Close encounter with the Humpback Whale off Scilly!

2nd Janurary 2020

Although the Humpback Whale, nicked named ‘Pi’ by Martin Goodey, because it has the mathmatical symbol for Pi next to its dorsal fin, it was a bit lumpy out in The Roads where the whale was feeding. This was making it differcult to stay staedy on the boat to get the giant beast anywhere in the center of the image when it fluked

With up to 5 whales off the south end of Scilly yesterday, ideally it would be great to get out there with them and into the action and I ain’t goin to do it in my kayak. However, this afternoon, with the St Agnes gang, I joined them on John Peacock’s boat ‘The Spirt of Agnes’ We steamed out a mile or so, south of St Mary’s, where 2 Fin and a single Humpback Whale had been seen an hour ago by Richie. Some 50 Razorbill, 30 Guillimot with larger numbers of Kittiwake but after thirty minutes of scanning the open sea to the area where they were last seen, nothin! As we approached Morning Point, the Humpback Whale that Richie and I had fifty meters off shore from the Woolpack, Garrison, just before 10.00 this morning, had been spotted off the Stevel. John didn’t get too close to the mamal and we all had awesome views as it surfaced at close range on and off, showing off it’s white undertail as it fluked. A Yellow-legged Gull flew straight through distantly over the whale towards Samson with other gulls and the many Kittiwake feeding in The Sound. Another amazing experience with the HumpBack again but I’m still waiting for the flat still conditions, so I can get out there in my kayak and have a great ole time with this impressive beast. That is if it sticks around for the next month.

This image of the Humpback Whale, was taken from the Woolpack, Garrison, mid morning, when Richie and I had only 50 meters off shore.

Some 50 Razorbill and 30 Guillimot, many like this one were in summer plumage, were out at sea.

Most of the 200 Kittiwake were feeding in the area of the whale, in The Roads.

We passed south of Peninnis lighthouse

Looking NE towards the rocks of Morning Point with Porthcressa Beach behind and Trewince in the distance.

The Humpback Whale south off Samson with Castle Down, Tresco, in the distance

Just got onto this 3rd winter Yellow-legged Gull flying away over the whale towards Samson with the other large gulls that it was with.

Richie and I finished the day off at, where else, Porthloo, where there was only the adult Glaucous Gull and no Iceland Gulls. Although ‘Billy’ made his usual visit to the garden first thing this morning

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