Scillies Day 17 (Monday 14th Oct)

Hello

An early morning start today in an effort to try and see the Grey-cheeked Thrush at first light.  Two and a half hours later and Eleanor had managed a fleeting glimpse as the bird flew through Old Town churchyard just after 9am.  Despite two more visitations during the day, we failed to connect with the bird as did the majority of waiting birders!

Jack Snipe continue to pop up at Lower Moors, probably six birds being present today.  Several Yellow-browed Warblers adorn elms and sycamores around the island, their far-carrying 'sueeet' call often the first indication of their presence.  Good numbers of Goldcrests again today and winter thrushes continue to roam the islands in pursuit of autumn fruit and invertebrates.  Wheatears and Swallows are still present in reasonable numbers and there was a small increase in Stonechats today with a couple of Black Redstarts to add to the mix.  Merlin, Peregrine, Short-eared Owl and Ring Ouzel continued the theme and the hedges and trees still support good numbers of Chiffchaffs and Blackcaps.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

 

Wheatears

 

Old Town Churchyard

Robin!

 

A more typical view

of a Jack Snipe, and if

you are lucky the sight

you see just before

flushing one up!

 

I know it's only

a Starling but I

couldn't resist those

colours and markings!

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 café 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

Scillies Day 15 (Saturday 12th Oct)

Hello

On this day we took the early boat to St Martin's and spent the day there.  The award-winning fish and chip shop was opening specially for birders so that was a sufficient lure for us!

A strong and cool northerly wind met us at the quay as we embarked on the Meridian but the gorgeous warm sunshine easily overpowered the cool wind temperature.  Eight Common Scoters, a Razorbill and plenty of Shags and even a couple of in-shore feeding Gannets were seen en-route.

We landed at Higher Town and spent time watching the elms and other vegetation for any avian activity around the cricket pitch, nearby fields and Little Arthurs Farm.  Then the coast walk up to the most northerly part of the island and a zig-zag course back to the fish and chip shop for the all-important 12.30pm rendezvous.  Bits and pieces included a Short-eared Owl, a Snow Bunting, a Pied Flycatcher, a Ring Ouzel, a Merlin, a Raven and a Turtle Dove.

With bellies full and two rather already tired collies we birded the east shore and fields to the east of Middle Town and finished by circumnavigating the southern tip of the island and Lower Town.  Additional birds included a Red-breasted Merganser, a Spotted Flycatcher, a Redstart, possibly another Ring Ouzel, Siskin, common shore-line waders and the usual chats.  The sun still shone and it was yet another particularly pleasant St Martin's memory to add to the archives. 

Plenty of Redwings, Chiffchaffs, Blackcaps and Goldcrests throughout the island duplicated recent experiences on St Mary's.

Back on St Mary's by late afternoon and another build-up Swallows was evident with a few House Martins and Redwings roosted in good numbers.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

 

Gannet honing in on

breakfast!  He/she was

successful but I wasn't

quick enough to capture

the contact with the water

and subsequent consumption!

 

Collared Dove

 

Probably the last

Redstart I see this

year?

 

One of many Goldcrests

currently on the islands.

Scillies Day 14 (11th Oct)

Hello

A day spent entirely on St Mary's with strong winds which had veered around so that they were originating now from the north-east.  Not surprisingly the bird of the day was Redwing with hundreds arriving during the day, with smaller numbers of Fieldfare and an increase in the numbers of Goldcrests and Blackcaps.  By mid-afternoon a good number of Swallows had also arrived, presumably the last of the birds from Scandanavia and northern Europe.  Chiffchaffs also increased, in all probability exiting countries similar to those of the Swallow.

An hour in the morning with one mist net open was good enough to catch and ring singles of Grey Wagtail and Yellow-browed Warbler.

A walk around the Garrison also provided a Lapland Bunting and very brief views of Wryneck and Ring Ouzel.  Next was Peninnis Head which hosted a confiding Snow Bunting and a couple of Lapland Buntings.  The strong sunshine was incredibly warm out of the wind and yet another totally dry day was enjoyed by all.

The Lower Moors area continues to be good and provided close views of Grey Wagtail and two Jack Snipe.   A wander around to Porthellick increased the day total of Jack Snipe to four plus another Yellow-browed Warbler.  Two Redwings were caught and ringed in the evening.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

 

Snow Bunting

 

Kestrel with Scilly Mouse!

 

Lapland Bunting

 

Singing Starling

 

Cock House Sparrow

 

Jack Snipe

 

 

Yellow-browed Warbler

 

Scillies Day 13 (10th Oct)

Hello

Today was dominated by strong northerly winds which seemingly affected the whole of the UK.  However it was sunny and dry and 10 species of butterfly were still on the wing in sheltered areas.

An initial walk around St Mary's failed to find a great deal and we went to the island of Tresco for the day.

After a bit of an effort we managed to see the Sora Rail which had been found on the Great Pool the day before.  With no appropriate recent appropriate weather conditions, it is likely this bird first arrived from the USA sea-board a couple of weeks ago at a time when there were direct westerlies and other American birds were located in Scotland and Ireland.  Surprisingly this bird sported a good deal of black around the base of the bill and around the eye, albeit that the overall plumage indicated that it was a juvenile.  The Great Pool also hosted a variety of waterfowl and a good flock of 20+ Greenshank as well as plenty of Water Rails which seemed to enjoy bullying the Sora.

A wander to the café at Tresco Abbey was worthwhile as we espied the recently-released Red Squirrels.  Apparently the first ten were released in March and further animals have been released since and seem to be doing okay.  There are no Grey Squirrels on the islands and no Badgers, Foxes or any mustelid species (just plenty of rats), so they should hopefully flourish.

Other birds noted included a couple of Common Scoter, lots of Little Egrets, a female Merlin, Siskin, a local scarcity in the shape of an adult Common Gull, Whinchat, Stonechat, Wheatear and common waders.

We took a stroll to Old Grimsby and located a Yellow-browed Warbler in the elms at St Nicholas church which was the pre-cursor to then finding a juvenile Red-backed Shrike near to the Old Blockhouse.  It was then a brisk walk to Carn Near to catch our boat back to St Mary's and encouraging our shattered Collies to play just a few more games on beaches before they arrived back at our chalet at dusk.  Before that they had to endure a walk around another section of St Mary's which yielded a Wryneck and another Merlin.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

 

Gadwall

 

Red Admiral

 

Red Squirrel

 

Red-backed Shrike

Scillies Day 12 (9th Oct)

Hello

Much cooler on this day with a north-west wind strengthening as the day went on.  The weather remained dry but mostly dull and cloudy.  These conditions really seemed to have thinned out the 'summer' migrants.

This was another day when I went on a pelagic trip for most of the day and Eleanor remained on St Mary's.  Eleanor's day list included the long-staying Purple Heron, three Yellow-browed Warblers, a Wryneck, a showy Red-breasted Flycatcher, three Lapland Buntings, a Jack Snipe, a Common Scoter and two Mediterranean Gulls.  The supporting cast included Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Whitethroat, Yellow Wagtail, White Wagtails, a few Wheatears, many Water Rails, common coastal waders and resident passerines.

The pelagic trip was over prescribed with sixty or more observers on the Sapphire battling the elements to remain upright as we headed to the north of the islands.  There were more birds than last time but it was a tad tricky seeing everything such was the number of observers on the boat.  By way of example a Grey Phalarope flew up alongside the boat on two occasions and I failed to connect because there were just too many bodies in the way!  Thankfully I enjoyed more success with the other species which included a Sooty Shearwater, at least 3 Balearic Shearwaters, four or so Manx Shearwaters, other distant unidentified shearwaters and about 10 Bonxies which were regularly attacking the gulls behind the boat.  For the second trip running we failed to see a Fulmar and notched up just the one Kittiwake.  Auks included Puffin, Guillemot and Razorbill and again migrant Meadow Pipit flocks were seen flying low over the waves.  Up to four distant smaller skuas remained unidentified but moved liked Poms.  The constant array of gulls attracted to the fish thrown from the rear of the boat included a Yellow-legged Gull for a short time.

Other birds seen included a moulting adult Red-necked Grebe, a summer plumage Great Northern Diver, Mediterranean Gull, Common Scoters and Common and Sandwich Terns.  Plenty of Gannets came in to have a look at us and pods of Common Dolphins did likewise.

Regards

Neil M

 

Great Black-backed Gulls

 

Gannets

 

Lesser Black-backed Gull

 

Sooty Shearwater

 

Great Skua or Bonxie

 

Yellow-legged Gull

 

Grey Seals

 

Grey Wagtail

Scillies Day 11 (8th Oct)

Hello

Eleanor went for a early morning run around the island of St Marys and circumnavigated the whole island whilst keeping to the well-maintained coastal track.  After that it was another good hike around the island and the best birds located included six Yellow-browed Warblers, four Firecrests, a Ring Ouzel, a Wryneck, a probable Siberian Chiffchaff, a Spotted Flycatcher and still a good selection of chats, warblers and wagtails.  For some reason we are not seeing Merlins on the islands this year, the daily raptor total sticking at just Peregrine, Kestrel and Sparrowhawk.

A rather unusually-marked and very yellow Chiffchaff was trapped and ringed.

Still good numbers of late butterflies included Comma and Clouded Yellow.

Neil M

 

First year male Blackbird

 

Chiffchaff!

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

Scillies Day 9 (6th Oct)

Hello

A full day on St Marys again, with almost constant sunshine and particularly warm temperatures - almost idyllic birding weather.  Again the birds didn't disappoint with three different Wrynecks (two in the same bush), the Arctic Warbler again (hiding in the depths of a sallow), a Ring Ouzel, two Yellow-browed Warblers, a Red-breasted Flycatcher, a Pied Flycatcher, a Spotted Flycatcher, 3-4 Lapland Buntings, a Short-toed Lark on the airfield, a Spotted Crake at Shooters Pool, the Purple Heron in flight and a supporting cast which included several Peregrines, lots of chats and wagtails, hirundines and warblers, a male Lesser Redpoll, Kingfisher and further waves of butterflies including extraordinary numbers of Clouded Yellows.  No outstanding rarities but birding in the UK doesn't get much better than this!

E & N

 

Song Thrush.  The Scillies

provides excellent opportunities

to photograph common birds.

 

The canopy-loving

Arctic Warbler

 

Sun-kissed Meadow Pipit!

Scillies Day 8 (5th Oct)

Hello

Well after a week on St Marys we felt it was time for a day on another island.  So after notching up Yellow-browed Warbler, Mediterranean Gull, Purple Heron and Common Scoter we took a boat trip to the small island of St Agnes.  En-route Sandwich Terns showed well and a solitary Black Tern was espied.

A sunny and warm St Agnes was full of warblers, wagtails and chats and we quickly located Firecrest, Pied Flycatcher and a variety of common warblers.  We were fortunate to find a juvenile Barred Warbler and managed to hang on to it so that all the island birders saw it too.  A Red-breasted Flycatcher showed nearby and then it was time for a coffee break in the recently extended Coastguards Café.  Whilst supping and munching in their birder-friendly garden we saw Ring Ouzel, Lapland Bunting and Whinchat.  A Hummingbird Hawk-moth showed well feeding on some late-blooming flowers.

We wandered around Wingletang and Covean in the afternoon, pipits, wagtails and Wheatears dominating the passerines.  Butterflies included Clouded Yellow, Red Admiral, Peacock, Small Copper and Speckled Wood.

Back then to St Marys and after arriving at St Marys quay it was a rapid walk up to Newford Duck Pond where we managed to see an Arctic Warbler which had been found earlier in the day.

Regards

Eleanor and Neil

 

Hummingbird Hawk-moth

 

Wren

 

Alternative profile

of a Clouded Yellow!

 

Sandwich Tern

Scillies Day 7 (4th Oct)

Hello

Well today was all about splitting up and doing our own thing!

After a little land birding I then went on a six hour pelagic trip for sea-birds well to the north and east of the islands.

Eleanor spent the day touring pretty much all of St Marys and notched up plenty of good birds with four different Wrynecks, a fly-over Short-toed Lark, an adult Mediterranean Gull, 2 Ring Ouzels, a couple of Peregrines, a redpoll sp and still summer migrants in the shape of Pied and Spotted Flycatchers, lots of Whinchats, over a hundred Wheatear, Whitethroat and other common warblers.

The pelagic trip proved to be extremely quiet but we experienced a couple of pods of Common Dolphins riding the bows of the boat, Balearic Shearwater, Puffin, Guillemot, Great Skua, Sandwich, Common and Arctic Tern and of course hundreds of Gannets.  Flocks of Meadow Pipits could be seen regularly skimming low over the waves.

After finding my land-legs again I day-ticked Purple Heron, Bluethroat, Redstart, Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, a Wryneck (different bird to Eleanor's four), Turtle Dove, Kingfisher and Mediterranean Gull.

A Death Head's Hawk-moth was an awesome beast, on show from a moth trap the previous evening.

Neil M

 

Great Skua or Bonxie

 

Gannets

 

Common Dolphin

 

Balearic Shearwater

 

Spotted Flycatcher

Scillies Day 6 (3rd Oct)

Hello

The forecast was for heavy rain all day but this didn't materialise until dusk so another full day out in the field on St Marys!

Lower Moors is proving a hotspot on the island this year and today we saw Purple Heron, Bluethroat and 2 Jack Snipe from the hides there.  Other birds of note on the island included Firecrest, Pied Flycatcher, Lapland Bunting and still plenty of chats.  Off-shore, Common Scoter were located and the shallow waters continued to attract Sandwich Tern and Mediterranean Gull.  Nearly all the 'alba' wagtails were White Wagtails and small numbers of Yellow and Grey Wagtails persisted.

The rocky shorelines and sandy beaches provided a safe haven for Whimbrel and other more common waders and a couple of Golden Plovers arrived on the airfield.

Insects from more southern climes included plenty of Clouded Yellows and a Hummingbird Hawk-moth.

Regards

E & N

 

Turtle Dove

 

Purple Heron

 

Greenshank

 

Bluethroat