Iceland - 4th - 8th March 2022

Friday, 18 October 2013

Scillies Day 20 (Thursday 17th Oct)

Hello

We aimed to visit the island of Bryher today but the tides didn't permit an early boat.  So after a few hours birding on St Mary's, we travelled over to the private island of Tresco on the 10.15am boat and then caught a boat from there at 12.30pm to make landfall on the small island of Bryher.

A Yellow-browed Warbler called continually again around our chalet first thing.  A quick walk around the Great Pool at Tresco yielded another Yellow-browed Warbler, this time showing itself well in Sycamores, a Jack Snipe was flushed from the track and other birds included Stonechat, Wheatear, an apparent migrant flock of 9 Blue Tits, Reed Warbler and common waders and wildfowl.

On to Bryher and a good walk around the north-west end of the island produced a couple of Ring Ouzels, half a dozen Wheatears and a Black Redstart.  Plenty of Rock Pipits inhabited the beaches and a small flock of waders included a rather oddly-plumaged Little Stint.  A further wander around other areas of the island provided a Whinchat and another Black Redstart but not much else.

Scanning the waters and island just off Bryher provided plenty of gulls including a Mediterranean, common waders, plenty of Little Egrets and the usual Grey Seals.  The very warm conditions and strong sunshine made we wish I hadn't bothered with a coat!

On our return to St Mary's we walked around the Garrison and saw a stunning adult male Back Redstart, which interestingly was ringed on its right leg.

After a fish and chip supper on Porthcressa Beach it was time to retire to our chalet and bed down two very tired collies!

Neil M


 
Beware!  Female birder
and Bazra the collie
on Bryher!

 
Bryn - still full of
energy as always!

 
Little Stint



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