First Storm Petrel this year

[Geoff F]

Saw my first Storm Petrel of the year today, Prawle Point, S. Devon. When working at sea I tend to regard the first Storm Petrel as a sign of summer, much like the first Swallow ashore. For the next 3 or 4 months they will be following me around 'walking on the water' and picking up the little bits of food which are too small for the gulls to bother with.

Every year I record the date of my first sighting. So for anybody who likes statistics here are the last 5 years. 2007 May 26th; 2006 May 12th; 2005 May 30th; 2004 May 17th; 2003 May 25th.

Considering that there may be a bit fluctuation due to me not being in the right place at the right time I think these figures show an amazing regularity.

[rlchew]

I think Stormies are amazing birds .... so small but living most of their lives in a hostile marine environment.

I am off to Shetland in a couple of weeks or so and my itinerary includes another visit to the island of Mousa where you can see these birds arriving at their colony under the cover of darkness to avoid gull and skua predation. They nest in the walls of the ancient Mousa broch and in the boulder scree on the beach and their gurgling calls are quite haunting and un-bird like.

The only other Storm Petrels that I have seen are very distant views from some of the ferries off the west coast of Scotland.

Richard

[oxycera]

My bogie bird - life list of over 420 and never seen one.

[ChrisJB]

Originally Posted by oxycera

My bogie bird - life list of over 420 and never seen one.

Mine too. I fact, storm and leach's petrel, plus corncrake, might be the only British breeders I haven't seen.

Regards, Chris

[oxycera]

Only seen Corncrake once - and that was an oeoeoeoe-end job. Seen a couple of inland Leach's though.

[ChrisJB]

Regarding Leach's, the Lancs coast is said to be a hotspot on passage, but I always seem to miss out.
As for corncrakes, my late granddad used to tell me how, in the 1920's he used to listen to them in the fields surrounding the village where we both grew up (at different times, obviously!). I find this staggering and at the same time so very sad.

Regards, Chris

[rlchew]

Its a long way to go and not cheap to get there but if you really want to see Storm Petrels you will not fail here ....

The RSPB: Mousa

Mousa Storm Petrels

Mousa Boat Trips Website

I am really looking forward to my second Storm Petrel trip in early June.

Richard

[Geoff F]

OK, some good photos of Storm Petrels has been added to this year's must do list. They come within a few yards of the boat but move so fast and I can't always stop working long enough to grab the camera.

One time last year there were 3 of them hovering about 20 ft from me but by the time I was able to stop working and look for the camera it was too late. However, when things are going well I can leave my crew hand in charge for a few minutes, so now that I have some better equipment I must make time.

Anyway here is a rather poor photo from last year.

[Rob_D]

Was planning to come down to Prawle Point next week for the Cirl Buntings. What are my chances of getting a Stormy off the point?

[Rob_D]

For the Corncrakes the Uists are great. I must've had about 10 good sightings in a week this time last year - some just a few feet away. Plus dozens heard of course.

[Geoff F]

If you are on Prawle Point, Rob, you will probably see a smallish yellow fishing boat. That's me. The Storm Petrels do sometimes come within 1/2 mile when following fishing boats for food but they are mostly 1 mile or more offshore.

But Prawle Point, Start Point and Bolt Head are good vantage points for many species. At this time of the year, if you are lucky, you could see some passing Skuas (Great and Long tailed occasionally pass close to the headland). Sooty and Balearic Shearwaters should be arriving soon and the Manx are always flying past now. Plus a wide range of gulls, etc.

Also, there is a Porpoise who sometimes comes close inshore and dolphins (common & bottlenosed) can pass close. A couple of years ago I did see a White Sided Dolphin within 100 yards of the shore.

The only problem with these spots is that they do involve a rather long and uneven walk from the nearest parking places.

[Rob_D]

Spent an exciting few hours at Prawle Thursday afternoon/evening. Too misty for good seawatching - only a few passing Manx and one flock of 15 common scoter. The single fishing boat I saw in 3 hours didn't come remotely close enough to see any Stormies through the mist. Might have had a glimpse of something dark and small, but it could've been a fly! Today Birdguides has (Friday) 8 Stormies off Prawle Point and I went to Start Point and saw nothing

BUT at Prawle I did see a large pod of Common Dolphin at 6.30-7 PM - at least 50 I guess. They were about 2 km South of the Point and they came in close to about 500m before turning East. They were clearly chasing fish and sometimes 20 or so were lined up together. The Gannets were having a great time with it too. Definitely made my trip (despite dipping on a few other species!).

Will defintely have a few more trips to South Devon if I can afford the petrol!

[Geoff F]

Well, I did say it was a worthwhile spot, Rob. On Thursday, I didn't come closer than about 1 mile SW of Prawle but had about a dozen Stormies following me, although as you say it was too gloomy for a decent photo.

On Friday morning I came close with about 4 of them around me but once again it was dull in the morning.

I have heard reports of those dolphins but didn't see any myself that day. Also, there is a small pod of Bottlenosed Dolphins in the area. They tend to wander along the south coast mostly staying close inshore.

And when I got back home I took some interesting shots of crab spiders in the garden.

ps. During the winter it is possible to spot the occasional Velvet Scoter there.

[Rob_D]

What time were you SW of Prawle Geoff? I did see one fishing boat there with nets out round about 18.00. Didn't look yellow though!

[Geoff F]

When hauling pots close to Prawle we start in the morning and generally head for home just after lunchtime. About 1 to 2 miles SW you might have seen the Claire Louise, a Salcombe boat which does a bit of trawling there at this time of the year. About 40 ft white and black with aft wheelhouse. Anything else would be an on passage boat.

Most of the area here, out to 6 miles, is closed to trawling on conservation grounds but there is a little patch where under 50 ft boats are allowed to trawl for half the year.

Some of the smaller boats, around 20 ft, work pots for lobster very close to the shore. Looks like the weather will keep us in harbour until Tuesday.

ps. Once again, swallows are nesting in the roof space of our workshops on Salcombe Fish Quay.

[Geoff F]

Counted 30 Stormy Petrels flying around the boat at one time today, about 400 yards offshore. Some coming within 20 ft of me. Tried a few photos when the rain eased but it was still too gloomy to get sharp images at the speed they fly.

Also a Fulmar came right up to the boat 'asking' for some food. We don't see many of them but they come up close and sit there looking expectantly up at you. Like a cat or dog sitting by its feeding bowl and waiting to be fed. They are totally fearless and dive straight in between the bigger Herring Gulls. Giving them a peck if they don't move. Fulmars have one advantage in that they will eat the tiny bits of food that are too small for the gulls to bother with.