**The Scillonian has stopped sailing for the winter season**
27th October 2010
The final trip and the sea was rather choppy on the way to the islands making spotting difficult. Only a few Common dolphins came alongside for a while but a few interesting birds livened things up. We were followed by a group of Kittiwakes and Lesser black-backed gulls that attracted the odd Great skua but at one stage a striking pale phase Pomarine skua followed us for several minutes. This was a lovely adult bird complete with its distinctively shaped tail.
On shore I connected with a Dusky warbler and a Red-breasted flycatcher but things were to get exciting as we set off on the homeward journey. In a 15 minute period we had school after school of Common dolphins coming to the ship to bow-ride. We were rewarded with perfect views and the animals were accompanied by many youngsters, swimming in unison with their mothers.
Other trips recently have spotted Harbour porpoises and Minke whales whilst birds have included Grey phalaropes, Common scoters, Mediterranean gulls and a Red-throated diver. Hawfinch, Yellow-browed warbler, Hen harrier, Snow bunting and Black-eared wheatear occurred around St. Mary’s.
As the sailings have now ended I would like to thank all at the Trust and Steamship Company but particularly the Officers and Crew of Scillonian III for help, support and humour during my work and making such an enjoyable and successful season.
6th October 2010
This is an exciting time of year for the naturalist with a lot of movement in the natural world. The last few trips have provided a lot of sightings with many scattered groups of Common dolphins, often bow-riding the Scillonian and giving the passengers exciting views. Harbour porpoises are still being seen in small numbers with the occasional Minke whale. On a couple of trips we were surfed alongside by the local group of Bottlenose dolphins, you could look right down on them as they were riding our wake. Just the odd Basking shark and Sunfish still, though their seasons are about over now.
A lot of birders are arriving in Scilly now for the migration and my recent highlights have been Lesser grey shrike, Spotted sandpiper and American Golden plover. At sea there has been a few Arctic skuas and Grey phalaropes. There was a lovely male Surf scoter off Penzance harbour, another American species, but the rarest bird was a stunning Green heron at Heligan. I decided to go and see this bird as the last one in Cornwall was in 1889 so there may be a while before the next.
Insects have been rather poor this year but I found a Western conifer seed bug at home which has only been seen in this country since 2007. It is an American insect that has entered this country via Europe; hopefully it will not become a problem species.
5th September 2010
After last week when I missed out on the crossing due to rough weather it was great to get across twice this week. The winds have been easterly so not too good for seabirds but both Arctic and Great skuas were seen. The latter, chasing Gannets to make them disgorge their meal. The swell wasn’t too much and several Harbour porpoises swam past the ship occasionally speeding up as they chased fish. After a lack of Ocean sunfish sightings recently, some close views were obtained along our course. One was spotted surrounded by Great black-backed gulls who were probably relieving the fish of parasites. Though I can imagine the fish ending up with a few wounds from this encounter! Yet again a Minke whale appeared briefly in the deeper offshore waters. They definitely haven’t been too obliging this year. Some passengers saw another which I sadly missed.
With these winds a lot of migrant birds are now passing through. Willow warblers, Wheatears and Spotted flycatchers are appearing in good numbers but my highlight was finding a rare Short-toed lark on the mainland. Unfortunately as soon as I saw it, I looked down to set my camera but when I looked up again it had gone! Luckily someone else saw it later in the day. There have also been several Wrynecks about. With their plumage resembling tree bark, they are certainly one of my favourite birds.
On St. Mary’s the Autumn lady’s-tresses are now flowering and I managed to get some good photos of some plants on Harry’s Wall. They are Britain’s latest flowering orchid.
This time of year as the autumn nights begin to pull in, we get marvelous sunsets looking back from the Scillonian to the west.
18th August 2010
A bit choppier today with a metre swell and the occasional squall. The dark sea made spotting difficult but I was lucky to point my binoculars at the right bit of water to see a Minke whale roll and disappear. The high arc of the back indicated that it was going down for a prolonged dive and sadly was not seen again. Later a group of Harbour porpoises were seen chasing fish.
At one stage of the voyage the sea was bubbling with a large shoal of fish. Hopefully the exciting sightings will continue. I’m particularly happy with 4 Minkes in 4 weeks!
On the islands this week Ren Hathway showed me some Lesser earwigs found in his garden compost. They haven’t been recorded on Scilly for around a hundred years so an exciting discovery. I hope to photograph them soon but as they are tiny and very active, I don’t think it will be easy. In the overcast conditions at the moment it is a good time to photograph insects as they are a bit more sluggish than normal.
11th August 2010
A lovely day once again with a cloudy sky, making the conditions excellent for spotting. Several small groups of Harbour porpoises were seen throughout the voyage including an actively feeding group with Gannets diving from above. Only a couple of Common dolphins were seen today and yet again a Minke whale appeared just a couple of times before disappearing and leaving the sea as flat as if it never was there. 
As part of National Whale and Dolphin Week I led a land-based watch at Peninnis, while on the islands. We had a good turnout of around 30 people and after some distant views of Harbour porpoises we were rewarded with several close animals. You could even spot them with the naked eye from the headland! I also managed to gets some shots today of a Speckled wood butterfly. On Scilly they are much brighter than on the mainland. Here they appear to resemble more the variety found in continental Europe. The seabirds included more Balearic and Sooty shearwaters as well as a passing flock of Common scoters. Waders are still passing through with several Green sandpipers on many of the pools. Last night I managed some nice shots of a Badger that visited my garden, in Penzance, they have been regular for the last couple of weeks and ignore the flash from the camera.
6th August 2010
Today was rather misty with a fresh onshore wind bringing a good selection of seabir
ds close to shore. Apart from the regular species, we were rewarded with excellent views of Sooty and Balearic shearwaters as well as Great skuas. More Storm petrels than usual were seen moving offshore, their small size making them disappear in even the smallest wave trough. After a lack of Basking sharks recently, today there were some terrific views for the passengers as a couple moved close along beside the ship.
A small feeding group of Common dolphins were spotted under a flock of Gannets but again they preferred to feed rather than play with the Scillonian.
A visit to Porthellick Pool had a nice selection of waders as they begin their migration south. Several Greenshanks, Green and Common sandpipers were feeding at the water’s edge.
4th August 2010
A bit choppy again with a few more birds about including a Balearic shearwater amongst the numerous Manx. A couple of Sandwich terns were near the shore while offshore several Storm petrels were flitting between the waves. Even in the choppy seas Harbour porpoises could just about be spotted, though the seabirds nearby did give me a little help. As we approached Penzance harbour a moth flew around the ship. It was a Four-spotted footman, a species that used to be a rare migrant to this country but now appears to be established here in small numbers.
28th July 2010
A wonderful day today with some good sightings and an escort from the fisheries patrol vessel, the Saint Piran. It followed in our wake for about 10 miles giving the passengers a great photo opportunity until it accelerated leaving us behind. A small group of Risso’s dolphins moved parallel to us and as I scanned to pick them up again, a solitary dolphin jumped high out of the sea. It was very chunkily built and I was able to identify it as a White-beaked dolphin, a very rare species in south-western waters. A small group of Harbour porpoises were seen later but the second highlight of the day were some Minke whales; even though the sea was calm and the whale must have been over 20 foot long, it was rather difficult for the passengers to spot. It appeared to hardly break the surface as it moved north; a later whale was at least a bit easier to see with a higher arch of the back as it dived along its way.
14th July 2010
I think I spoke too soon about the settled summer as today the sea turned quite rough with a two metre swell and a lot of white water. A school of Common dolphins came to bow ride the ship appearing quickly ahead of us to soon disappear underneath us. In slightly calmer waters around the islands there were a couple of Basking sharks. One of which had a distinctively marked dorsal fin; so obvious that I should be able to recognise that individual if I ever encounter it again. Many of the sharks that appear in Cornish waters have unique nicks and marks on their fins that aid identification.
7th July 2010
Another calm crossing. We have been very lucky with the weather so far this season so fingers crossed that it will continue. Today a Basking shark was spotted well offshore and a large Ocean sunfish was close to the islands. On the return I could see a large number of seabirds feeding so I really concentrated on the area around them. As we drew nearer a school of Common dolphins appeared; although they were more interested in fish, they did breach several times as we passed.
2nd July 2010
A couple of nice trips again though there was a slight swell but otherwise very pleasant. The highlights were a couple of good-sized schools of Common dolphins. They were intent on feeding so didn't bother coming over to see us. This was indicated by hundreds of Gannets diving so there must have been a lot of fish, probably pilchards there.
The Basking sharks this week were all large individuals that were feeding well offshore. I was very lucky to have my binoculars trained on one shark when it performed a most spectacular breach.
As we were leaving Scillies a lone Bottlenose dolphin approached the ship. Later I heard that it was playing around the islands' boats, seeking human company. A trait often seen in single animals. Hopefully it won't get into danger and will eventually join up with a social group of its own species.
23rd June 2010
A lo
vely day yet again with clear blue skies and a virtually flat sea. I can’t believe how settled it is so far this season. The conditions made spotting easier with Basking sharks, Ocean sunfish and Harbour porpoises very much in evidence. These species are being seen on every trip at the moment with the occasional sighting of small schools of Common and Bottlenose dolphins. One of the Sunfish today must have been nearly 5 foot across, a good size for our waters.
A look in the clear harbour waters revealed Common blue jellyfish. 
There’s a lot about at the moment so hopefully we may get to spot a Leatherback turtle; one has so far been seen just west of Scilly. The usual seabirds have included Puffins, Common terns, Storm petrels and Arctic skua.
Recently the ship has had a couple of hitch-hikers, a Hummingbird hawkmoth and a Scilly shrew. The shrew was safely returned home via Skybus and became a bit of a celebrity with some good press coverage and even a mention on Chris Evans’ Breakfast Show!
26th May 2010
Another calm crossing again with good, close views of several seabird species. As well as the Gannets and Manx shearwaters there were good numbers of Storm petrels, particularly at one point when lots of birds were following one of the Newlyn crabbing boats. An Arctic skua was spotted attacking Kittiwakes, trying to make them disgorge their last meal - a wonderful aerobatic display.
Not far off Land’s End a fin flapped at the surface revealing my first Ocean sunfish of the year. Probably no more than 2 feet (60cm) across, this was a small specimen. In the tropics they can grow to 4 metres across but sadly we don’t see them that big here. We seem to see a lot more of them these days so they may possibly be an indicator of global warming.
Basking sharks are beginning to move inshore now and Cornwall Wildlife T
rust’s Basking Shark Project starts on the 1st June. More on that exciting project later.
W
ith the southerly winds, migrant insects are now arriving on our shores. Red admirals and Painted ladies are among the many species that fly here from southern Europe. Today a Silver-Y moth was seen flying round the ship several miles offshore. 30 minutes later I saw it again so maybe it was hitching a ride. Before I left home this morning a quick check of my moth trap revealed a fresh Lime Hawk, a species that I’ve only caught once before.
Recently a White-throated sparrow was seen near Boscastle in Cornwall. This was the county’s first record of this pretty American sparrow. Sadly I missed seeing this bird but today my luck was in. One turned up on St. Agnes just before we arrived and this time I was rewarded with wonderful views of a new species for me.
19th May 2010
After the early drizzle passed by, it was a pleasantly calm crossing today. However the forecast of low cloud didn't mention it would be at sea level! Visibility was down to a couple of hundred metres at times making spotting difficult.
Even the birds decided, like the planes and helicopters, to remain grounded. Good numbers of Gannets and Manx shearwaters were present around the mainland but today sadly no cetaceans were spotted. Yesterday a Minke whale was seen offshore.
While on the Isles I did a productive bit of rockpooling. It's amazing that there something virtually under every rock and I managed to get some good shots of a Squat lobster as well as Rock goby and Gem anemone.
15th May 2010
Things have definitely been improving recently as th
e sea warms and the waters are calming down. The locally breeding seabirds are all being seen on every trip with some particularly large feeding flocks of several hundred Manx shearwaters and Gannets indicating good shoals of whitebait present. Just the odd Storm petrel have been spotted so far though being only six inches long, they’re not that easy to pick up at any distance. At the moment there has been the occasional Great northern diver migrating north to breed.
Basking sharks have arrived at last but unusually this year they have been around the islands instead of off the Cornish coast in their hotspot off Porthcurno. They are very rare off Scilly but several have been watched close to shore. Some of the Wildlife Trust’s Seasearch divers were enthralled during a recent dive survey to look up and see one of these huge beasts pass by. The Scillonian even had to wait before it could embark from St. Mary’s harbour for a shark to move out of the way! Harbour porpoises have regularly been spotted on the crossing but the cetacean highlight was a good sized school of Common dolphins that came towards the ship, leaping at speed to play at our bow and in the wake. It was wonderful to see all the smiles on the passengers’ faces. I still get a thrill every time we get such a wonderful spectacle.
Whilst on the islands I was fortunate to be treated to an excellent Island Sea Safari with Mark and Susie Groves. We went out to the Western Rocks where we were rewarded with tremendous close views of Grey seals and Puffins.
