My first West Coast Pelagic (https://www.westcoastbirdwatching.co.uk/guided-trips/pelagics/) of 2026 out to the Celtic Deep today turned out to be a belter.
On the way out a couple of us had brief views of a Fin Whale, always a highlight of any trip out there, just a shame it didn't show for everyone. All the local breeding seabirds were seen including Manx Shearwater, European Storm Petrel, Atlantic Puffin, Common Guillemot, Razorbill and Black-legged Kittiwake. Small groups of Common Dolphins popped up along the way but none stayed with the boat.
Once out to our chosen spot we cut the engines and drifted. Roughly an hour later we had views of a Wilson's Storm Petrel, our key target for the day. Over the next hour or so a total of nine birds were recorded, including 2 together on 2 occasions. Most birds were adults in various stages of moult, at least one was pristine. A new Welsh record (the previous highest day total was 4)!
Whilst out in the deep and up to the Smalls and Grassholm we recorded an amazing 13 Ocean Sunfish - never seen more than 1 on a trip before! Happy faces all around.
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