Exciting migration

Hello

Back on home territory today, and a venture up to Harrington Airfield in classic autumn conditions this morning was exciting with swirling flocks of migrants dropping out of a grey overcast sky. The first section of the old airstrip was uneventful but from the first bunker onwards the sky was heavy with contact calls as flocks of a variety of species appeared out of the murk. A flock of 300 Fieldfare funnelled down to a scuffed field from a low cloud base, intermixed with smaller numbers of Redwings. Forty Skylarks looped around in small flocks and the bushes held more Fieldfares and plenty of migrant Redwings, Blackbirds and Song Thrushes.

Finches were well represented with flocks of Goldfinches and Linnets and Chaffinches with smaller numbers of Greenfinch, a couple of Bramblings and Siskins and at least one redpoll sp. Meadow Pipits,Yellowhammers and Reed Buntings flicked and called in the scrub and a Corn Bunting was flushed up near to the third bunker. Several Golden Plover flocks were mobile and vocal, probably amounting in total to about eight-five birds.

Of course all this avian activity attracts raptors and two Sparrowhawks and a juvenile female Peregrine were trying their best to catch a late breakfast.

This afternoon and the area around Blueberry Farm, Maidwell was also busy with in-coming and transient migrants. A female Merlin was in pursuit of Skylarks and a big movement of thrushes was again dominated with hundreds of Fieldfares and smaller numbers of Redwings. Again finches were busy moving with a couple each of Siskin, redpoll sp and Brambling among them. A pair of Stonechat were present in the northern-most field (Small and Big Redgrass).

A few images below of some of the rarer species experienced on The Scillies during the week, a bigger lens is definitely required when it comes to photographing distant rarities!

Regards

Neil M

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Siberian Stonechat

Blyth's Pipit

Portrait of a Snipe

Hello

Below are some images of a couple of Common Snipe photographed from one of the hides at Lower Moors, St Mary's, Isles of Scilly. I for one really enjoy the intricate plumage of birds that partly rely on camouflage to stay safe...

Regards

Neil M

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