North Atlantic Ocean

Southampton, England to New York, USA aboard the Queen Mary 2

July 21-28, 2014

All Photos are Copyright Marshall Faintich


Route Map


July 21: Alice and I arrived in Southampton for our return voyage home on the Queen Mary 2 for New York. This was our third westward Atlantic Crossing on the QM2, and I had great expectations for seeing similar avian and marine wildlife that I saw three years ago, starting only one day later in July than in 2011. But we sailed a more southerly route as we did on the eastward voyage to avoid icebergs in the North Atlantic. Instead of crossing the Grand Banks on our second-to-last day of the voyage, we crossed only the southern tip, and I saw far fewer birds and other wildlife this time. I saw almost the same avian species in about the same locations each day as I saw on the eastward voyage.

In Southampton, there were Black-headed, Herring, and Great Black-backed Gulls near the ship - the same species I saw when we arrived there.


Herring Gull


Great Black-backed Gull

July 22: There were immature Gannets with various levels of adult plumage. There wasn't much to see this day.


Northern Gannet


Northern Gannet

July 23: I saw a few Cory's Shearwaters, Northern Fulmars, and a small flock of Common(?) Terns. A whale partially surfaced near the ship.


Cory's Shearwater


Cory's Shearwater


Common(?) Terns


Whale

July 24: This was the most active day of the return voyage. There were Great and Cory's Shearwaters, Northern Fulmars, and dolphins.


Great Shearwater


Great Shearwater


Great Shearwater


Great Shearwater


Great Shearwater


Northern Fulmar


Northern Fulmar


Northern Fulmar


Northern Fulmar


Northern Fulmar


Northern Fulmar


Northern Fulmar


Dolphins

July 25: This morning started out sunny. There was a large pod of dolphins and several sea turtles.


Dolphins


Dolphins


Sea Turtle


Sea Turtle

By the afternoon, we encountered dense fog. Late in the afternoon, we passed a small flock of Great Shearwaters that landed in the ocean near the ship, and I got some photos through light fog.


Great Shearwater


Great Shearwater


Great Shearwater


Great Shearwater


Great Shearwater

July 26: More dolphins, Cory's Shearwaters, and some flying fish.


Cory's Shearwater


Dolphins


Flying Fish


Flying Fish

July 27: A few dolphins and Cory's Shearwaters.



July 28: Upon arrival in New York, I saw Ring-billed and Laughing Gulls.


Statue of Liberty



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