Scopoli's Shearwater
Calonectris diomedea (Scopoli, 1769) (0, 49)
Photo © Paul French - Celtic Sea, 5km NE of St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly,
1 September 2025
STATUS
Mediterranean islands. Monotypic.
OVERVIEW
The 2020 individual with feather damage on the right wing allowed it to be tracked from Cleveland to Scotland then back to Norfolk where it was seen at two locations.
Its smaller size, delicate bill and extensive white on the underwing ‘hand’ separates it from Cory’s Shearwater.
BBRC RECORDS
1). 2004 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 9 km S of St Mary's, juvenile, 2nd August, photo.
(E. A. Fisher & R. L. Flood, Birding World 17 (8): 334-336, plates 1-4; Isles of Scilly Bird and Natural History Review 2004: 49, 144-145; British Birds 98: plates 379-381; BOURC (2006), Ibis 149: 195; Flood, Hudson & Thomas, 2007: plate 16; BOURC (2009), Ibis 151: 224; N. A. J. Hudson and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 102: 539; E. A. Fisher & R. L. Flood, British Birds 103: 712-717, plates 394-396; Eds., British Birds 105: 694).
2). 2019 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 10 km S of St Mary's, 1CY+, 11th July, photo.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 113: 610).
3.0). 2020 Cleveland/Yorkshire Cowbar, 1CY+, 9th July; same as Yorkshire 2020; also seen Co. Durham, Fife, Norfolk, Lothian 2020.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 573).
3.1). 2020 Yorkshire Filey, 1CY+, 9th July; same as Cleveland 2020; also seen Co. Durham, Fife, Norfolk, Lothian 2020.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 116: 573).
3.2). 2020 Co. Durham Whitburn, 1CY+, 21st July, photo; also seen Fife, Lothian, Norfolk.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 592).
3.3). 2020 Fife Kinghorn Harbour, St David's Harbour, Dalgety Bay and North Queensferry, 1CY+, 9th to 11th August photo; same as Co. Durham; also seen Lothian, Norfolk.
(J. S. Nadin, Scottish Birds 40: 370-375, plates 269-277; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 592; J. Nadin, British Birds 114: 759).
3.4). 2020 Lothian Hound Point and Longcraig Pier, 1CY+, 9th to 11th August, photo; same as Co. Durham; also seen Fife, Norfolk.
(J. S. Nadin, Scottish Birds 40: 370-375, plates 269-277; C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 592, plates 398 a-b; J. Nadin, British Birds 114: 759).
3.5). 2020 Norfolk Mundesley, 1CY+, 15th August; presumed same, Trimingham, 15th August; same as Co. Durham; also seen Fife Lothian.
(C. Holt, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 114: 592; M. D. Fiszer, Norfolk Bird & Mammal Report 2020: 40-41).
4). 2023 Cornwall Porthgwarra, 2CY+, 28th July, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697).
5). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 28th July, photo.
(British Birds 116: plate 318; L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plates 372 & 434).
6). 2023 Cornwall Porthgwarra, 2CY+, 30th July, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697).
7). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 30th July, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 375).
8). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 30th July, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 374).
9). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 30th July, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 373).
10). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 31st July, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 377).
11). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 31st July, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 376).
12). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 16 km NE of St Mary’s, 2CY+, 6th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 378).
13). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2 km SW of Bishop Rock, 2CY+, 7th August.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 379).
14). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 4 km SW of Bishop Rock, 2CY+, 7th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 380).
15). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 8th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697).
16). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 11th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 381).
17). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 16th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697).
18). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 17th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697).
19). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 19th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 382; P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
20). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, another, 2CY+, 19th August, photo.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
21). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 20th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 383).
22). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 20th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 383).
23). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 22nd August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697).
24). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 23rd August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697).
25). 2023 Devon At sea, 5 miles E of Scabbacombe Head, 2CY+, 26th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697).
26). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 26th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 384).
27). 2023 Cornwall Celtic Sea, off Scillonian III, 2CY+, 27th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 385).
28). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 27th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697).
29). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 27th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697).
30). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 27th August, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697).
31). 2023 Cornwall Celtic Sea, near Wolf Rock off Scilllonian III, 2CY+, 14th September, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 386).
32). 2023 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, N, 2CY+, 15th October, photo.
(L. Bacon, P. French and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 117: 697, plate 387).
33). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 10 km SE of St Mary's, 2CY+, two, 26th July, photo.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
35). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 26th July, photo.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
36). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 5 km SW of Bishop Rock, 27th July, photo.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
37). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 10 km SE of St Mary’s, 2CY+, 10th August, photo.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
38). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 25th August.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524, plate 310).
39). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 2nd September.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
40). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 23rd October.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
41). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 23rd October.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
42). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 23rd October.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
43). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 23rd October.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
44). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 23rd October.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
45). 2024 Isles of Scilly Celtic Sea, short-range pelagic, 2CY+, 29th October.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 118: 524).
46). 2025 Cornwall Gwennap Head, Porthgwarra, 2CY+, 14th July, photo.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 571).
47). 2025 Isles of Scilly At Sea, approx. 5 km NE of St Mary's, 2CY+, 1st September, photo.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 571).
48). 2025 Isles of Scilly At Sea, 3 km W of Bishop Rock, 2CY+, 26th September, photo.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 571).
49). 2025 Isles of Scilly At Sea, near Bishop Rock, 2CY+, 30th September.
(P. R. French, A. Holden and the Rarities Committee, British Birds 119: 571).
