Blackburnian Warbler
I really like this photograph
You Tube Video
Crowd getting bigger with Scillonian trippers
Captain Freestone on patrol
Ring Ouzel
Ring Ouzel
Pallid Swift showing well
Two rainbows over the Blackburnian Warbler
My week on the Isles of Scilly is always a break I look forward to. The main stays of Lower Stand crew were all back. Paul F, Adam H, Brad & myself were joined by Tim from Spurn. Sadly, our final member, Heather, couldn't make it due to an emergency. We all met up at Lands End Airport ready for the first flight out and we were all thankful you that the flying conditions looked good.
There was an extra edge to the morning as a Blackburnian Warbler had been discovered on Bryher on Thursday 13th October and somehow this rare American Wood Warbler was still present the day before we left. Would it stick for just one more day? With no birders staying on the island, it was going to be a case of travelling over in hope and trying to relocate this beauty.
With bags dropped off at the house, we made the short walk to the quay to get the 10.15am boat, which was a mix of birders and holiday makers. Local birder Higgo led the way across the island, through the campsite and down to Popplestone fields.
The search was on.................knowing it wouldn't be easy. Most birders did their bit, but a few always just stood and watched. As time ticked on, there was grimmace on everyones face. That was until there was a shout after seventy-five minutes....I broke into a rapid sprint back to where we started our search and there was this stunning bird feeding in the elms. Quite slowly to start with, but as the sun came out and the temperature rose, the bird fed and performed very actively all around us, giving us some amazing news. The group of thirty birders expanded by the hour as positive news emerged.
The Blackburnian Warbler was named after Anna Blackburne, who was a naturalist from Lancashire, and was just the third British record, with the two previous records being on Fair Isle & Skomer. The bird had been a huge attraction for birders, had huge numbers twitching for a single day. I'd really be interested to know how people have actually seen the bird since it was found (350 were reported by the boatmen on day 1). The species breeds in eastern North America & Canada, it must have been caught in the westerly winds as it started its migration south.
The stunning bird was hard to leave but myself and Paul were also keen to do some birding around the island. Bryher always looks good but under blue skies and sunshine it takes some beating. Our sightings around the included 50 Curlew, Black-tailed Godwit, Peregrine, Kestrel, Ring Ouzel, Kittiwake, 35 Fieldfare, 4 Swallow and a Little Egret.
As we circled Bryher, the radios were reporting a Swift species over the Garrison on St Marys. As the afternoon developed, the Swift species was clearly identified as a Pallid Swift which was another species I'd not seen before. After a failed attempt to get pint at Fraggle Rock we had to wait for the final boat back to St Marys.
As the boat chugged over the roads (water between islands) I could see a crowd outside the Star Castle Hotel on the Garrison clearly watching the birds. Needless to say, I was off the boat first and up the Garrison hill where I finally saw my first Pallid Swift feeding. This was one of number of Pallid Swifts reported in Britain in the recent days. The birds flight was definitely different to a Common Swift, it seemed to pause when hunting.
Considering I'd only seen five lifers in the previous nine months, it was fantastic to see two on the same day. With us having no time for any shopping, we ate out together and sunk a few pints at the Scillonian to celebrate a very memorable day.
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