This is a photographic summary of the main seabird and cetacean sightings from our 2019 pelagic season to early September, illustrated by Joe Pender’s photos. For full details and decisions on rare seabirds see the ISBG Bird & Natural History Review 2019.
The highlight of the year was the three Fea’s Petrels seen within three weeks. We also saw a total of 39 Wilson’s Storm-petrels, a Leach’s Storm-petrel (rare off Scilly) and had sensational views of up to 400 European Storm-petrels; a fabulous blonde juvenile and a first-summer Long-tailed Skua; a striking adult Sabine’s Gull; and sightings of Minke Whale, Atlantic Bluefin Tuna and Porbeagle Shark. A late pelagic in October also delivered a mega Scilly rarity - a Red-necked Phalarope.
Large shearwater passage – Cory’s and Great – in the northeast Atlantic was thin this year and the numbers of Blue Shark were very low.
