Scilly Pelagic no 8 - Other Shearwaters

The Gannets normally announce a feeding frenzy from quite a distance, here's a taste of the numbers...

Homing in on one of the 1000+ Manx Shearwater...

And a taste of the views we were treated to from the estimated 75+ Sooty Shearwaters!

Head on moments, particularly cool!

Then away...

Just one Wilson's Petrel kept the BIG 3 tally going to 8 out of 8!! The light was seriously dropping and into the record shot zone at crazy ISO levels...

Now we know the Tuna are around, tomorrow with much more time and good light, the prospects look good!

Scilly Pelagic no 6 - evening Shearwaters galore

Another evening session with a shark fishing trip, outnumbered by fishermen once more but this was an exceptional evening nevertheless!

We headed south with the wind still 15mph westerly and whilst we only saw 3 Cory's Shearwater, the first was an obliging bird on the water!

With flight being a safe bet as we neared it!

There were 15 Great Shearwaters seen both in flight and on the water...

And then 2 Wilson's Petrel maintained the BIG 3 run, the first a really neat individual.

Support came from 20 Sooty Shearwaters...

c500 Manx Shearwaters...

And a single Arctic Skua (dark morph)!

Amazing just how good the birding can be despite the fact it wasn't a full on birders pelagic!

Richard Stonier's track for the eve...

Scilly Pelagic no 4 - Sooty Shearwater

Whilst the Balearic Shearwater stole the show this evening, an estimated 25 Sooty Shearwater were seen this evening, close on the water and in flight!

Much darker than Balearic and with that unmistakable shape

Scilly Pelagic no 2 - Sooty Shearwater

There were an estimated  75 Sooty Shearwaters in and around the feeding frenzies we witnessed this evening. Normally 'birds in a hurry' as they flash past, usually irritatingly distant but tonight with no need to hunt for food, they were amazingly obliging...

With some simply loafing on the water...

Which often means you're just a take off image away from...

Some closer flight shots!

I haven't even sorted the Great Shearwater images!!

Scilly pelagic no 3 - Sooty Show!!

It's easy to get carried away with concentrating on the BIG three target birds and whilst Sooty Shearwaters are usually 'around', they can be a bit standoffish? Today however, one or two showed really well!  So to pay tribute, here's a dedicated post...

Just clipping the water on the big dipper swell?

Or climbing the stairs?

Maybe having a rest!

Then off for more action...

A separate fly-by in duller conditions...

And finally, banking back down to the waves. Despite the name its not a 'black' Shearwater at all but an attractive seabird indeed!