Scillies - Day 6 - Short-toed Lark & the sneaky Russian

The elusive pair of Geese

Russian White-fronted Goose

The only photo I've seen of the Short-toed Lark (Jeff Delve)

Scilly lunchtime snack

Short-toed Lark twitch scene - Squire giving directions

Yellow Wagtail

Yellow Wagtail

Whinchat

Stonechat

White Wagtail

Another big walking day that resulted in a lifer for the Squire. A Short-toed Lark was duly added to his life list when we made a hasty second walk to the north part of the island. 

A wagtail gave a strange call when passing the riding stables. The majority decided (based on hearing call and long range images) it was probably just a late Yellow Wagtail.

Other sightings included a Greylag (Scilly rarity), Russian White-fronted Goose, Glossy Ibis and a Whinchat (that no one else saw during week).

Snow Goose lands at Arrow Valley

 Greylag flock

 Snow Goose

Snow Goose

Managed at quick lap of the Lake on Monday afternoon as I'd taken the day off as my eldest needed taking to the dentist in the morning. Whilst looking through the assembled gulls including a Lesser Black Backed Gull I was approached by female birder intrigued by what I was looking at through my scope. She told me on Sunday a large flock of geese had been on the take basking in the sunshine, we established there were Greylag after showing her a photo on my phone.

After walking down the west side the flock of 180 Greylag were in the south corner with 5 Canadian Geese. With the flock was a Snow Goose. Whilst in all probability an escapee it will be impossible to know. After speaking to Brian Stetch of Worcestershire Birding he advised there is a large feral population of Snow Geese in Oxfordshire where most of these lone birds probably originate from. There was one reported at the local Morton Bagot this year.

A nice bird to see though, regardless of origin.