SCILLY PELAGICS-AUGUST 15TH-22ND 2025

After last year’s unsuccessful pelagics in pursuit of South Polar Skua, it was time to return to the Isles of Scilly. Dan Pointon and I booked eight trips, determined to maximise our chances despite a challenging forecast of strong easterly winds. As ever, it felt far better to be searching at sea than sitting at home. 

Thursday 14th August

We began with some local birding in Cornwall, finding a Wood Sandpiper at Marazion and a Firecrest at Helston Boating Lake—a promising start.

15th August 2025

The following morning, we boarded the 09:30 sailing on the Scillonian. The crossing was relatively quiet, though five Storm Petrels were seen en route. Once on St Mary’s, we collected our bags and headed to the quay for our first pelagic. 

St Mary's Harbour

Evening Pelagic news 

Ten miles Southwest of St. Mary's, wind 18 knots from the Northeast.

Seabird sightings:

Wilson’s Storm Petrel 8

European Storm Petrel 50

Cory’s Shearwater 2

Sooty Shearwater 1

Cetacean sightings:

Short-beaked Common Dolphins 20

A lovely evening to be out birding

Saturday 16th August 

An early start this morning, and challenging conditions on the boat.

Pelagic news 

Ten miles west of St. Mary’s, wind 28 knots, East-southeast.

Seabird Sightings: 

Wilson’s Storm Petrel 9

European Storm Petrel 80 

Cory’s Shearwater 4

Sooty Shearwater 1

Cetacean sightings:

Short-beaked Common Dolphins 20

While returning from the pelagic, news reached us of a Saker Falcon on St Mary’s. We enjoyed excellent views of this striking raptor, though, disappointingly, it was a ringed individual.

Sunday 17th August

Despite testing conditions - with 30-knot Southeasterly winds and a 2.5m swell 

Pelagic News

11 miles North-west of St Mary’s

Seabird sightings:

Wilson’s Storm Petrel – 12

European Storm Petrel c.150

Great Skua (Bonxie) – 1

Cetacean sightings:

SB Common Dolphins – 10

Returning from the pelagic trip, we had great views of a Western Bonelli's warbler on the Garrison.

(C) Spider

Monday 18th August

Evening Pelagic news 

9 miles Southwest of St Mary’s

Seabird sightings:

Wilson’s Storm Petrel – 2

European Storm Petrel – c80

Great Shearwater -1 

Yellow-legged Gull -1

Tuesday 19th August

This morning, Mick Scott, a local naturalist on Scilly, kindly invited us to his house at Longstones to view the moths he had trapped overnight. While we were chatting, a sudden movement drew our attention—a bird had dropped into the birdbath. With careful observation, we realised we were looking at an Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina). It was an astonishing and completely unexpected find, providing exceptional views of this scarce passage migrant.

This was the first record for the Isles of Scilly since 2022.

The morning became even more remarkable when Mick emerged from his house carrying a Convulvulus Hawk-moth (Agrius convolvuli) and four Striped Hawk-moths (Hyles livornica). Truly an unforgettable start to the day!

Convulvulus hawk-moth

Striped hawk-moth

Evening Pelagic news

9 miles Southwest of St Mary’s

North-easterly, 10 knots

Seabird sightings:

Wilson’s Storm Petrel – 2

European Storm Petrel – 30

Great Shearwater – 1

Cory’s Shearwater – 2

Sooty Shearwater – 2

Arctic Skua – 1

Yellow-legged Gull – 1

Black Tern – 1

Cetacean sightings:

Short-B  Common Dolphins – ~30

Atlantic Bluefin Tuna – 50

Ocean Sunfish -2

Blue Shark -1

Wednesday 20th August

With no pelagic scheduled this morning, we spent our time on St Mary’s. Late in the morning, we visited the Garrison in search of an elusive female Subalpine Warbler (Sylvia sp.), which eventually gave a brief but excellent view—an outstanding discovery credited to Chris Gooddie.

Subalpine Warbler sp

(C) C.Gooddie

Our evening was spent around Lower Moors, where we enjoyed excellent views of a Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) and a Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus).

Wood sandpiper

Thursday 21st August

Pelagic News 

Location: 7 miles SE of St Mary’s

Conditions: North wind, 7 knots

Seabird sightings:

Great Shearwater – 3

Cory’s Shearwater – 1

European Storm Petrel – 20

Cetacean sightings:

Ocean Sunfish -2

Blue Shark - 5

Friday 22nd August

Evening Pelagic news 

10 miles Southwest of St Mary’s 

Seabird sightings:

Wilson’s Petrel – 1

European Storm Petrels 10

Great Shearwaters – 8

Sooty Shearwater – 1

Manx Shearwaters – c.400 (following baitfish)

Sabine’s Gull – 1 

Arctic Terns – 3

Cetacean sightings:

Fin Whale – 1

Humpback Whale – 1 

Risso’s Dolphins – 8

Common Dolphins – c.100 

Ocean Sunfish – 1

Saturday 23rd August

Pelagic News  

17 Miles Southwest Of St Mary’s

Seabird sightings:

Wilson’s Storm-Petrel – 5

European Storm Petrel – 25

Great Shearwater – 60

Cory’s Shearwater – 4

Manx Shearwater – ~3,000 (noted feeding on baitfish)

Sooty Shearwater – 10

Balearic Shearwater – 2

Sabine’s Gull – 3

Great Skua (Bonxie) – 1

Arctic Tern – 12

Purple Sandpiper-3

Cetacean sightings:

Blue Shark – 1

Common Dolphin – ~300

Ocean Sunfish (Mola mola) – 2

Sunday 24th August

Pelagic Trip 

18.5 miles Southwest of St. Mary’s

Seabird sightings:

Wilson’s Storm Petrel – 1

European Storm Petrel – 15

Great Shearwater – 60

Cory’s Shearwater – 25

Sooty Shearwater – 14

Manx Shearwater – 500

Sabine’s Gull – 3

Arctic Skua – 1

Great Skua – 1

Black Tern – 1

Cetacean sightings:

Common Dolphin – 150

Unfortunately, this year again the South Polar Skua eluded us, with unfavourable wind directions and low seabird numbers conspiring against our quest. Nevertheless, it was an excellent trip, offering encounters with a range of quality seabirds and other wildlife. Many thanks to Joe Pender and Bob Flood, who organise these trips through Scilly Pelagics. For anyone who enjoys pelagic birding, I can wholeheartedly recommend experiencing one of their trips—they are truly fantastic.