Thursday 10 August 2017

Scillonian crossing

I've done this many times now but still get a buzz from the Scillonian (despite the hordes in August) and within minutes of leaving Penzance, a small group of Common Dolphin came alongside. Gannets aplenty off Porthgwarra and only one or two Manx Shearwaters! That was soon to change and for the first mile after Lands End, there were quite a few rafts of them and dozens shearing the waves... An estimate of 2,000 is probably conservative in the extreme?

Here's a few close passes as they sped past the boat...












You can't expect to get close to large Shearwaters, never mid seeing them! Just one Great Shearwater in the mid-distance!


But literally half a mile off St Marys, a Cory's Shearwater rounded the bow of the boat




Best view of one ever from the Scillonian!


The omens look good and there's a fishing trip evening Pelagic this evening...