Glad you enjoyed it all especially your return to Devon.
Nice to know we have another Devonian here!
Andrew.
Just back from a bit of a hectic tour round various points south-west, beginning with an excellent trip through the Bay of Biscay with The Company of Whales aboard the P&O ferry The Pride of Bilbao.
Seabirds sightings in the Bay seem to vary a lot from year to year but this year they 've been excellent and we saw good numbers of Great and Cory's Shearwaters at close range plus a few Sooty Shearwaters - all new birds for me.
In comparison with the seabirds, almost every Biscay cruise from July to mid September seems to turn up a lot of great cetaceans. As with my one previous trip, the most common species put on the best show: Common Dolphins flying through the air as they came to play around the ship's bow, and magnificent Fin Whales blowing on the horizon and occasionally surfacing close to the ship. There was also a good scattering of other species. Both times I've made this trip there has been something special - this time it was what was almost certainly a Sei Whale .
The trip included half a day in Spain where the highlight for me was another new bird - a Booted Eagle flying low over the port.
I can't recommend this trip too much. There are some definite advantages to going with The Company of Whales, though a lot of people have a great time going as a regular passenger as well.
After getting back to Portsmouth headed down to Devon to see family and friends. Enjoyed seeing "my" Dartford Warblers on a bit of moorland close to where I grew up and finally got to see an orchid I'd wanted to catch up with for several years: good numbers of subtly beautiful Autumn Lady's-tresses were in flower at Dawlish Warren.
Met up with a friend in Penzance for a day trip to the Scillies on the Scillonian. Although we dreamed of Orcas, Sunfish etc the crossing was disappointing for birds, mammals and fish. On St Mary's our attention was taken by prehistoric sites and a bit of lounging around on beaches - as a result of which my Scilly bird list, after two visits, is still almost non-existent!
Back on dry land for a while now, but hoping to see another new seabird or two before the year is out.
James
Hello James, I would second your recommendation on the Company of Whales trips,having been on my 1st over the bank holiday, there were also 4 or 5 others who had been on several trips ( one couple was on their 5th trip ). In fact, the trip,which I 1/2 filled with members of my local RSPB group was full in Feb, showing how popular these trips are ( only wish I had the idea).
David
James,
Glad you enjoyed it all especially your return to Devon.
Nice to know we have another Devonian here!
Andrew.