A special place... The Isles of Scilly are one of only two places in England where Manx Shearwaters breed
Under threat...The Isles of Scilly hold 3,000 fewer pairs of breeding seabirds than 25 years ago
The mist and cloud disappeared, enabling around 60 passengers to watch the partial eclipse of the sun from the Scillonian's outer decks, before departure. The sea was force 2-3 with a cold NE wind blowing.
Off Newlyn a Harbour Porpoise passed close by. We then encountered a steady trickle of 120+ mostly feeding/resting auks up to Wolf Lighthouse . These were mainly Guillemots. A sprinkling of Gannets was encountered along with 3 Kittiwakes, 6 Fulmar, and a single Manx Shearwater, they are returning!
4 Harbour Porpoise showed west of Porthgwarra. Beyond Wolf lighthouse, we saw Fulmars, Gannets and Guillemots. A Great Skua gave good close views.
On the outward journey, Herring Gulls, 14 Guillemots, 2 Razorbills, 37 auk species, 1 Manx Shearwater, 31 Gannets and 7 Kittiwake, were seen in the reducing daylight.
Having left the Scillonian in the dark, at least 5 Purple Sandpipers were found on the rocks adjoining the harbour.
Brian Craven & David Curtis
