Isles of Scilly - Day 3 - St Agnes delights

Wryneck

Wryneck

Short-toed Lark

Clouded Yellow

Short-toed Lark

Short-toed Lark

Snow Bunting

Crew in action

Peregrine collection

Only place to finish a day of birding on St Agnes

Going to St Agnes, the most western island is always a special day. We have a painting of Bee-eaters flying around the lighthouse in our home kitchen so it's always great to do some birding there. Surprisingly, the island would be the choice of all of us for the day which was good.

A slow wander to Coastguards was the perfect start, stopping to enjoy the Chiffchaffs feeding in the sun by the Post Office. A couple of local birders stopped us at Coastguards and presented us with a boxed Peregrine Falcon which was under the weather and asked if we could take it back to the Wildlife Trust on St Marys later in the day.

Our first rarity of the day was a Short-toed Lark which we picked up in flight before seeing it land in a stubble field by the cafe. After some patience, the bird showed well for us as it fed on insects between the stubble. It was most definitely the best view I've ever had of the species.

Adam & Tim headed towards the downs whilst myself, Paul and Brad headed towards the Great Pool (only Great Black-backs) before edging slowly around the bay. The first sighting was a Clouded Yellow that I spotted and took a very quick photo before it took flight. This was quickly followed by a Wryneck that very much had it's own agenda and flew further around the bay. 

We were in a lovely spot so we dropped anchor to enjoy our sandwiches as if by magic the Snow Bunting, plainly marked flew on the rocks in front of us. 

There really wasn't a lot more to see despite our best efforts so we retreated to the Turks Head for a couple of pints and collect the Peregrine. The Peregrine however had got out of the box and needed some tender handling to get him back in safely.  The Peregrine was duly delivered. Fingers crossed he makes a full recovery.

WRYNECK ! - Salford Priors GP (September)

Wryneck (F Peplow)

Wryneck

Wryneck

Peppers double at scene of the Wryneck

Whinchat

Common Buzzard

Weasal

Whinchat

Whinchat

Hobby

Common Redstart

Wigeon

Starling

An excellent September for us at Salford Priors. The clear highlight was Wryneck, which became our 208th species at the site. The Wryneck was found by Francis, who had a tremendous year of finding birds locally. Four of us managed to connect with the bird.

Francis was then on the main pit when a Whooper Swan flew in on 30th September. That was our 126th species of the year, now just six behind last year's total.

3/9 - West Midland All dayer 67 species

8/9 - Wryneck

9/9 - 4 Whinchat, 1 female Redstart

11/9 WeBS Count 28 Little Grebe, 24 Cormorant, 3 Grey Heron, 21 Mute Swan, 2 Greylag, 8 Canada Geese, 4 Wigeon, 14 Gadwall, 10 Teal, 270 Mallard, 1 Shoveler, 25 Tufted Duck, 50 Coot, 10 Lapwing, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 2 Herring Gull with 20 Lesser Black-back, Kingfisher, 50 Swallow, trickle of mipits, Grey Wagtail, 1 Whinchat on hedge at back of main pit, Cettis Warbler, 2 Reed Warbler,  4 Lesser Whitethroat, 10 Blackcap, 45 Chiffchaff, Jay, 2 Ravens and 45 Goldfinches at Marsh Farm.

13/9 - 4 Stonechat

18/9 - 22 Little grebe, 10 Cormorant, 2 Grey Heron, 21 Mute Swan, 62 Greylag, 30 Canada geese, 7 Wigeon, 14 Gadwall, 1 Pochard, 6 Teal, 250+ Mallard, 2 Shoveler, 23 Tufted Duck, 55 Coot, 4 Swallow, 80 House Martin, 13 Meadow Pipit, Cettis warbler, 4 Lesser Whitethroat, 8 Blackcap, 12 Chiffchaff, 1 Jay, 3 Raven, 2 Buzzard, Kestrel & Red Kite.

19/9 Golden Plover over

23/9 31 Mute Swan, 15 Wigeon, 12 Gadwall, 2 Cetti's Warbler, 2 Water Rail, 40 Meadow Pipit, 6 Swallow, 4 House Martin, 6 Sand Martin, Little Egret.

24/9 Little Egret, 2 Stonechat, 4 Swallow, 10 Wigeon

28/9 Clouded Yellow butterfly, 4 Stonechat

29/9 Whooper Swan, 80 Meadow Pipt, Common Sandpiper, 2 Stonechat, Ringed Plover, 2 Water Rail, 15 Wigeon

30/0 Whooper Swan, Common Sandpiper, Whinchat

Clouded Yellow at Salford Priors GP become my 56th UK butterfly

In all honesty, I thought I wouldn't be extending my photography butterfly life list quest anymore this year. Yet low and behold I discovered a Clouded Yellow at Salford Priors midweek. I walk a number of ways around the Old Workings but on this day I took my least used route and this beauty popped out. Thankfully it was fairly cool so the butterfly only flew a short distance before landing where I was able to get some nice record shots thus becoming my 56th UK butterfly.

Clouded Yellows are a migrant butterfly whose numbers vary very much year on year. They have a remarkable breeding cycle whereby they lay eggs in June and may produce an adult by July.

The butterfly was seen by two other observers but no other images were taken.