20 August 2018 - Pelagic of the Isles of Scilly

Took an evening pelagic out with Joe Pender on the Sapphire. Good to see some of the local boys out on the waves again. The different factor for pelagics off Scilly these days is the presence of Atlantic Blue-fin Tuna. These huge fish (up to 3m) drive fry to the surface - this initially attracts Gannets and then other seabirds join in. The resulting feeding frenzy is a spectacle not expected off the UK coastline.

Seeing the splashes of the Tuna and diving Gannets ahead...

Lots of activity...

Atlantic Blue-fin Tuna

Thousands of fry driven up to the surface...

Storm Petrel

Great Shearwater

Adult Sabine's Gull

Adult Sabine's Gull

Great Skua

Gannet

Sooty Shearwater

Sooty Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Great Shearwater

Great Shearwater

Wilson's Petrel (upper carpal bar and wing moult)

Wilson's Petrel (toe projection)

Wilson's Petrel (band)

Lots of seabirds!

Spur Dog (a small shark of the dogfish family)

And when the frenzy ends - just a pile of Gannets are left...