@scillypelagics.bsky.social
Reposted
A day with @scillypelagics.bsky.social never disappoints. Great, Cory's, Sooty and Manx Shearwater, Euro and Wilson's Storm-petrel, Sabine's Gull, Arctic and Great Skua, Arctic and Black Tern plus dozens of Common Dolphin playing around the boat.
Every British birder should do this once. #UKbirds
Every British birder should do this once. #UKbirds
August 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
A day with @scillypelagics.bsky.social never disappoints. Great, Cory's, Sooty and Manx Shearwater, Euro and Wilson's Storm-petrel, Sabine's Gull, Arctic and Great Skua, Arctic and Black Tern plus dozens of Common Dolphin playing around the boat.
Every British birder should do this once. #UKbirds
Every British birder should do this once. #UKbirds
Raft of large shears today
September 26, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Raft of large shears today
Still plenty of large shearwaters in Scillonian waters today, including this Scopoli’s Shearwater photographed by Richard Stonier.
September 26, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Still plenty of large shearwaters in Scillonian waters today, including this Scopoli’s Shearwater photographed by Richard Stonier.
The past week I was one of an adventurous group of 10 seabirders participating in the Challenger expedition to the British Continental shelf, 160 km SW of Scilly, in search of the Madeiran Storm-petrel, conceived and meticulously organised by Scott Reid.
September 21, 2025 at 6:19 PM
The past week I was one of an adventurous group of 10 seabirders participating in the Challenger expedition to the British Continental shelf, 160 km SW of Scilly, in search of the Madeiran Storm-petrel, conceived and meticulously organised by Scott Reid.
A good selection of seabirds on this evening’s sharking trip included this Pom Skua - photo Joe Pender. Also numerous foraging groups of Cory’s and Greats over Bluefin Tuna and SB Common Dolphin. Other notables were a Wilson’s Stormy, Arctic Skua, Sabs Gull, Sooty Shear,
September 4, 2025 at 9:54 PM
A good selection of seabirds on this evening’s sharking trip included this Pom Skua - photo Joe Pender. Also numerous foraging groups of Cory’s and Greats over Bluefin Tuna and SB Common Dolphin. Other notables were a Wilson’s Stormy, Arctic Skua, Sabs Gull, Sooty Shear,
Totals for this evening- photos Joe Pender:
• Wilson’s Storm Petrel – 1
• European Storm Petrel – ~50
• Scopoli’s Shearwater – 1 (plus)
• Cory’s Shearwater – 80
• Great Shearwater – 40
• Sooty Shearwater – 4
• Grey Phalarope – 10
• Long-tailed Skua – 2
• Wilson’s Storm Petrel – 1
• European Storm Petrel – ~50
• Scopoli’s Shearwater – 1 (plus)
• Cory’s Shearwater – 80
• Great Shearwater – 40
• Sooty Shearwater – 4
• Grey Phalarope – 10
• Long-tailed Skua – 2
September 1, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Totals for this evening- photos Joe Pender:
• Wilson’s Storm Petrel – 1
• European Storm Petrel – ~50
• Scopoli’s Shearwater – 1 (plus)
• Cory’s Shearwater – 80
• Great Shearwater – 40
• Sooty Shearwater – 4
• Grey Phalarope – 10
• Long-tailed Skua – 2
• Wilson’s Storm Petrel – 1
• European Storm Petrel – ~50
• Scopoli’s Shearwater – 1 (plus)
• Cory’s Shearwater – 80
• Great Shearwater – 40
• Sooty Shearwater – 4
• Grey Phalarope – 10
• Long-tailed Skua – 2
Two unbelievably confiding Long-tailed Skuas gave a prolonged performance -adult and first-summer.
September 1, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Two unbelievably confiding Long-tailed Skuas gave a prolonged performance -adult and first-summer.
The season’s Birder Special Pelagics culminated excitedly this evening with at least 1 Scopoli’s Shearwater in this feeding frenzy over Bluefin Tuna (BoC Paul French). VAR pending on several others suggesting a mini influx. But there was much more…
September 1, 2025 at 9:28 PM
The season’s Birder Special Pelagics culminated excitedly this evening with at least 1 Scopoli’s Shearwater in this feeding frenzy over Bluefin Tuna (BoC Paul French). VAR pending on several others suggesting a mini influx. But there was much more…
Pelagic birding at its best! Cory’s - 350 and Great - 250 Shears on view start to finish. Six Sabine’s Gull, 2 close for 30 mins in slick, 2 following boat. Superb ad Long-tailed Skua for 10 mins. Six Grey Phal, 2 being confiding. 3 Wilson’s & 100+ Euro Stormy. Photos Joe Pender
August 31, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Pelagic birding at its best! Cory’s - 350 and Great - 250 Shears on view start to finish. Six Sabine’s Gull, 2 close for 30 mins in slick, 2 following boat. Superb ad Long-tailed Skua for 10 mins. Six Grey Phal, 2 being confiding. 3 Wilson’s & 100+ Euro Stormy. Photos Joe Pender
Sensational views of Sabine’s Gull during today’s Scilly Birder Special Pelagic.
August 31, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Sensational views of Sabine’s Gull during today’s Scilly Birder Special Pelagic.
Exhilarating being among 1000s of shearwaters wheeling about in strong wind: at least 300 Great, 200 Cory’s, 4 Sooty, many Manx. Skuas were a brutish 1S Pomarine & juv Long-tailed & Great. C200 European Stormy & 3 Wilson’s at point blank range. A Grey Phalarope, too. Sensational!
August 30, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Exhilarating being among 1000s of shearwaters wheeling about in strong wind: at least 300 Great, 200 Cory’s, 4 Sooty, many Manx. Skuas were a brutish 1S Pomarine & juv Long-tailed & Great. C200 European Stormy & 3 Wilson’s at point blank range. A Grey Phalarope, too. Sensational!
1st trip of final weekend of Birder Special Pelagics barely passed by Eastern Isles when 2 Grey Phalaropes were found, 1 very confiding. At sea, large shears abounded with 150+ Great, 100+ Cory’s, 3 Sooties. Five Wilson’s & 40+ European Stormies showed well. Photo Joe Pender
August 29, 2025 at 9:24 PM
1st trip of final weekend of Birder Special Pelagics barely passed by Eastern Isles when 2 Grey Phalaropes were found, 1 very confiding. At sea, large shears abounded with 150+ Great, 100+ Cory’s, 3 Sooties. Five Wilson’s & 40+ European Stormies showed well. Photo Joe Pender
Large shearwaters were all around us this evening with 200+ Cory’s, 150+ Great and 3 Sooty, plus a good showing of European Storm-petrel. Photos Isaac Ogden
August 28, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Large shearwaters were all around us this evening with 200+ Cory’s, 150+ Great and 3 Sooty, plus a good showing of European Storm-petrel. Photos Isaac Ogden
24 gram European Storm-petrels in Beaufort 7 off Scilly this evening.
August 28, 2025 at 9:18 PM
24 gram European Storm-petrels in Beaufort 7 off Scilly this evening.
Scilly Birder Special Pelagics for close views of seabirds and excellent photographic opportunities. 25 years of experience running Pelagics off Scilly. Book at ScillyPelagics.com/birder-special-pelagics
August 28, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Scilly Birder Special Pelagics for close views of seabirds and excellent photographic opportunities. 25 years of experience running Pelagics off Scilly. Book at ScillyPelagics.com/birder-special-pelagics
Bookings now open for your 2026 Scilly Birder Special Pelagics at ScillyPelagics.com/birder-special-pelagics
Birder Special Pelagic Booking | Scilly Pelagics
Join us on ultimate seabird watching experience from the Isles of Scilly. Enjoy common and rare shearwaters, petrels, skuas, storm-petrels and more, as well as dolphins, whales and sharks. Book now!
ScillyPelagics.com
August 28, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Bookings now open for your 2026 Scilly Birder Special Pelagics at ScillyPelagics.com/birder-special-pelagics
Winds turned W & strengthened. Mon & Tue eve very productive with 5 & 9 Wilson’s respectively. Cory’s & Great Shear increased. Arctic & Great Skuas were seen. Isaac Ogden took this dramatic photo of Wilson’s on a big sea.
August 27, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Winds turned W & strengthened. Mon & Tue eve very productive with 5 & 9 Wilson’s respectively. Cory’s & Great Shear increased. Arctic & Great Skuas were seen. Isaac Ogden took this dramatic photo of Wilson’s on a big sea.
The 2026 Scilly Birder Special Pelagics will be available to book from the coming Friday 28th August at www.Scillypelagics.com
August 25, 2025 at 2:41 PM
The 2026 Scilly Birder Special Pelagics will be available to book from the coming Friday 28th August at www.Scillypelagics.com
Sat & Sun Birder Special Pelagics produced excellent sightings with my star bird this adult Sabine’s Gull (photo Joe Pender). Sat birds: 5 Wilson’s & 25 Euro Stormies; 60 Great, 4 Cory’s, 10 Sooty, 2 Balearic Shears; 3 Sabs Gull. Sun birds similar but more Cory’s (25), 1 Wilson’s
August 24, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Sat & Sun Birder Special Pelagics produced excellent sightings with my star bird this adult Sabine’s Gull (photo Joe Pender). Sat birds: 5 Wilson’s & 25 Euro Stormies; 60 Great, 4 Cory’s, 10 Sooty, 2 Balearic Shears; 3 Sabs Gull. Sun birds similar but more Cory’s (25), 1 Wilson’s
4th Scilly Birder Special Pelagic weekend featured cetaceans: Fin & Humpback Whales, Risso’s & Common Dolphins. An ad Sabs Gull gave a stellar performance, a Wilson’s Stormy raised a cheer. Also 8 Great and a Sooty Shear. Very enjoyable evening. Video Bob Flood, photos Mark Baker
August 22, 2025 at 10:11 PM
4th Scilly Birder Special Pelagic weekend featured cetaceans: Fin & Humpback Whales, Risso’s & Common Dolphins. An ad Sabs Gull gave a stellar performance, a Wilson’s Stormy raised a cheer. Also 8 Great and a Sooty Shear. Very enjoyable evening. Video Bob Flood, photos Mark Baker
Strong E persisted into Monday but we dug out 2 Wilson’s and a showy Great Shear. This eve E dropped off and birds picked up a bit with Black Tern, Arctic Skua, 2 Wilson’s and a few Great, Cory’s and Sooty Shears. Bluefin Tuna made welcome return. Photos Joe Pender & Isaac Ogden
August 19, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Strong E persisted into Monday but we dug out 2 Wilson’s and a showy Great Shear. This eve E dropped off and birds picked up a bit with Black Tern, Arctic Skua, 2 Wilson’s and a few Great, Cory’s and Sooty Shears. Bluefin Tuna made welcome return. Photos Joe Pender & Isaac Ogden
Wind from the east strengthened again for today’s pelagic and sea state averaged 2.5 m. Three days of easterlies blew away our shearwaters but we managed tremendous views of 12 Wilson’s and 150 European Stormy.
August 17, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Wind from the east strengthened again for today’s pelagic and sea state averaged 2.5 m. Three days of easterlies blew away our shearwaters but we managed tremendous views of 12 Wilson’s and 150 European Stormy.
The easterly wind strengthened further to F6 gusting F7. Despite this we found 9 Wilson’s with ex Ellen’s views in our oily slick. This is the 35th consecutive trip for Wilson’s! Also c80 Europeans. A Cory’s showed well over the slick, 3 more flew by along with a Sooty. Photo Joe Pender
August 16, 2025 at 4:43 PM
The easterly wind strengthened further to F6 gusting F7. Despite this we found 9 Wilson’s with ex Ellen’s views in our oily slick. This is the 35th consecutive trip for Wilson’s! Also c80 Europeans. A Cory’s showed well over the slick, 3 more flew by along with a Sooty. Photo Joe Pender
The wind turned east and picked up to F4. Not ideal but we did OK. Five kms SW Bishop Rock we found 8 Wilson’s Stormy, c50 European, a couple of Cory’s (one with features better suiting Scopoli’s) and a Sooty. Photo Joe Pender
August 15, 2025 at 9:32 PM
The wind turned east and picked up to F4. Not ideal but we did OK. Five kms SW Bishop Rock we found 8 Wilson’s Stormy, c50 European, a couple of Cory’s (one with features better suiting Scopoli’s) and a Sooty. Photo Joe Pender