Scilly Isles 2010
Yes, that's 2010! Nottinghamshire Birdwatchers hereby announce (somewhat early), that we will be visiting The Isles of Scilly in the summer of 2010 in search of seabirds.
When: Saturday July 24th to Saturday July 31st 2010
Why announce it now? Because accommodation, boats and transport all book up very early on The Isles of Scilly at that time of year. Also, this is bound to be a popular trip and places are limited - there are 10 places left at the time of writing.
Details: Sail across to Scilly on The Scillonian ferry from Penzance on Saturday morning, July 24th, birding as we go. We then base ourselves at an out-of-town, friendly guesthouse for one week. Three full day boat trips out of St. Mary's are included in the price (9.30am 5.30pm -ish: we are chartering The Sapphire so they will leave when we get there and return when we want to. The pelagics will be on Monday, Wednesday and Friday). It gets better! If you don't trust your landlubber leader to ID seabirds correctly (i.e. me), we will be accompanied by Bob Flood, veteran of over 300 Scilly pelagics and sickeningly knowledgeable seabird expert (he co-rediscovered the long thought extinct New Zealand Petrel - though not in Scillonian waters I hasten to add - and identified Britain's first Madeiran Petrel!)
For the rest of the time, we will trawl the islands for resident birds and maybe a few early migrants. You may also wish to visit the famous Tresco Abbey gardens (not included in the price). Alternatively, you may wish to do nothing more than sample the quiet beauty of the islands or sample the fare from the islands brewery!
What's included?
- Accommodation for seven nights on a dinner, bed and breakfast basis
- Ferry from Penzance to St. Mary's (helicopter or plane can be arranged but will cost extra and it is up to you to book it)
- Three full-day pelagics aboard The Sapphire with ID guidance from local expert(s)
What's not included?
- Transport to Penzance and back to your home + parking fees
- Lunches (if you feel up to it!)
- Seasick pills!
- Drinks
- Taxis/buses
- Grockle shopping
- Local flower posies!
What might we see? The trip has been carefully arranged to coincide with the peak period for sightings of Wilson's Petrels, our target bird. European Storm-petrels are virtually guaranteed. Many other seabird species are possible including, Cory's, Balearic, Great and Manx Shearwaters, skuas, Sabine's Gull and the usual auks, terns, gulls, etc. Recent trips by salty sea-dogs have encountered Fea's & Madeiran Petrels and Red-billed Tropicbird amongst the feeding flocks, so who knows what else lurks out there?
Who can come? Anyone! Of course, you must have some sea-legs to endure the boat trips!
There are 4 double rooms, two twins and eight singles available: first come, first served basis.
All rooms are en suite. We stay out of town (approximately 1 mile) so it should be quiet. A bus regularly runs past the guesthouse or you can get a taxi. Or you can even have a pleasant evening stroll/stagger back from the pub to your lodgings.
Put your name down now! We expect all of the twenty places to fill very rapidly.
Price: £600 banking on 20 people travelling (there may have to be a small surcharge if fuel prices rocket skywards once more). We will need a deposit of 200 per person. This will only be refunded if we can find someone to fill your place should you drop out. This is necessary because I have priced the trip for 20 people: if there are less, the holiday price would be more per person. We need the deposit to reserve our place at the guesthouse: as you can imagine, July is a very popular time so the owner wanted a 50% deposit as a gesture of goodwill. I didn't think this request unreasonable being as she has given us a nice discount!
