Springtime wildlife watching trips on board Scillonian

31st March 2009
Cornwall Wildlife Trust will be hosting guided wildlife watching trips on board Scillonian this spring, in partnership with the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company.150 common dolphins were spotted during last autumn’s successful trips and it is hoped the upcoming trips with be just as spectacular. The trips to the Isles of Scilly are running on Saturdays 18th April, 16th May and 13th June.

Naturalist Paul Semmens will be your marine guide on these special trips, looking out for wildlife on the crossing. This time of year visitors may see puffin as well as the more common Manx shearwaters and storm petrels. Harbour porpoises, common and bottle-nosed dolphins are regularly spotted from the ship and occasionally minke whales. If the seas are warm and calm you may even spot basking sharks.

Paul says, “The Scillonian is probably the best platform on which to see marine life. Last year on 12 trips I saw nearly 400 individual cetaceans - mainly dolphins and porpoises but with the occasional minke whale. Often there can be good numbers of basking sharks with the odd sunfish and a good variety of seabird species.”

Spring is a wonderful time to visit Scilly with turquoise seas and the flowers at their best. The islands are probably one of the best places in the country to see migrant birds including hoopoe, golden oriole or bee-eater.

All trips depart from Penzance at 0915 and return from Isles of Scilly at 16.30. To book call Isles of Scilly Travel on 0845 710 555, email sales@islesofscilly-travel.co.uk or visit the Isles of Scilly Travel Centre, Quay Street, Penzance TR18 4BZ. The reduced adult ticket price is £25, (normally £35) if the Wildlife Trust is mentioned when booking. Non-members are welcome. To find out more about the work of Cornwall Wildlife Trust visit www.cornwallwildlifetrust.org.uk.


1st April 2009
It was wonderful being back onboard again and the sea conditions were fairly flat. Sadly the breeze was easterly and as all fisherman say 'you don't catch much with easterlies'. It appeared that the seabirds weren't feeding but even then we saw a good variety including Razorbills, Guillemots and Puffins. Also small numbers of Gannets and Manx Shearwaters.

The sea was prefect for picking up dolphins and eventually between the mainland and Scillies we saw a few Harbour Porpoises. Porpoises are the hardest cetacean to see so it was reassuring that we were not missing anything else. On St. Mary's I had wonderful views of a very confiding Cattle Egret, a species that has recently colonised the British Isles.

Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust


3rd April 2009
Although the weather forecast for Friday 3rd April mention rather balmy conditions, in the event it was cool, calm and overcast.

The day got off to a great start with a Basking Shark off Mousehole showing well with everyone getting good views. Guillemot, Razorbill and Puffin were seen as well as Manx Shearwater on both the outward and return legs. Also, Brian Craven noted a Sooty Shearwater and Common Scoter between St Mary`s and Lands End. There was the usual selection of gull species but with at least two trawlers actively hauling some way off exact identification was difficult. The Gannets were in splendid breeding condition but surprisingly there were no members of the skua tribe seen. The only cetaceans observed were two Harbour Porpoise off Peninnis Head and a seal was seen `bottling` just before we reached Land`s End on the return leg.

Whilst on St Mary`s good views were had of the Cattle Egret on an allotment near the Council dump and an Iceland Gull off Porth Thomas`. All in all a very satisfactory first trip of the season and as usual there was something of interest for everyone.

David Curtis, RSPB Volunteer.


8th April 2009
On this trip I was accompanied by Angie Gall who is running the Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust's Marine Biodiversity Project. After a very windy night the bay looked deceptively calm as we left the harbour. There were several Sandwich Terns in the bay along with the usual gulls, Cormorants and Shags. Getting around Mousehole we began to think we were extras in the film 'The Boat That Rocked' as the swell began to increase. We started having small groups of seabirds passing the boat, mainly auks but also Gannets and Manx Shearwaters.

Later we were lucky enough to have a Great Skua or Bonxie fly across our wake. We were whisked off at St. Mary's by a German film crew, definately extras today, to be interviewed about the project and the protection of important marine areas and species. This was done against the background of some resting Grey Seals with another swimming nearby to see what we were up to.

The return journey was much calmer, though Falmouth Coastguard were warning of imminent southerly gales. A fin was glimpsed as we left the Isles but sadly it was never seen again so an identification could not be clinched. Several Puffins were seen on the way home and large numbers of Manx Shearwaters, including a single group of over 100 birds.

Paul Semmmens , Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust


15th and 18th April 2009
Two trips this week, one for each of the Wildlife Trusts. On the first the weather was wet and misty. At times visibility was down to under a kilometre. While the second was sunny with the occasional bank of fog. Hopefully things seem to be improving, summer is on its way. A good selection of sightings with Harbour Porpoises seen on both trips as well as some Common Dolphins. No matter how many times I see them the excitement is still there. They certainly know how to keep the passengers happy! Also apart from the usual seabirds, Great Skua, Great Northern Diver and Puffin were spotted.
 
Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly and Cornwall Wildlife Trusts 


1st May 2009
4 trips in the last few days with a few sightings of Common Dolphins and Harbour Porpoises. The Dolphins seemed more interested in feeding or moving than in playing alongside the ship though we did get a little breaching as they crossed our wake. On one of the crossings when I wasn't aboard, the crew spotted one of the local groups of Bottle-nosed Dolphins. At the same time the other group were seen off St. Ives. Although these animals are often in this area they may travel as far along the coast s Dorset.
Lots of Manx Shearwaters are being seen and Puffins are spotted most days. On one of my trips 3 species of skua were seen off Land's End, several Greats, an Arctic and a magnificent Pomarine Skua with a full tail.
 
Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust & RSPB


7th May 2009
On Friday the 7th May the RSPB Scillonian III trip to St Mary`s was blessed with near perfect conditions. The rain washed atmosphere was gin clear and just as intoxicating. With a gentle force 2 north-westerly blowing the balmy conditions had more passengers on deck enjoying the warm sunshine than below.

Bird wise Gannet and gull sightings were the order of the day. On the outward leg a few auks were seen as well as Manx Shearwater and several small petrels. The Runnelstone area produced at least one Harbour Porpoise whose very brief appearance was seen by a few lucky passengers. Nearing the islands a Sunfish was noted and a small group of Curlew were seen heading towards St Mary`s.

Whilst on St Mary`s a trip to the nature reserve at Lower Moors/Porth Hellick gave excellent views of a Marsh Sandpiper, which has been present for several days, in company with a Greenshank but also a Green Sandpiper which also very obliging.

The return journey to Penzance was also blessed with warm clear conditions with once again small numbers of Manx Shearwater and Storm Petrel being present. Also a fleeting glimpse of a small triangular dorsal fin and a small area of the animals back indicated a single Harbour Porpoise.This was between Wolf Rock and the Runnelstone - Porpoise Corner.

David Curtis, RSPB


6th and 13th May 2009
The weather improved for a little while and the sun even appeared, then it was back to the usual dull and grey days. Harbour Porpoises were still being spotted and I saw my first basking Shark of the year. It was a good sized shark around 7 metres long. As they grow older like this one, the dorsal fin becomes more rounded and begins to flop over. They are the world’s second largest fish growing to over 10 metres in length. Some individuals have nicks or scars on their fins and are easily recognisable. Over the years I have seen sharks return to the same area of the Cornish coast. So far this year there has been quite a few sightings off Cornwall, all we need now is some warm sun to bring them up to the surface to feed.

Lots of Manx Shearwaters and Gannets are being seen as well as the odd Great Skua and Storm Petrel. On the islands I was lucky enough to see a rare Red-rumped Swallow from southern Europe and the Iceland Gull is still about. In misty conditions the occasional migrant hitches a ride onboard and this has included Chiffchaff and Sedge Warbler. The most unusual sighting however was a Whimbrel that spent 40 minutes circling the ship making attempts to land.

Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust


22nd May 2009
The Friday trip on board the RSPB Scillonian III was blessed with fine weather - sunshine and a force 3 to 4 south-westerly. As the time of year dictates many seabird species where on their breeding territories but Manx Shearwater where seen on both outward and inward legs. Gannets were the most numerous species with breeders presumably travelling from Sept Isle off the French coast or Grassholm the Pembrokeshire island colony. Also a Great Norther Diver was located in flight on the outward journey, west of Mousehole.

A single Harbour Porpoise was the only cetacean noted with two sightings both between the Runnelstone and Wolf Rock.

On St Mary's the long stay Iceland Gull was seen in the Hugh Town refuse dump area also up to 100 House Martin hawking for insects over Lower Moors reserve. A solitary elusive Gadwall was also present and a Turtle Dove over Telegraph.

On returning and docking at Penzance it was good to see a small party of Purple Sandpiper, up to four birds, still present on shoreline rocks between the quay and swimming pool.

David Curtis, RSPB Volunteer


20th & 28th May 2009
Things are starting to warm up at last, though I did swap days to avoid gale force winds and squally rain! In the event I had two very pleasant trips with excellent viewing conditions. A wonderful variety of seabirds were spotted, including an Arctic Skua that flew over the ship even before we left Penzance harbour. Good numbers of Storm Petrels are regularly seen offshore now as the water is beginning to warm up. Other species included Gannets, Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Manx Shearwaters. Large numbers of shearwaters are being seen on the return journey as they leave Mount’s Bay, heading west.

Harbour Porpoise is the most regular cetacean seen at present, with small numbers spotted on most voyages. A 5-6 metre Basking Shark was just off the mainland though the highlight was a Minke Whale. Minkes are our smallest whale, but at ten metres in length they are still an impressive sight. This whale was seen surfacing three times though on its second breath, it hardly broke the surface.

Like everywhere at the moment, the islands are full of butterflies. In the last few days, millions of Painted Ladies have arrived in Britain from southern Europe. This is one of the biggest influxes ever and if they successfully breed here, weather permitting, there will be many more as the summer progresses.

Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust


3rd June 2009
What an amazing day. The weather was tremendous with hardly a breath of wind, hot sunshine and the sea as flat as a millpond! Without any wind there was only our regular seabird species in small numbers but I even managed to spot the tiny Storm Petrels resting on the sea.

Viewing conditions couldn’t have been better and several Harbour Porpoises including a family group appeared offshore. As predicted this weather has brought many Basking Sharks up to the surface and the passengers had amazing views of these giants of the fish world. A couple of big splashes were spotted that were probably sharks breaching. After many poor years, 2009 looks set to be the fourth year running with large numbers of these sharks around our shores.  Look out for marks, cuts and notches in their dorsal fins. Some of these animals are individually recognisable and return each year to feed in the same area.

The invasion of Painted Lady butterflies is still continuing with many seen flying over the sea, heading for the Cornish mainland.

Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust


5th June 2009
A favourable forecast of 2 to 3 South Eastly and sunny conditions, but without any glare, set the scene for another enjoyable trip. As the breeding season is now in full action mode, it might have been expected that bird numbers would be down. However, the day commenced with a Glaucus Gull in Newlyn harbour and 20 Turnstone on the rocky beach near the Scillonian III berthing quay.

Departure was prompt at 0915hrs and on approaching the Runnelstone/Wolf Rock area gull and Gannet numbers were about normal but two sightings of Basking Shark added excitement. Small groups of auks together with flights of Manx Shearwater totalling over 60 individuals were notable.

The return journey was even calmer with excellent visability and a total of 90 Manx and a single Balearic Shearwater being sighted in the Runnelstone area together with eleven Basking Sharks. Everyone had very good views of these, dark yet benign animals with their flapping dorsal fins and eratic swimming behaviour. So ended another successful trip with everyone being able to well and truly tick their `seen a Basking Shark` box.

David Curtis, RSPB Volunteer.


10th. 12th and 13th June 2009
Excellent weather conditions and excellent sightings. What more could I ask for. Basking Sharks are continuing to be seen well on most trips at present and breaching has been noted again. As the sea warms we gave started to see Ocean Sunfish. Small numbers were spotted close to the ship on each of these trips. In the tropics these fishes can grow to a massive 3 metres across but here the maximum size is about a metre. These are probably juveniles drifting along the ocean currents. They can often be spotted by gulls swimming next to them, the fish gets a clean and the gulls get to eat a few parasites.

More Harbour Porpoises were seen but were eclipsed by the two highlights of the week. The first was a large school of Common Dolphins that came and played beside the ship, thrilling the passengers. I even managed to get some decent photos of these speedy characters. The other highlight was a Minke Whale that surfaced several times towards our wake.

Seabirds continued with the usual species as well as several Puffins. A pair of which were seen in Mount’s Bay, not long after leaving port.

Paul Semmens , Isles of Scilly and Cornwall Wildlife Trusts, RSPB

Friday 19th June 2009
'You should have been here yesterday. 70 dolphins off the Runnel Stone'.
Well, it wasn't to be on the Friday. Good conditions around the peninsular but no sightings of cetaceans except a glimpse of a large body breaking the surface far off towards the Wolf Rock. Rougher surface conditions en route to Scilly with occasional Manx Shearwaters, Fulmars and Gannets, Gulls (Herring and GBB) and Awks plus one Storm Petrel close on the port side.

Passengers were pleased to have the RSPB brochure 'Birds of the South West' and I had interesting conversations with several keen naturalists and bird watchers including details of cruises in the Carribbean and Lemur watching in Madagascar.

On our return leg we jointly accumulated sightings of a porpoise, a dolphin and many more Shearwaters, Fulmars and Gannets as we approached Land's End. Jackson, a young naturalist from North Wales, spotted a sunfish together with the unidentified sighting off the Wolf Rock in the morning. Although sitings were sparce they were diverse and to the delight of the crowds of school children returning from camp the bridge alerted us to several medium sized Basking Sharks on the port side off Gwennap Head.

We didn't see any Kittiwakes or Skuas.  A liberal sprinkling of crisps and chips from the children soon accumulated a group of Herring Gulls on the homeward journey.

Everyone loved the trip and people were thrilled with the sitings especially the Basking Sharks.                     

Nigel Haward


1st July 2009
A mixed bag weather wise in the last couple of weeks from flat calm conditions where spotting was easy to rough seas with an eight foot swell and spray to contend with. On one trip just as we left Scilly we entered a fog bank. Visibility went down to a meagre fifty metres giving an eerily spooky scene. Crew members were posted on the bow to keep watch as we proceeded at a slow speed. Luckily these conditions only lasted a couple of miles and we eventually emerged into blue skies, oily sea and sunshine.

Good numbers of Harbour Porpoises have been seen recently and it seems to be another good year for Ocean Sunfish. This fish seems to be occurring here in much larger numbers than in the past, whether this is due to global warming or not we can now expect to see them on any calm day between now and late autumn.  In the last few days Basking Sharks have moved into the bay around St. Michael’s Mount, I even spotted a couple while the Scillonian was still moored on the quay! The highlight again was a Minke Whale that crossed our path before swimming alongside. As it passed, it turned into our wake as if to get a caress from our surf.

Seabirds included the usual suspects for this time of year but it was nice to spot a Great Skua. Though not so nice for the group of Manx Shearwaters that it decided to harass.

On the islands spring migration is over for birds so its time to look elsewhere. Flowers are in bloom including a good selection of arable weeds that have now become increasingly rare on the mainland. The coastal grassland is attracting a nice mix of insects such as the vivid Six-spot Burnet Moth. If you walk along Peninnis Head look for the metallic Rose Chafer. A beautiful shiny emerald beetle but on Scilly there is also a black colour morph that can only be found apart from here, on Corsica. Painted Ladies are still arriving from Europe as well as the Hummingbird Hawk-moth, a species that does exactly what it says on the label.

Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust


8th & 10th July 2009
Harbour Porpoises and Ocean Sunfish are being seen regularly offshore at the moment but the highlights this week were much closer to home. In fact almost in the harbour at Penzance! As I boarded the ship our regular group of about a dozen Bottle-nosed Dolphins were playing around the harbour entrance. They were following yachts as they were leaving, occasionally slapping their tails on the water and with the odd spectacular leap. They eventually left before we departed swimming east along the bay with the falling tide. I was hoping that they might have been back when we returned in the evening particularly as I had a call from one of the Newlyn crabbers who saw them as they brought their catch back to port. Sadly this time we were disappointed. These animals are often in this area though they may travel as far at least as Dorset. A couple of years ago they were here in the morning, by early afternoon they were off Fowey and then back here by the evening.

The other highlight was a small group of Common Dolphins that came to bow-ride just before we arrived back in Penzance. We were so close to home that I didn’t expect anything else. The crew were preparing to dock, getting the mooring ropes ready and going off autopilot. I was beginning to pack up my survey equipment when I just leant over the bridge to see the dolphins zooming along beneath the surface into our bow wave. It’s quite unusual to get this species so close to shore at this time of year. Maybe they are travelling further in search of fish as I get the impression that there isn’t much feed in the sea at present. Dolphin numbers are lower than expected this year and there aren’t flocks of feeding seabirds.

Seabirds have been much the same this week with the exception of small flocks of Common Scoters flying past, a type of sea-duck. The influx of Crossbills into this country finally arrived on Scilly this week with around 50 seen. They were quite mobile around the islands, hopefully there will be more and become more settled.

Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust & RSPB


24th July 2009
In the last couple of weeks we were still waiting for summer to arrive. The first week was quite stormy with strong winds and up to 3 metre swell. We even had spray splashing against the windows on the bridge! Despite these conditions I managed to spot Harbour Porpoises and Ocean Sunfish in the calmer waters sheltered by the coast. Unfortunately for me while I was talking to the passengers a Minke Whale appeared briefly in front of the bow to promptly disappear again.

The second week was slightly calmer and again we were rewarded by a display of our local Bottlenose Dolphins off the pier in Penzance. As part of National Whale and Dolphin week I led a watch from Peninnis Head on Scilly. It started off very quietly but as the tide began to run we all managed to see a few Harbour Porpoises. Also on the headland we found several Rose Chafers. This time the normal emerald variety, looking like an exotic brooch. Birds seen included a Pomarine Skua, Great Skuas, some Balearic Shearwaters and nearly 200 Storm Petrels. The latter were mainly around fishing boats that were bringing in their catch.

On the islands autumn migration has started with the first Green Sandpipers arriving. Several Comma butterflies and Hummingbird Hawk-moths were also present in sheltered, sunny patches.

Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust & RSPB


29th July 2009
A wet start to the day but clearing up by lunchtime with a pleasant bright afternoon for my time on the islands and the journey home. Harbour Porpoises were seen yet again from the ship as well as from Peninnis Head. If the sea is calm you can almost guarantee seeing porpoises from one of the headlands.  A group of Common Dolphins came to investigate us but were not particularly in a playful mood. They swam past alongside but did not breach at all.

Storm Petrels are becoming a more common sight at the moment with good numbers being seen again. A Pomarine Skua flew west but the highlight was a gorgeous adult Sabine’s Gull. This lovely bird is a scarce visitor to our waters in the autumn. They breed in the Canadian Arctic and Greenland, being blown towards the Cornish coast on their way to their wintering grounds at sea off the southern African coast. Black-headed Gulls are now returning with their young to winter here and are often associated with the occasional Mediterranean Gull. Several of the latter have recently been seen along the bay at Penzance.

Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust



6th August 2009
A nice change at last with a calm sea and the sun shining. It was not long after leaving port before we saw our first cetacean sighting. A group of Common Dolphins were feeding in the distance with a flock of Gannets diving around them.  Not long after this I spotted the first Harbour Porpoise of the day. Later other groups were seen including some chasing a shoal of fish. Porpoises rarely breach but one was seen to jump completely out of the water. This was probably the exuberance of youth as this animal was only about 2 foot in length so must have been recently born.

As part of the Wildlife Trusts’ national marine week we did another watch from Peninnis Head and had a very good turnout. We again saw several Harbour Porpoises though they were not very obliging this time, disappearing before some people saw them. On a watch the previous day off Cornwall I saw 10 Common Dolphins, 15 Harbour Porpoises and 4 Basking Sharks in 40 minutes!

A juvenile Mediterranean Gull flew past the Scillonian as we arrived in Scilly and several Storm Petrels as well as some Balearic Shearwaters were spotted on the crossing. A visit to Porthellick Pool rewarded me with a sighting of a Marsh Sandpiper, only the second record for Scilly and a new species for me. A couple of Green Sandpipers were also present here.

Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust

12th & 14th August 2009
A couple of excellent trips this week with reasonable sea conditions giving good spotting conditions. Scattered small groups of Harbour Porpoises were present offshore but the highlight was a Minke Whale that emerged beside the ship. It surfaced several times as it came across our wake. Many of the passengers were rewarded with excellent views as it passed by. You could even see the tip of its head as it surfaced followed by the blowhole and then the distinct dorsal fin towards the rear of its body. Later a group of Common Dolphins were feeding in the distance about a couple of miles away. They were part of a feeding frenzy with large numbers of Gannets. At about the same time a super pod of 150 animals were spotted off the Cornish coast by birdwatchers. Ocean Sunfish were also seen though not in the numbers we were getting a few weeks ago.

Good numbers of Storm Petrels were seen, mainly around fishing boats and another Balearic Shearwater crossed our path. This week Manx Shearwaters were surprisingly scarce as normally at this time of year hundreds are about irrespective of the sea state. I arrived in the hide at Porthellick Pool just after the appearance of a rare Lesser Yellowlegs, a species rather similar to the Marsh Sandpiper seen last week. This bird comes from North America whereas the Marsh came from the east.

The St. Mary’s lifeboat came past and gave us a wave. On the horizon many yachts were heading east as part of the Fastnet race. This year is the thirtieth anniversary of the disaster when many lives were lost and a remainder of how quickly the sea here can change and how dangerous it can be. Also the brave people who go out to rescue those in trouble. 

Paul Semmens, Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust & RSPB


21st August 2009
I arrived at Penzance with quiet optimism as the winds were S/W and quite breezy so the outlook for Shearwaters was good.
On leaving the harbour the trip down the coast was uneventful with the exception of good numbers of Gannets during this time I was approached by a couple who were holidaying on Scilly, I was asked what we could expect my reply that we hopefully would see a Great Shearwater was treated with some sceptism, we then started seeing Manx Shearwaters and Storm Petrels in good numbers and on nearing Wolf Rock we had distant veiws of a Sooty Shearwater. Not long after this I spotted a large Shearwater and ID'd it as a Great Shearwater this caused quite a stir and was confirmed by numerous birders on their way to Scilly for the Pelagic trips ( I did manage several distant photographs ) needless to say the holidaying couple were over the moon.
On the return trip it`s quite amazing how the sea state changed we left St Mary`s to less breeze and quite a flat sea, about 2 miles out I spotted a group of Gannets some sat on the water and some feeding but certainly taking an interest in an area of sea, my suspicions came good when we were approached by a pod of about 8 Common Dolphin who gave a good show for all the enthralled passengers one even threw itself completely clear of the water. We finished the trip with more Manx and Storm Petrels but with a bonus of two more Sooty Shearwaters and three Great Skua's. All in all a good trip.

Paul Roberts


19th & 27th August 2009
Managed to get out just after Hurricane Bill passed through and before the next gale came the following day. There was still a fair amount of ground swell making spotting difficult but I still managed to see several Harbour Porpoises. On the way home there were hundreds of Gannets gathering over a shoal of fish but sadly they were too far away to see if there were any cetaceans there. At over 2 miles and in these conditions you know there must be dolphins there but there’s nothing you can do. The earlier trip also recorded porpoises as well as some Ocean Sunfish in calmer conditions.

The strong wind produced a few seabirds such as Great Skua, Storm Petrels and a nice Balearic Shearwater that gave great views as it flew west.  The Lesser Yellowlegs was still on the islands but now was joined by Greenshank and Ruff. The remnants of the hurricane produced some major seabird rarities to pass the Cornish coast in the following few days including Fea’s and Wilson’s Petrels as well as a Little Shearwater. So I’ll be keeping my fingers crossed for next week.

Paul Semmens – Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust


28th August
Last friday was fresh (4-5 and more, SW to Westerly) with a solid swell and an after one o'clock arrival time. Plenty of time to watch the large number of gannets diving as we passed by Gwennap Head and beyond. They were brilliantly white in the sunny weather and added to the general excitement aboard as we made our way into the deeper water. I noticed that they dived from a lower height than usual. Maybe this was because a higher dive meant that they would lose sight of their prey is the white water as the tops of the waves were blown off by the strong wind. Who know what a gannet thinks? There were quite consistent sightings of manx shearwater but only in ones and twos. Occasional fulmars glided and dived across the path of the boat and some young herring gulls were seen off the Runnel Stone. Passenger interest in the birds wained as the voyage progressed but this was renewed on a relatively leisurly and gentle passage home at the end of the day. There were no cetacean sightings or other beasties.

Nigel Haward


Friday 4th September
The Scillonian III open deck viewing areas were fully utilised for this September sailing, calm conditions prevailed.
On both the outward and return legs Manx Shearwaters were in evidence with just less than 100 being recorded. Good numbers of Storm Petrels were seen with about 40 being noted. Gannet numbers, principally adults, numbering less than 400 were accounted for and good sightings of Bonxies and Sooty Shearwaters were bonuses as were the odd auk and tern species seen.
Two Basking Sharks were briefly glimpsed, or rather it was the prominent dorsal fin that was seen and Harbour Porpoises were in evidence on the approaches to and leaving St Marys. One positive sighting of a single Common Dolphin was reported but maybe there were more in the area.
With benign temperature, a westerly mainly force 2 to 3 breeze and very good visibility this was a excellent 'birdwatchers trip' .
No mega rarities but wholesome numbers of the regulars.

David Curtis. RSPB Volunteer


2nd & 9th September 2009
Another couple of voyages with slightly unsettled conditions. Although there was a fair deal of swell, Basking Sharks were very much in evidence. The passengers were rewarded with excellent views as these giants swam past us. One was particularly easy to spot as it had a Herring Gull constantly hovering over it. These sharks are probably being to move south again as there has been an increase in numbers locally. Sadly I wasn’t onboard when the crew spotted a huge school of Common Dolphins, possibly as many as two hundred. Well hopefully I will next time.
Great Skuas were seen around fishing boats trying to rob Gannets and gulls of any scraps. Several Sooty Shearwaters were seen close to Land’s End. These are truly oceanic wanderers, breeding mainly around New Zealand. I was lucky enough to see a pair of juvenile Buff-breasted Sandpipers from North America that fortunately arrived just before we docked. Another pair made landfall at the same time near Porthgwarra on the Cornish mainland.  
With the changing weather we were treated to some wonderfully dramatic skies. At one stage there was a double rainbow perfectly arched over the bow.

Paul Semmens – Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust