Hello
Yesterday (Saturday) saw us take the Scillonian III ferry to the Isles of Scilly, something of a logistical nightmare with two dogs, bird ringing equipment, ourselves and all our luggage for three weeks!
The weather was kind to us with sunshine and mild-mannered seas and even some birds in the shape of Arctic Skuas, a Great Skua, Mediterranean Gulls and Kittiwakes, several Manx Shearwaters and a couple of Balearics too. Gannets were in good numbers, we disturbed a feeding Grey Phalarope and we encountered several pods of Common Dolphins which mostly kept their distance. A Pomarine Skua and two Great Shearwaters were reported by others on board. A tired Chiffchaff landed on the ferry for a short time - I hope he/she made it!
On making landfall on St Marys we staggered to our chalet accommodation, completed some grocery shopping and of course fitted in some mist net erecting and land birding too! The weather was sunny and the conditions mild and it was great to be back!
Undoubtedly the best bird was a stunning juvenile Ortolan Bunting which fed confidingly on the coastal path not far from Hugh Town. The subtle colours and beautiful feather margins and it's relative tame nature made for a fabulous forty minutes. Other birds were standard fare and included Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackcap, Siskin and Rock Pipit.
Today (Sunday) and things were generally quiet on St Marys and we enjoyed relatively common birds such as Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, a variety of waders, a tamish Water Rail, Siskin etc.
Ringers operating in Northants during the week-end were busy, Kenny and Sarah were managing the Linford Lakes site on both days and caught well over a hundred birds including over thirty Blackcaps, fifteen Chiffchaffs, a late Reed Warbler and several Cetti's Warblers including a bird originally caught somewhere else in the UK. Other birds featuring included a couple each of Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting.
John Woollett and team worked the nets at Stortons Pits today, catching forty-one birds which included nine Blackcaps, five Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers and a cracking Green Woodpecker!
Regards
Neil M
Yesterday (Saturday) saw us take the Scillonian III ferry to the Isles of Scilly, something of a logistical nightmare with two dogs, bird ringing equipment, ourselves and all our luggage for three weeks!
The weather was kind to us with sunshine and mild-mannered seas and even some birds in the shape of Arctic Skuas, a Great Skua, Mediterranean Gulls and Kittiwakes, several Manx Shearwaters and a couple of Balearics too. Gannets were in good numbers, we disturbed a feeding Grey Phalarope and we encountered several pods of Common Dolphins which mostly kept their distance. A Pomarine Skua and two Great Shearwaters were reported by others on board. A tired Chiffchaff landed on the ferry for a short time - I hope he/she made it!
On making landfall on St Marys we staggered to our chalet accommodation, completed some grocery shopping and of course fitted in some mist net erecting and land birding too! The weather was sunny and the conditions mild and it was great to be back!
Undoubtedly the best bird was a stunning juvenile Ortolan Bunting which fed confidingly on the coastal path not far from Hugh Town. The subtle colours and beautiful feather margins and it's relative tame nature made for a fabulous forty minutes. Other birds were standard fare and included Stonechat, Wheatear, Blackcap, Siskin and Rock Pipit.
Today (Sunday) and things were generally quiet on St Marys and we enjoyed relatively common birds such as Spotted Flycatcher, Grey Wagtail, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, a variety of waders, a tamish Water Rail, Siskin etc.
Ringers operating in Northants during the week-end were busy, Kenny and Sarah were managing the Linford Lakes site on both days and caught well over a hundred birds including over thirty Blackcaps, fifteen Chiffchaffs, a late Reed Warbler and several Cetti's Warblers including a bird originally caught somewhere else in the UK. Other birds featuring included a couple each of Meadow Pipit and Reed Bunting.
John Woollett and team worked the nets at Stortons Pits today, catching forty-one birds which included nine Blackcaps, five Chiffchaffs, four Cetti's Warblers and a cracking Green Woodpecker!
Regards
Neil M
 |
| Turnstone. |
 |
| Gannet. |
 |
| Balearic Shearwater. |
 |
| Chiffchaff hitching a ride! |
 |
| The Ortolan Bunting. |
 |
| Song Thrush. In some respects the iconic bird of the Scillies. |
No comments:
Post a Comment