8th August 2013
Up to 20nm off South Devon
Again out on a fishing boat off South Devon. Absolute highlight was a Minke Whale 16nm ESE of Start Pt, although initially close, only surfaced in sight once more and not when camera was at hand! Also two Ocean Sunfish seen.
While fishing seabirds were again relatively poor for the time of year! 3 juv Yellow-legged Gulls, 20+ Common Terns, 2 Bonxies, just one European Storm-petrel, though numerous Fulmars and commoner gulls. Of note were 3 Shags crossing the channel (not usually this far out) and one Redshank heard (high up). Manx Shearwaters were thinly distributed to 30nm out (though 50+ in the Minke area), but the main concentration was about 1.5nm off Dartmouth, which included several Balearic Shearwaters (boat was going too fast to count) when heading home.
A few of pics of the Bonxies, one a worn adult in heavy moult the other a fresher looking bird probably a second-calendar year (some slight moult).
