After missing out on my annual day trip to the Isles of Scilly last year due to COVID restrictions, weather, work and life I was really looking forward to going this year and with all the planets aligned perfectly for September 16th I booked a last minute train and ferry ticket and headed off for the day.
It was an early start with an 04:45hrs alarm call to catch the 05:40hrs train from Plymouth and I arrived in Penzance with no delays at 07:40hrs. After a bacon butty, a coffee and a poo I was all set as we sailed out of the harbour at 09:15hrs on the Scillonian III in clear skies and with a flat calm and oily looking sea. As we headed out into the English Channel the swell took hold but the sea state remained relatively flat and calm and the light was perfect for sea watching.
Shearwaters were seen flying around and rafting on the sea but most were fairly distant and the few that came close to the ferry were all Manx. A group of 4 Balearic Shearwater did fly right past the ferry though, showing very well and with a noticeably more languid flight style as they headed west.
The usual Gannets were seen in various plumage states along with a few Kittiwakes (adult and juveniles), a Fulmar, an adult winter plumaged Mediterranean Gull, 2 Sandwich Terns, Commic Terns, Guillemots, Great Black-backed Gulls and Herring Gulls. Even better were sightings of 2 Storm Petrels flying low over the sea and 2 Great Skuas, 1 flying across the front of the ferry and one resting on the sea. 6 Grey Seals were also seen, 2 off Penzance, 2 off the Scillies and 2 as we headed into Hugh Town.
Pods of Common Dolphins were very noticeable in the ideal conditions but most were distant and not overly showy although a few did come to the front of the ferry to briefly bow ride. A Rissos Dolphin was the highlight though, distant but with a very large dorsal fin looking like a massive shark fin and with a very distinctive rolling action as it logged at the surface.
Arriving in St.Marys and the clouds unfortunately rolled in but it remained dry and warm and with a Western Bonelli's Warbler being seen on The Garrison I decided to concentrate my efforts here. I had a sense of de ja vu about this decision though as I failed to see the Warbler, just as happened on my trip in 2014 when I spent a fruitless time on The Garrison looking for a Greenish Warbler but I had an enjoyable time anyway.
The sun did eventually reappear and on my wandering around The Garrison I managed to find at least 2 Pied Flycatchers, surprisingly my first of the year, along with at least 2 Spotted Flycatchers.
A Whitethroat, a Chiffchaff, a pair of Blackcap, a Wheatear, a Whinchat and Swallows were seen along with Stonechat, Collared Dove, Song Thrush, House Sparrow, Blackbird and Starling while Robins were heard singing their mournful autumn tunes.
Butterflies were flitting about with Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Small Tortoiseshell, Holly Blue, Large White, Small White and the Scilly form of Speckled Wood all seen.
All too soon it was time to head back to Hugh Town to catch the ferry back to Penzance and while waiting to set sail a look around the harbour revealed 6 Turnstone, a Bar-tailed Godwit, Curlews, Oystercatchers and Sandwich Terns.
The sea was still relatively calm on the sailing back to Penzance with little swell but a rippley surface although the light was not so good for sea watching as it was in the morning.
Common Dolphins were again seen but in smaller numbers and mostly distant. Gannets were again very noticeable and Manx Shearwaters were much more showy. No Kittiwakes or Sandwich Terns were seen but Fulmars were more numerous and Commic Terns were again noted along with Guillemots.
The highlight was a Sooty Shearwater, first seen resting on the sea amongst a small raft of Manx Shearwater and close to the ferry before they all took flight as we approached them. It showed very well, larger and longer winged than the Manxies and with a lovely silvery white flashing on its underwings contrasting with its overall dark brown plumage.
We arrived back in Penzance as the sun was beginning to set and with St.Michaels Mount looking stunning in the fading light. The train ride back to Plymouth was uneventful and on time and I arrived home at 22:30 hrs, absolutely knackered but having had a wonderful day out, probably the best Scilly day trip I've ever had so far.
