Combined a trip to the Scilly Isles with M and 2 pelagics. The morning crossing on the ferry from Penzance was pretty choppy but saw several Manx shearwaters, gannets and fulmars. and numerous people vomiting into sick bags. We stayed at the Nunsdeep B&B in Hugh Town from where we explored St Mary's, St Agnus and St Martin's Islands.
Pelagic 1 : Sat 13/08 (8.30am - 5.00pm)
Boarded the Sapphire and pleased to note that they was plenty of room to move around the boat (unlike the Bridlington pelagic a couple of years back). First birds were Sandwich and Common Terns feeding between the islands and numerous Shags sitting on rocks. Gannets and Fulmars increased in numbers and a few Manx Shearwaters and European Storm Petrols were noted. After about an hour, the boat stopped and chum was thrown over the side. A few started fishing whilst the birders waited patiently for the arrival of Wilson's Petrols. A Great Skua flew around the slick for a while followed by brief views of a Pomarine Skua and Sooty Shearwater. No Wilsons arrived after 2-3 hours so we moved on towards a distant trawler whilst continuing to throw chopped up fish in our wake. This attracted a Balearic Shearwater which followed us for a while then a Great Shearwater flew past the boat.
Fulmar
Adult Gannet
Juv Gannet
Balearic Shearwater
Approaching the trawler, we had great views of an adult Sabines Gull although the flock of gulls following the trawler did not contain anything exiting.
When I met up with M back on land, she told me she had watched a couple of basking sharks from Old Town.
Pelagic 2 : Monday 15/08 (5.00 pm - 10.00 pm)
No new species and no sign of any Wilson's Petrols despite meticulous searching amongst the (well over) a hundred Storm Petrols observed. Great views of a Pomarine Skua, single Sooty Shearwater and up to 4 Great Skuas. The crew also managed to catch and tag a 5 foot Blue Shark, before releasing it back into the Atlantic.
Great Skua
From the ferry returning to Penzance saw 1 Great Skua , 20+ Manx Shearwaters and a single Storm Petrol. A school of common dolphins caused a bit of excitement amongst the ferry passengers but I did not get the same response when I shouted Great Skua.
.JPG)
