scillypelagics

A taste of the 2008 season...

Following images taken during the 2008 season, all photographs © Ashley Fisher unless stated otherwise

Cory's Shearwater © Ashley Fisher. Close views from stern of MV Sapphire

This was a superb year for Cory’s Shearwater off Scilly with birds seen from most pelagic trips between July 28 and August 17. Breathtaking views were enjoyed as individuals lazily made their way past the boat, often at point blank range. Many fine photographs were taken.

The first Great Shearwaters appeared shortly after the first Cory’s, so in the first three weeks of August the two species often were observed side-by-side. Sightings extended into September. Greats are far from shy and often spent long periods of time around the boat and noisily scrapping with Northern Fulmars for chum.

Sooty Shearwater © Joe Pender. This bird survived a prolonged attack by a Pomarine Skua

Sooty Shearwaters were seen from early July and throughout the pelagic season increasing in numbers into September. Bold individuals often were watched wheeling around the boat at very close range. Several simply sat alongside the boat just a few metres out. One was viscously attacked by a Pomarine Skua though survived the 10 minute onslaught.

It is always a very special experience to watch the globally endangered Balearic Shearwater at close range from Scilly pelagic trips. Over a Birder Special Weekend we normally expect to catch up with this species. Generally a Balearic is even bolder than a Sooty resulting in sustained and excellent views as the bird flies in, scraps for chum, then retreats; repeating this behaviour multiple times. Good photos of this prized shearwater was the highlight for many photographers.

Bob Flood examining Manx Shearwater just prior to release © Ashley Fisher

Manx Shearwater passing close to stern of MV Sapphire © Ashley Fisher

Surprisingly we do not see an awful lot of Manx Shearwater during our pelagic trips and they rarely come in to the vessel. This bird was found early one morning at the terminal waiting for a flight out of St Mary’s Airport. Airport staff placed it in an animal carrier and handed it to Bob Flood. Bob and Ashley Fisher checked the bird over and found it to be in good health. Indeed, this feisty individual viscously bit fingers on several occasions. The bird was launched back to sea from Porthellick Down where it flew off strongly.

British Storm-petrels feeding over chum slick © Ashley Fisher

British Storm-petrels scrapping for morsels of fish liver © Ashley Fisher

One of the main highlights in 2008 was several spectacular showings of many 100s of Scilly’s breeding European Storm-petrel population. In windy conditions swarms of this storm-petrel fed actively over chum with many hovering over food items just an arms length away from the vessel. This was a photographer’s dream.

Generally this was a fairly quiet year for Wilson’s. Even so most Birder Special trips scored and the birds typically obliged by returning to the chum slick again and again.

Pomarine Skua [first summer] © Ashley Fisher

Pomarine Skua [first summer] gave exceptional views © Ashley Fisher

There were some good sightings of Pomarine Skua in 2008. Adults with full spoons were seen. The highlights for many though were several first-summer type birds that remained around the boat for hours. They fed like gulls just off the stern thrilling photographers and surprising many participants with their weak feline like call unbecoming of this aggressive looking creature.

Long-tailed Skua [first summer] © Ashley Fisher

Long-tailed Skua was considered to be rare off Scilly until pelagic trips proved otherwise. Again in 2008 several first-summer type individuals were seen at very close range enabling seabirders to brush up on the identification features and photographers to capture images for detailed study back on dry land. Full adults were seen in 2007.

Sabine's Gull with British Storm-petrel © Ashley Fisher

Sabine's Gull with Great Black-backed Gull © Ashley Fisher

2008 was another very good year for the much sought after Sabine’s Gull. The first sighting was early August with birds observed into October. Birds of all ages were seen across the pelagic season. Many individuals remained with the vessel for long periods feeding over the chum slick or sat on the sea surface nearby.

The late autumn is the favourite time for Grey Phalarope. In 2008 we encountered small groups feeding on the sea surface and carefully approached them. With the skill of the skipper we managed to get very close to several of the groups enabling photographers to go home just as happy as the rest of the crew.

Good numbers of commoner seabirds are routinely seen throughout the pelagic season.