Scilly pelagic no 5 - The late Great Shear Show!

Another great evening on Sapphire, predictably unpredictable and whilst we remained Wilson's-less, there was plenty of excitement in store as the evening wore on and scent of chum brought the tubenoses in!

The first brief encounter was with a Sooty Shearwater....

And the first of the usual glut of Stormies....

Then almost immediately, the star performer of the evening was Great Shearwater, in all at least five were seen!

An underwing pass.....

Followed by the upperwing display - awesome to watch - almost effortless and using the energy of the wind and updraft of the waves speed them along!

Once in a while, simply loafing on the sea!

The best display was quite late on and in the last few minutes of sunlight, this individual was circling the boat and coming to pieces of fish.

Surfacing after diving for food here (and avoiding the attentions of the large gulls!!

Perhaps my favourite approach - nearly head on and lit up in the dying rays of the sun. I can't decide which one I like best but one of these is destined for my twitter header!!

Maybe the most pointless shot of the day, cranked up to 2000 ISO and whilst it wasn't a spectacular sunset, the sea took on a purplish hue.... Look what was still with us, cruising in and around the wake!

I think everyone left the boat, smiling broadly. One of those idyllic evenings impossible to forget!

Scilly pelagic no 4 - Stormies

We were all hoping for a Wilson's today and just in case the opportunity arose, an estimated 200 European Storm Petrels were making sure that practice could make perfect? I just love watching and trying to photograph these amazing birds but..... they are a nightmare! The trickiest subject by far from a boat.....

Here's two together in the mizzle.....

But when the sun briefly put in an appearance, they took on a new dimension and seemed a little easier to lock onto in flight?!

Shooting with the light, they were always facing upwind when paddling for food on the surface!

Not the most flattering of angles!

Take off moments....

And even a sideways glance!

I could never tire of doing battle with them and hopefully soon, the one we all want????

Scilly pelagic no 4 - Great Shearwater

A mizzle /drizzle start to the morning but it eventually cleared up and three Great Shearwaters put in appearance, the first two coming within range. Here's the first one.....

Don't you just hate wave creasts!!

The second bird came within frame filling distance!

Within touching distance?

See what I mean!

(Just when I thought it couldn't get better than this, tomorrow was about to prove me wrong!!)

Another 1st summer Long-tailed Skua.....

Despite the Shearwaters and Skua, star birds of the day were the stormies.... up next.....

Scilly Pelagic no 4 - the BIG Blue

The birds will follow shortly but a monumental Blue Shark was landed on Sapphire today - right up there with anything that had gone before!

The story in images....

Pete Duckett had been playing with what was clearly a bigger than average shark for what seemed like an eternity...... Just when you thought it was giving in, another long run! Judging by the sharp intake of breath from those who saw the ghostly blue shape under the water, this was clearly a monster of a shark! It was suggested we might need a bigger boat?

Eventually it was landed and then the task of tagging it began! It was initially more docile than the smaller ones we had witnessed caught!

You can see the tag adjacent to the dorsal fin and then before it went back into the water, an image opportunity? Higgo and Joe find that wresting with one of these is not an easy option!

Nearly a very close shave for Higgo and Joe managed to keep his arm intact!

Phew.....

Then all smiles as Pete posed (note how far back everyone kept for this one!)

Baby Jaws?

 The length was measured - 98 inches in old money and with that girth at least 150lb weight.

The shark was then eased back into the sea, tagging helps us to understand more about Blue Shark movements. Lets hope this beauty doesn't end up in a bowl or oriental soup!

Scilly Pelagic no 3

An 11.00 start and glorious day in prospect for my third session on the sea! Question was.... would we see dolphins? Bella the chief Dolphin scout didn't look too optimistic....

But she was soon squealing with delight when a huge pod of Common Dolphins joined the boat!

Enjoying the wake and bow ride....

A brief view of Bottle-nosed Dolphins too!

A first for me was Ocean Sunfish. From distance,I likened it to spotting a large piece of plastic but when close up - what an amazing fish!!!

And they grow up to 1,000kg....

Plenty of the usual suspects, I really am getting to have a soft spot for Fulmar!

Which isn't something I daresay Herring Gulls have for Bonxies? Constantly being harrassed for food!

And not too far from the boat!

 We had spotted a trawler and this became our focus for most of the afternoon! It provided the two main highlights for me - the first was this 1st Summer Long-tailed Skua...

Clearly not wishing to be approached too close?

 But what the heck, let these guys have a good look at me!

And we did!

The next real high point was this Sooty Shearwater (third of the day) which bucked the trend of remaining distant....

By posing close to the boat!

How close would it allow?

 Into the feather detail zone!

There were at least 100 Storm Petrels which defied attempts to do them justice on the camera rear scree but tomorrow was going to be a bit windier and the prospects look good for taking them on?

The finale was meant to be a Large Tortoiseshell which I twitched unsuccessfully with Zac, Alex and Steph. Never mind, there was a couple of Hummingbird Hawkmoths to keep spirits up?

Early start in the morning and the wind was picking up, increasing our chances of a Wilson's or better?? You have to dream on in this game :-)