Monday 14 October 2013

Scillies Day 16 (Sunday 13th Oct)

Hello

Another full day on St Mary's which was quite dull and cloudy in the morning but feeling warm and almost sultry.  Broken sunshine in the afternoon made it even warmer.

Eleanor started the day with another lengthy run all around the coastal track of the island, seeing a Wryneck, two Lapland Buntings, a Snow Bunting, two Ring Ouzels and two Yellow-browed Warblers as she went!  I did some ringing and caught a few migrants in the shape of Meadow Pipit and Chiffchaff as well as some resident birds which I doubt will ever leave the islands during their short lives.

After a lunchtime rendezvous with a cafĂ© that provide wonderful home-baked Bavarian apple strudel, we explored the north of the island notching up some Siskins, a Firecrest and a couple more Yellow-browed Warblers and a Merlin.  We then sauntered down to Old Town which has hosted a particularly difficult-to-see Grey-cheeked Thrush for some time now.  A couple of hours searching not surprisingly drew a blank in trying to locate this furtive and retiring species.

Other birds seen included four Jack Snipes, Water Rails, plenty of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs, a Whimbrel still and Wheatears and 'alba' and Grey Wagtails.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

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