Wednesday 9 October 2013

Scillies Day 10 (7th Oct)

Hello

Another warm and sunny day here on the Scilly Isles.  Some initial birding on St Marys in the morning produced a Wryneck again at Porthloo Beach, Common Scoter, Sandwich Tern, Whimbrel and a couple of Yellow-browed Warblers.

Off then to St Martins for the day, landing at Lower Town and being picked up again at 4.30pm from Higher Town.  Very few birders traditionally visit St Martins and it is probably the island where you are most likely to find you own birds.  It didn't take long to find a Yellow-browed Warbler and a Pied Flycatcher in elms near the redundant Seven Stones pub.  We then elected to take a wander along the wild west coast with its untamed beaches and bracken-strewn slopes and rocky outcrops.  The tide was low so we walked out on to White Island which held large numbers of passerines made up of Rock and Meadow Pipit, Wheatear, Stonechat, White Wagtail, Linnet and Greenfinch.  However nothing out of the ordinary was located so we then hiked up to the central ridge of the island and meandered our way to the Daymark situated at the northern end of the island.  Lots of Wheatears including birds making land-fall while we there, and Meadow Pipits coming in off the sea too.  The usual Lapland Buntings and Ring Ouzels were seemingly absent.

The afternoon was spent exploring Little Arthur Farm and the area by the cricket pitch which added another Yellow-browed Warbler, a Spotted Flycatcher, Peregrine and Whimbrel.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

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