Isles of Scilly 15/8/11

The last day on Scilly, but still managed to see a flyover BEE-EATER, a pod of 200+ Common Dolphin and a Green Sandpiper over the Garrison.

The undoubted highlights from the trip were Wilson's Stom-Petrel and Great Shearwater flying a few feet from the boat, Sabine's Gull, Bee-eater and a Minke Whale. On the return Scillonian and large group of us saw at a a distance on a couple of occasions a huge black dorsal fin which in my and other's opinions could only have been a Killer Whale!!!!

Great Shearwater 14/8/11

Isles of Scilly Speckled Wood

The Scillonian

Isles of Scilly 14/8/11

Great Shearwater

Sooty Shearwater

Fulmar

Blue Shark - 140 pounds, caught, tagged and released.

Common Dolphins

All day pelagic - 2-3 GREAT SHEARWATERS, 1 SABINE'S GULL, 1 GREY PHALAROPE, 4 Sooty Shearwaters, 14 Storm-Petrels, pod of Common Dolphins and a MINKE WHALE. Unfortunately we missed a Leatherback Turtle by a couple of seconds!!!!

Isles of Scilly 13/8/11

Balearic Shearwater

Adult Sabine's Gull

European Storm-Petrel

Oceon Sunfish

juv. Gannet

All day pelagic - 1 GREAT SHEARWATER, 1 SABINE'S GULL, 1 Balearic Shearwater, 1 Sooty Shearwater, 1 Pomarine Skua, 10 Great Skuas, 40 Storm-Petrels, 4 Harbour Porpoise and 2 OCEON SUNFISH.

Isles of Scilly 12/8/11

Wilson's Storm-Petrel 6mls. south of St. Marys.

Great Skua 6mls. south of St. Marys.

Woodchat Shrike at Helvear Farm, St. Marys.

Scllonian Crossing - Lots of Manx Shearwaters, 4 Storm Petrels and many common seabirds.

Pelagic - 2 WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, lots of Storm-Petrels, 10 Manx Shearwaters and 3 Great Skuas. Also 1 Blue Shark caught, tagged and released.

Seaford Head 6/8/11

Only half the circuit was covered today due to boredom setting in. However total consisted off 7 Wheatears; 2 Sedge Warblers; 22 Whitethroats; 1 Lesser Whitethroat and 6 Willow Warblers.

Sedge Warbler by navigational aid.

Windover and Deep Dean

Grayling and Silver Spotted Skipper.

20+ Grayling in the Deap Deen valley this afternoon, as well as 3 Silver Spotted Skippers. Also seveal Dark Green Frits and hundreds of Chalkhill Blues.

Seaford Head 2/8/11

Totals for this morning consisted of 4 Nightingales; 1 Wheatear; 56 Whitethroats; 9 Lesser Whitethroats; 32 Willow Warblers; 5 Reed Warblers; 2 Chiffchaffs; 3 Blackcaps and a Garden Warbler.

Willow Warbler in Hope Gap

Reed Warbler at the coastguard cottages.