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Scillonian Pelagic (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter MarkHows
- Start date
Jasonbirder
Jason-occasional-twitcher
The Scillonian Pelagic runs from Penzance in August on a Sunday, usually the second Sunday of the month though this can Vary somewhat; this year it ran on 10th August. The price of a ticket this year was £85.
It is about 14 hours in duration, giving it time to steam a long way out into the Western approaches.
It principally targets Wilsons Petrels, and has a very reliable track record of connecting with them. This year we had at least 3 (and possibly 5) they tend to show well amongst large numbers of Storm Petrels which are attracted to "chum" off the back of the boat.
Other birds regularly seen close to the boat are Sabines Gulls, Bonxies and Arctic Skuas.
"Big" Shearwaters (Corys and Great) are a bit more unpredictable; the numbers in British Waters vary year on year, in years when they are around in numbers they tend to be seen from the trip, in years when they are scarce then probably not.
Sooty Shearwaters are seen in most years.
Of course the Pelagic trip is most famous for the 2001 sighting of Feas Petrel but I suspect that is a bit of a "one-off".
All in all it is a good trip and one which I have travelled on myself on a number of occasions:- The early start and expense can be a bit trying but it is probably the easiest way to connect with Wilsons Petrel, the only other realistic option is to travel on one of the evening boat trips from the Isles of Scilly, but that involves an overnight stay on the Islands.
It is about 14 hours in duration, giving it time to steam a long way out into the Western approaches.
It principally targets Wilsons Petrels, and has a very reliable track record of connecting with them. This year we had at least 3 (and possibly 5) they tend to show well amongst large numbers of Storm Petrels which are attracted to "chum" off the back of the boat.
Other birds regularly seen close to the boat are Sabines Gulls, Bonxies and Arctic Skuas.
"Big" Shearwaters (Corys and Great) are a bit more unpredictable; the numbers in British Waters vary year on year, in years when they are around in numbers they tend to be seen from the trip, in years when they are scarce then probably not.
Sooty Shearwaters are seen in most years.
Of course the Pelagic trip is most famous for the 2001 sighting of Feas Petrel but I suspect that is a bit of a "one-off".
All in all it is a good trip and one which I have travelled on myself on a number of occasions:- The early start and expense can be a bit trying but it is probably the easiest way to connect with Wilsons Petrel, the only other realistic option is to travel on one of the evening boat trips from the Isles of Scilly, but that involves an overnight stay on the Islands.
Michael Frankis
conehead
Hi Swift,
From what I heard, there was a black-browed Gannet seen . . . . 3
Michael
From what I heard, there was a black-browed Gannet seen . . . . 3
Michael
Darrell Clegg
Well-known member
Michael - for the 30 or so of us who saw it - it was certainly no Gannet. Some very well known twitchers who failed to connect with the bird put that rumour out.
Darrell
Darrell
