We arrived in Penzance after navigating overnight road closures and a short stay in Liskeard to a grey and damp morning. Fortunately, the rain had stopped and boarded the Scillonian III quickly and smoothly. As the ship made its way out of harbour and we were waiting for the Purser to show us up to the bridge we caught sight of a Common Dolphin approaching rapidly and disappearing under the ship close to us. It was a lovely sight to start with, even though we could not include it in our survey.
Once up on the fly-bridge the grey, overcast conditions, strong wind and bumpy ride made observations challenging but there was still plenty to see. Initially the most numerous species seen were Gannet of all ages, with a few large gulls accompanying. A small group of Guillemot were flushed and then the numbers of Manx Shearwater increased as we passed Wolf Rock Lighthouse. A highlight of the outbound trip was catching sight of a Balearic Shearwater close in. We had not seen any marine mammals on the outbound journey, but the return would not disappoint in that regard.
The weather improved as we spent the afternoon on St Mary’s; the day got a little lighter and the wind dropped and on our ramble. We spotted hundreds of Swallow feeding up, a few Greenshank, and around thirty Ringed Plover active on the shoreline.
Back on board the Scillonian III, more crowded now due to all flights off the island being cancelled, we took up our surveying position as we cleared the island. The swell had reduced and the eased wind behind us meant we were able to spot two European Storm Petrel and, bird highlight of the survey, a Leach’s Storm Petrel. There were also the usual Gannet and Manx Shearwater, three Razorbill and after triple checking, one Great Shearwater.
As Land’s End approached, we had good views of seven Bottlenose Dolphin in two groups, and more Gannet resting on the sea.
Despite the unpromising conditions at the start this was another interesting and enjoyable trip, with a melancholy edge as it will be the last on the elegant Scillonian III, which is being replaced next year by the Scillonian IV.
Our thanks to Isles of Scilly Travel, the Captain and crew for their warm welcome and assistance in ensuring an enjoyable survey.
Deborah & Alistair McKail Research Surveyors for MARINElife (Registered Charity No. 1110884; Registered Company No. 5057367)
Weather
Outbound: visibility Good, full cloud cover, sea state 5, wind 5 SW
Return: visibility Good, full cloud cover, sea state 4, wind 4 SW
Species recorded
Marine mammals
- Bottlenose Dolphin Tursiops truncatus 7
Seabirds
- Razorbill Alca torda 3
- Guillemot Uria aalge 12
- Great Shearwater Ardenna gravis 1
- Balearic Shearwater Puffinus mauretanicus 1
- Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus 83
- Northern Gannet Morus bassanus 94
- European Storm-petrel Hydrobates pelagicus 2
- Leach’s Storm-petrel Hydrobates leucorhoa 1
- Larus sp. 8