Signs of Life!

Gales, Air temp 2C, Sea temp 13C, snow showers, position 400nm west of Newfoundland.

Despite being in the deepest water yet this trip (4500m) there were more signs of life today (Friday) than in days gone-by. We had a convoy of fulmars (even a dark phase, not quite 'blue' though) and kittiwakes following the ship. A few puffins were spotted battling the spin-drift also.Two cetacean sightings were made of 3 pilot whales and 8 common dolphins, none too particularly interested in bow-riding - hardly surprising given the unpredictable slamming of the bow. The swell has died a little bit now (although still above 4m) make life on board far more comfortable. We haven't been able to deploy the hydrophone or get to the crow's nest since the Irish EEZ four days ago. As we approach the Flemish Cap and the Canadian coast we are hopeful for some more settled conditions and some different, more cold-hardy fauna - little auks ("Dovekies") and some white-beaked dolphins perhaps.