Friday, 12 August 2016

Scilly pelagic no 2 - late Wilson's!!

Another evening pelagic and with light westerly winds up to 12mph hopes were not too high. A Manx Shearwater and a pretty constant following of Storm Petrels looked to be all were going to be treated too? Here's one flying up the slick.....



And then the trip a lone Wilson's Petrel turned up! A much needed lifer for some on the trip but it wasn't the best of views as it didn't stick around. Here's  a record shot.....


I hope I'm not alone in thinking juvenile Herring Gulls are smart birds indeed? With other gulls, they are ever  present on these pelagics - drawn to a constant supply of bread and chum. They then act as 'indicators' to draw in other seabirds?




Whilst there's always plenty of room on deck during a Scilly Pelagic, demand always outstrips the number of places throughout August! Here's the prototype Sapphire II being put through it's paces!



A longer day trip on Sapphire I however was in prospect for the following day, wondering what's in store as we steamed in.....