Last blast on the Scillies!

Hello

Our trip to the magical Scilly Isles is almost over, and the last week in particular has been a good one for interesting and rare migrants. Recent sightings include a Hudsonian Whimbrel from the west and several birds from the east including another Red-throated Pipit, the Blyth's Pipit finally pinned down and showing well and an elusive Siberian Stonechat. Other good migrants we manage to connect with include Hawfinch, an influx of Jack Snipe, Snow Bunting, lots of Chiffchaffs including some candidates for Siberian Chiffchaff, more Yellow-browed Warblers and Firecrests, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Short-toed Lark, large numbers of common thrushes and finches, a Spoonbill, a Little Bunting and more Black Redstarts.

All these birds remain on high alert though as raptors patrol the islands including Peregrine, Merlin, Kestrel, Sparrowhawk and this week singles of Hen Harrier and Osprey...

Regards

Neil M

Song Thrush

Jack Snipe

Black Redstarts.
The lower bird was photographed
on a sunny golden evening on Porthloo
Beach, St Mary's

Spoonbill

Juvenile male Peregrine

Red-breasted Flycatcher
The island of Bryher

Potential Siberian Chiffchaff
(not heard to call)
Bryher

Yellow-browed Warbler
Bryher

Birds from the East

Hello

The last few days has seen quite an arrival of birds to the Isles of Scilly, the majority from the east or north-east. We have spent most of our time on St Mary's but did pop over to St Agnes yesterday (Monday) to see a Red-flanked Bluetail that had been located on Sunday. Fortunate sightings for us have included a Red-eyed Vireo on Saturday afternoon, presumably the same Red-throated Pipit, a Short-toed Lark, brief views of an Arctic Warbler and better views of a Dusky Warbler at the same location. 

Firecrests remain in good numbers but actually there aren't that many Yellow-browed Warblers on the islands and the big numbers witnessed on the Northern Isles and mainland haven't really hit here.

As the autumn deepened so the birds change and there are now quite a few Black Redstarts and Redwings on the islands.

There are still plenty of butterflies on the wing, with a late rush of Painted Ladies, a few Clouded Yellows and still lots of Speckled Woods, Small Coppers, Red Admirals and Peacocks.

Common birds in good numbers here include Meadow Pipit, Chiffchaff, Goldcrest, Blackcap, Song Thrush, and Robin and presumably are a combination of residents and migrants. Scarcer migrants include Tree Pipit, Redpoll, Siskin, Lapland Bunting, Skylark, Wheatear and there are still a few Spotted and Pied Flycatchers around.

Regards

Neil M

Black Redstart

Starling

Stonechat

Red-flanked Bluetail

Chiffchaff

Ringed Plovers and Turnstones

Jack Snipe at dusk

Time for change

Hello

The quiet autumn on The Scillies continues, but this gives us a chance to look at the less favoured areas of St Mary's and on Thursday we again visited St Martin's and checked areas not often visited by birders. No major rarities found on these days, but good views of Lapland Bunting, Ring Ouzel, plenty of Yellow-browed Warblers and Firecrests, Jack Snipe, Black Redstarts, Pied Flycatcher, common waders, wagtails and pipits.

With a change in the weather it is anticipated that new arrivals are just around the corner, and the reports and sightings of today suggest just that...

Regards

Neil M

Lapland Bunting
St Martin's

Meadow Pipit
St Mary's

Scilly Gulls and friends

Hello

Yesterday (Wednesday) saw me on a boat in the Atlantic to the north of the Scilly Isles in search of ocean-going birds and other creatures. Following the strong westerly winds the night before, the swell was big and took a long time to calm down to an acceptable level for a landlubber like me!

Nevertheless I used my camera where I could, albeit that most of the shots showed the subject disappearing in to a deep trough or behind a wave! We wound our way past St Martins and the Eastern Isles after leaving Hugh Town on St Mary's and saw a summer plumage Great Northern Diver and Mediterranean Gull on the way. On hitting the ocean proper, it wasn't long before some pods of Common Dolphins found us and arced towards us in order to play alongside the boat. The attendant Gannets came over for a look but lost interest when they saw that the dolphins were playing as opposed to feeding.

Further out and apart from big gulls it was quiet for birds. Occasional Bonxies careered past and Storm Petrel, Manx Shearwater, Fulmar and Guillemot were all espied in small numbers. A small skua flew through but the boat occupants were divided in their identification and a single Sooty Shearwater showed late-on. We were fortunate to again connect with a particularly huge Basking Shark, some Harbour Porpoises and another Minke Whale. Some line fishing off the boat provided close-up views of fish such as Pollack and Baleen Wrasse.

Back on St Mary's and I caught up with Black Redstart and better views of the summer plumage Red-throated Diver which has been present for about three days. In the meantime Eleanor had birded St Mary's and seen Lapland Bunting, Yellow-browed Warbler, another Black Redstart, the usual Firecrests and Pectoral Sandpiper.

Regards

Neil M

Great Black-backed Gulls

Herring Gull

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Gannets

Mediterranean Gull (right)

Sooty Shearwater

Common Dolphin

Rock Pipit

Red-throated Diver

Scillies update - Tuesday

Hello

Birds here on the Scillies haven't changed much during the last couple of days, despite a change in the weather and wind direction. Still this provides us with an opportunity of studying some of these stayers and residents with some photographic opportunities too...

Regards

Neil M

Collared Dove in Wych Elm

Goldcrest... also in Wych Elm

Gannet off the Daymark
St Martin's

Red-throated Pipit. A record
 shot of probably our best find of
the trip to date...

Lapland Buntings
St Mary's airfield

Greenshank
Lower Moors, St Mary's

Common Snipe
Porthellick, St Mary's
'If I tip-toe just over this bit
of mud I'm sure no-one will see me!'

Male Firecrest
 caught and ringed
St Mary's

Next Northants Bird Cub meeting

Hello

This is a reminder to members and an invitation to non-members to come along to the next Northants Bird Club Indoor Meeting on Wednesday 7th October at 7.30pm. Our speaker will be Jeff Blincow who will be presenting on two different short subjects, North American Grouse and Snow Leopards. Jeff is an extremely well-travelled and authoritative naturalist and is an avid photographer so these presentations will be a treat.

As usual the venue will be the Fishing Lodge at Pitsford Reservoir which is found just outside Holcot village on the Brixworth Road (post code NN6 9SJ). Coffee and tea and biscuits will be available and on this occasion will be available between the two presentations and at the end. 

We look forward to your attendance!

Neil M

Scillies update

Hello

On Friday (2nd Oct) we visited St Martins on the Isles of Scilly and spent the day trying to find interesting migrant birds, as well as taking in the sights of this probably our favourite island. During the morning we located three Yellow-browed Warblers and there were reasonable numbers of Blackcaps and Chiffchaffs and a scattering of other passerine migrants. The evening was spent checking the headland of Peninnis on St Marys, all this on a day of fabulous sunshine and blue skies.

Saturday morning (3rd Oct) saw us padding around St Mary's, yielding another Yellow-browed Warbler, common warblers and hirundines, White Wagtails, the three common chats and common waders and a Merlin. In the afternoon we took a three hour boat trip in search of dolphins on the flat sea off St Mary's and St Agnes. This proved to be very successful with a good view of a Minke Whale, a Basking Shark, Harbour Porpoises and Common Dolphins. Pelagic birds included Razorbill, Guillemot, Fulmar, Gannet, five Grey Phalaropes and two settled Storm Petrels.

Sunday (today) and a dramatic turn in the weather brought grey conditions and then rain this afternoon. However not before we located a Red-throated Pipit on the airfield with a supporting cast of a large flock of Meadow Pipits, three Lapland Buntings and their nemesis, a hunting Merlin. Other birds included Firecrest, Yellow-browed Warbler, Pied Flycatcher and Red-throated Diver.

Regards

Neil M

Herring Gull

Minke Whale

Guillemot

Grey Phalaropes

Common Dolphin

Gannet

Autumnal Pitsford

A stroll along the Scaldwell Bay at Pitsford Res yesterday afternoon was glorious in the autumn sunshine. 
Autumn is my favourite season at Pitsford: the berry laden trees and bushes, late hunting dragonflys, wonderful odours and colours plus of course the large number of waterfowl all combine to make a visit special.
The two Great White Egrets were still present, one in the Walgrave Bay and one on the bank between the Walgrave and Holcot Bays.
I couldn't find any Pintail Today, there have been up to 4 recently in the Scaldwell bay. Only two Red-crested Pochard were on view, the pale drake with a duck present for the first time this autumn as far as I am aware. The group of 4 eclipse drakes were not in evidence.
A pleasant, but not entirely unexpected surprise was a solitary male Stonechat near to Paul's bench. It wasn't sporting a ring, so not a bird captured by Neil M last winter.
The Yellow-legged Gull was still in attendance as well as the immature Shelduck.
On the return leg a Kestrel was hunting over the meadow near to the Maytree's Hide without success.

       Regards,
                     Neil H.
                     
                                       

Sunny Scillies!

Hello

The warm sunshine and blue skies enjoyed by most of the country currently is down here in the Scillies too. Common migrants in good numbers include Goldcrest and from yesterday large numbers of hirundines, mostly Swallows and House Martins. Half a dozen Firecrests can be found on St Marys and we are particularly spoilt because two of them are currently resident around our chalet.

Little in the way of rarities here, but the amazing weather, profusion of butterflies and other insects makes up for it.

Autumn birds during the last two days included plenty of Siskins, a Brambling, waves of Meadow Pipits and small parties of White Wagtails which easily out-number Pied Wagtails here. The keen easterly wind keeps the fishing Gannets and Sandwich Terns close to the shore and a few Grey Seals are cavorting just off the rocks.

Regards

Neil M

Pectoral Sandpiper

Swallows. Large numbers have
arrived in the last two days, the
majority like these two above are
juveniles.

Wheatear