNZOmSBs7P7iHJnVk4C3t8zNDTo=s0-d) |
Up the Channel on the way back into Portsmouth |
There seemed to be a lot of whalewatchers on board. I'm sure we must have looked strange to some onlookers, but I don't really understand the people who got off the boat and headed directly to the nearest bar in Santurtzi for a pint, then headed off to the shop to stock up on tobacco. Oh well. I still think that's weirder than we were.
photos taken with
Canon Powershot A640
It's sad that Portsmouth-Bilbao is all coming to an end. Cramming birders and cetacean-watchers (cetters?)onto a big boat with non-birders was always part of the fun. I spent several hours at the back of the boat a couple of weeks back, variously surrounded by English housewives and French Students, who I'm sure thought it highly amusing that I kept shouting and pointing at things far out to sea but one by one they all came to talk and have a look at a bird or a dolphin. A great way for people to connect with nature and get to see how exciting it can all be.
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