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
Scillonian 111 RSPB Trip to Isles of Scilly, 9th June 2017
We left Penzance in a cool westerly wind, sea state 4. Not long after leaving the harbour at least 2 storm Petrels were seen. A steady trickle of 50 Manx Shearwaters and 23 Gannets were moving west along with 5 Fulmar and a Guillemot. Beyond Wolf Lighthouse numbers reduced with only 1 Manx Shearwater, 1 Storm Petrel, 5 Guillemot, 3 Razorbill and 6 Gannets. 24 Shags were feeding between St Mary's and St Agnes.
We promptly left St Mary's finding a calmer sea. 89+ Shags were in the Sound. Return to Wolf, numbers increased a little, with 20 Manx Shearwaters, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 9 Gannets, 9 Razorbills, 2 Guillemots, 2 Kittiwakes, 20 gulls and a Common Tern. At least one Common Dolphin showed briefly.
From Wolf to Penzance numbers improved. Flying west were 131 Manx Shearwaters, 3 Storm Petrel, 1 Great Skua, 2 Arctic Skuas, 4 Puffin, 42 Gannets, 7 Fulmar, 2 Kittiwake, 5 Guillemot and 6 Razorbill.
Brian Craven and Vivian Stratton
