My very first Scilly Pelagic took place during 15th -19th August 2024. John and I attended five pelagics, all very well organised by Scilly Pelagics (https://www.scillypelagics.com/). During the trips we saw 41 Wilson’s Petrel; 145 European Storm Petrel; 147 Cory’s Shearwater; 489 Great Shearwater; 20 Sooty Shearwater; 5,300 Manx Shearwater; 8 Bonxie; 1 2cy SOUTH POLAR SKUA; 3 Arctic Skua; 1 Pomarine Skua; 3 Mediterranean Gull; 1 Kittiwake; 1 Common Gull; present Herring Gull; Lesser Black-backed Gull; Great Black-backed Gull; Fulmar; 19 Arctic Tern; c20 Whimbrel; c700 SB Common Dolphin; 1 Risso’s Dolphin; 5 Fin Whale (inc i calf); 1 Minkie Whale; 12 Bluefin Tuna; 2 Blue Shark; 2 Sun Fish. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get a photograph of the South Polar Skua, but others did, and it was well watched and photographed. Many thanks to Bob Flood and Joe Pender for a fabulous few days at sea and for the South Polar Skua, a new British bird for me. If you want to see seabirds up close and personal, get yourself on a Scilly Pelagic, simple.
