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Sightings galore on the Scillonian III Pelagic Trip
15
Aug
2007
After much planning and preparation, Scillonian III set sail from Penzance Quay at 05:00 on Sunday 10 August for a special sailing, heading 40 miles South West of the Bishop Rock Lighthouse to Wilson�s Triangle for a day dedicated to bird watching at sea.
More than 200 passengers were booked on the Pelagic Trip with Scillonian III, which takes place once a year. Both amateur and professional birdwatchers from across the UK and Europe made the early start on Sunday morning to take part in the annual trip, which is the only organised trip dedicated to bird watching at sea, in Europe.
With great vantage points from the top deck of Scillonian III keen naturalists were in for a treat as they headed out to sea. Not far from Penzance the initial sightings were recorded. First to make an appearance were a number of Manx Shearwaters and a Cory�s Shearwater followed by a few Storm Petrels.
As Scillonian III sailed past Wolf Rock Lighthouse another Cory�s Shearwater was recorded, along with a sighting of the jewel in the crown for bird watchers, a Wilson�s Petrel.
Throughout the course of the day 17 different bird species were spotted and more than 3,000 bird sightings were recorded in total. Creatures from the deep were also in abundance during the trip with sunfish, dolphins and porpoises all making an appearance.
Vivian Stratton has been involved with the trip for many years and was delighted with the number of sightings recorded, he said: �The Pelagic Trip with Scillonian III has been a great success. We�ve sighted a wide range of species and in great numbers too, everyone got a chance to take in the wonder of nature as the birds flocked around the boat.�
In order to attract birds to the boat, a concoction of fish offal, which is the residue from the filleting process, provided by local fish suppliers, and �chum� is thrown overboard by eight �Chummers� who take up positions at the stern of the boat. The fish offal is used throughout the Pelagic Trip to attract a wide range of birds towards the boat.
As Scillonian III reached her pre-determined co-ordinates, about 40 miles South West of the Bishop Rock Lighthouse at Wilson�s Triangle, the �Chummers� off loaded two drums of chum.
�The �chumming� provided an extensive slick which brought in more than 400 Storm Petrels� said Vivien, �This is a huge number, they were like locusts off the stern of the ship, one of the most dense groups that I have ever observed in British waters�
�We also had 2 Great Shearwaters, eventually joined by a third bird, while Great Skuas bullied their way in between the Fulmars and Gannets, eventually joined by an Arctic Skua.
�We spent 2 hours here enjoying this sea-bird spectacle, with Storm Petrels, Gannets, Fulmars, Lesser Black-backed Gulls, Great Skuas, Arctic Skua and Great Shearwaters, all in a mass foray for food, thrown out by the chummers. A Grey Phalarope also flew by as well as a small flock of Sanderling on their migration to Africa.�
After more than 10 hours at sea the ship returned to Penzance at 19:00 having sighted in excess of 3,000 birds and proving to be a huge success with the bird watchers on board.
If you are interested in future Pelagic Trips sign up for the e-newsletter on www.ios-travel.co.uk for updates of special offers and details of the next trip when announced.
Ends
August 15, 2007
Notes to Editors:
Isles of Scilly Steamship Company Ltd was formed on 26 March 1920 and the first Scillonian Ship began regular trips to the Isles of Scilly on Thursday 2 February 1926. Since then the company has continually operated the shipping service which is a life line for the Isles of Scilly.
The Scillonian III was purpose built for the Isles of Scilly Steamship Company and entered service in May 1977. She is the third passenger ship to carry the Scillonian name and is currently in service for eight months of the year. The Scillonian can carry a maximum 600 passengers and approximately 25 crew members.
For Further information please contact:
Shelley Fletcher
Deborah Clark Associates
01208 77900
[email protected]
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