Scilly Season Day 6 – Tricky Treco

Touchdown Tresco

Common Sandpiper

St Martins

Pink-footed Geese

Lush grass for the Pinkies

Red Squirrel

Coastal path

View towards St Marys, Bryher on right

Bit rough on northern tip

Take spot for coffee 

Opportunists

New day & finally a second chance to get off the island. We opted for Tresco for a bit of variation and the chance it may be a bit quieter. It was definitely quieter on the bird front as we barely saw a bird on the north side of the island except for passing Gannets.

Birds started to return to view as he headed south and the best of the limited highlights were :- Common Sandpiper, 6 Pink-footed Geese, 3 Grey Heron, White & Grey Wagtail, 2 Mute Swan, Sparrowhawk, a Stock Dove, 31 Coot, 23 Gadwall, Water Rail, 5 Greenshank, 2 Little Egret, Curlew, 40 Ringed Plover, 30 Turnstones and three Mediterranean Gull on journey home.

Good evening playing pool managing to defeat the Squire in a decider before beating all comers from the house.

Scilly Season Day 5 – Feeling rough but trips additions

Brent Geese

Oystercatcher

Wheatear

Stonechat

No boats today !

Wheatear

Feeling particularly rough so didn’t make it out until late morning. Tip - don't drink local cider. Opted to head to Lower Moors for another view of one of the Dusky Warblers and also saw a Reed Warbler very well. From the hides there were only 3 Snipe, a Water Rail, 2 Mallard & 12 Herring Gulls.

Two Brent Geese were off the beach at Portmellon whilst a Wheatear was around the beach buildings.

Portcressa held 2 Stonechat, numerous Rock Pipits, Grey Seal, 3 Shag & a Swallow past over head. Now ready for a change of scenery.

Scilly Season Day 4 - Yellow-browed & Water Pipit are days best

Yellow-browed Warbler

Water Pipit

Port Hellick

Diversion again

Kingfisher

The Log

Fog, mist and drizzle greeted us as we opened the front door so it would be another day on St Mary’s.  Passing Old Town we picked up 3 Swallow, Greenshank & a Little Egret.  At Port Minnick there were another 2 Swallows & a pair of Stonechat. Our first visit to the airport only produced a Skylark and 11 Snipe flew over.

At the stunning Giants Castle the trips first Wimbrel was recorded whilst at Porth Hellick there was no sign of the American Golden Plover.  We did gain compensation with a Water Pipit & our first Scilly Kingfisher.

Passing through the downs we added a Redwing and three Siskin, then through Normandy there was a stunning Male Black Redstart, Pheasant Snipe and another Redwing.

A short break at Milford Ducks Ponds finally produced a Yellow-browed Warbler & yet another Firecrest whilst we finished our at the birding Longstone Café for a superb piece of Apple & fruit cake with two Swallows passing over as we left.

Myself & the Squire battled out to a 2-2 draw on the pool table but I managed to dispose of Paul Freestone, self-acclaimed Cornish pool league player, fairly comfortably.

Scilly Season Day 3 - Day of the Dusky

Dusky Warbler

Dusky twitch at Lower Moors

Pied Flycatcher

Pied Flycatcher

View over Old Town

The Garrison

Stonechat

Firecrest

Love this birds

Stonechat

Great Northern Diver

Wheatear

Stonechat

Stunning weather

Worst places for afternoon tea & cake

A busy day started with a twenty-five minute run around the Garrison to get the blood pumping. With the waters still looking rough we opted to explore St Marys further with a long walk around the west coast.

A Pied Flycatcher was the first attraction at the very local Porthcressa which was sheltered and in the same corner of the beach there were 2 Wheatear, 3 Stonechat, Rock & Meadow Pipits & another Black Redstart. Over head I picked up a Peregrine & a Sparrowhawk.

The Squire continued his own good form by finding yet another Leach’s & 2 Balearic Shearwaters. We then headed on to the Garrison which was a brilliant walk. We recorded at least 10 Stonechat, 2 Wheatear & a steady flow of Gannets.

The afternoon started well as were heading towards Lower Moors when a Dusky Warbler was reported on the pager at the same location.  We had arrived within five minutes but as per these species no sign. After a bit of patience & hunting another Dusky Warbler was reported the other side of the reserve, this time I picked up the bird quickly also adding a Willow Warbler to the trip list. As we headed back across Lower Moors our timing was perfect as the first Dusky showed well just off the path. 

We then headed on round the costal path but were drawn into the tea shop ! A fine cup of Earl Grey & slice of Lemon Drizzle were demolished whilst watching a pair of Kestrel & the local Sparrow over looking the stunning bay.

Our yomp north west tracked the very edge of the island up and down on some tough terrain at times giving us amazing views of Tresco, St Martins then the outer islands. The best bird we found was a summer plumage Great Northern Diver but there were a handful of Curlew, many Shags & Oystercatchers.

As we edged towards the very top of the island two Firecrest showed brilliantly right next to the path. Whilst seeing a Firecrest isn’t unusual at this time of year what was brilliant was how close we could watch them.

Our final birds of the day were three Siskin, 20 Collared Dove and a Peregrine.

After day three the trip list was standing at 63. A cheeky pint at the bird count ended another very busy day.

Scilly Season Day 2 – Storm Brian & a funny Snipe

View left from our house

View right from our house

Morning march north

Squire on jellyfish duty

Port Hellick beach for the American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

American Golden Plover

Leach's Petrel

Portugese Man o War Jellyfish

Local signage

Wilson's Snipe

Possible Siberian Oystercatcher 

Evening meal watching the Saints

With gale force winds and rain forecast to hit St Mary's in the early hours and stay all day we were surprised to find the wind was the only hindrance as we set off after breakfast.

The day’s plan would be to head to the east side of the island and try and make use of any cover available

A quick check for the previous weeks Corncrake was unsuccessful as we edged round the bay to High Moors. From the first hide we recorded our first Scilly Moorhen & Teal (3) before moving down the boardwalk to the Seaward hide where the reported Wilson Snipe was showing very well. We got a quick glimpse of the under wing as the bird preened before feeding. Certainly not one for us to decide it’s credence. To the right of the hide a Firecrest was calling and showed well whilst I was trying to get a record shot of the Snipe.

From there it was on to the beach which was a stunning bay which a superb collection of waders including 5 Greenshank, 20+ Ringed Plover, Turnstone and my second only American Golden Plover. The views were quite distant when we first refound it but we edged round the bay to get some fantastic views.

Also on the beach were 15-20 Portugese Man O'War's, despite its appearance they are not actually jellyfish but a marine animal called siphonphores. The venom from it's tentacles is used to paralyse its prey, normally small fish. They had deliver a nasty sting for humans so we kept our distance.

With an early report of a Leach’s Petrel we then headed towards the quay where we set up to observe any passage between St Mary’s & St Agnes. After about thirty minutes the Squire found his next lifer, “Leach’s” was the call enabling everyone in our small group to get on the bird. The bird stayed on view for around five minutes before edging round the headland.

After a quick break we were back out and marching to Porthloo. The wind seemed particular fierce with the sand granules feeling like tiny bullets on your face. Our target bird was a reported Siberian Oystercatcher we thankfully picked out quickly. More of a dull brown than black with longer legs & a beak it made of an interesting session of birding.

We didn’t add anything extra as we past through Lower Moors as we headed back to the digs. After a quick shower I headed out to the pub early to watch the Saints beat the Albion thanks a Boufal wonder goal.  A lifer and a Saints win…….if Carling did Saturdays……..