Under very balmy conditions Scillonian III departed Penzance on Friday 13th accompanied by a large number of orange coloured Barrel Jellyfish. Sea conditions were ideal with a NW force 3 breeze keeping the temperature at an ideal level. Visibility was excellent with the distant horizon knife sharp.   

Manx Shearwaters were much in evidence and noticeably almost all were heading in a westerly direction. Both Razorbill and Guillemot were seen with the latter being more numerous. In addition to the ever present Gannets and gull species, a solitary Swallow and five Whimbrel were noted in the Wolf Rock area. On leaving St Mary's a Great Northern Diver was seen feeding. With regard to cetaceans, three Harbour Porpoises were seen off the Cornish coast and 4 or 5 Risso's dolphins were noted off St Agnes when approaching St Mary's.

The RSPB leaflet, Seabirds of the Isle of Scilly, were well received by the passengers (over 200 travelling in each direction) with the map of the islands and details of the St Agnes rat eradication project prompting interest and comments.
 
Interpreter Dave Curtis