An early start as I'd very kindly been invited to join the SOETAG Eider survey of Sullom Voe with the prospect of then heading a few miles offshore if the weather held. I arrived at Toft at 7.30am where it was my first time aboard Shetland Seabird Tours super-comfortable Ayda Ruby II - allowing for 360° wildlife viewing and easy handling in the experienced hands of skipper Phil Harris - it's easy to see why everyone raves about their daily Noss wildlife cruises and photographic charter trips! A slick operation commenced with Will and Mick soon counting the rafts of Eider that are increasing in number around the Oil Terminal. With calm seas, as Glen and Gina prepared the chum, we then headed a few miles offshore to the edge of an accessible deep-water canyon pioneered by Phil, Will, Glen and others last year when they were rewarded by seeing and photographing a couple of Wilson's Petrels. En-route the first Stormies appeared and the Ayda Ruby II was brought to a halt near a passing trawler with Phil & Will shouting Pom as a superb adult pale morph Pomarine Skua flew west across the bow - a brilliant start! On arriving at the edge of the canyon Glen deployed the chum much to the appreciation of the Fulmars that included a couple of blue morph birds. The Fulmar's cackle provided the soundtrack for the day although Kristofer was angling an underwater hydrophone that might yet reveal some surprises... Time passed very quickly but for the next few hours there was hardly a moment without a Stormie on view and sometimes up to c.25 at a time to keep us on our toes. Will called a Leach's Petrel and we all admired with what Will aptly described as its Nighthawk-like flight as it manoeuvred back and forth over the chum slick - the first I've seen actively foraging over open seas. We were treated to a great final half an hour or so as numbers of birds around the boat grew, birds were being called approaching from all directions and several Manx Shearwaters, Sooty Shearwaters and Arctic Skuas made close passes. All too soon it was time to make the speedy return to Toft. Very many thanks to all involved for a brilliant memorable day!
