Friday 6th October
With much excited anticipation, Paul B, Ian, Chris and I gathered at my house at 4am for a week birding on the Isles of Scilly. The big unknown, was what scarce and rare birds would turn up during our stay, we had all provided our predictions of the top 5 rare birds (rather optimistically mine were Red-eyed Vireo, Cliff Swallow, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Red-footed Booby) and there had been some good rarities reported in the last couple of days to whet our appetite further.
The early start intended to get us to Cornwall in the morning to try for some of the species reported yesterday, and after a fairly easy drive we were bundling out of the car around 8.30am at the base of Caradon Hill near Bodmin Moor in search of a Lesser Grey Shrike. The hill is the site of a very large Transmitter mast and the shrike had been reported somewhere between a quarry and the mast. Our first challenge was the dense fog that covered the hill so we didn't know which direction the mast was !.
We rather stumbled around for the first 45 minutes seeing Stonechat, Meadow Pipit and Skylark, then gradually the fog started to lift, another birder was on site and had wandered over to the West side of the hill and started waving, he had found the shrike in a Hawthorn bush. We managed some good scope views of the Lesser Grey Shrike, although it remained in the same Hawthorn at best slightly moving position where most of the bird was visible. This was a great start to the trip, being a UK lifer for me and walking back to the car we had news that yesterdays Black-and-White Warbler had been seen briefly again near Polgigga, close to Lands End. We were still 2 hours away but decided we had to try for this bird as it might well be the rarest bird available to us for the week.
We arrived at Polgigga in bright sunshine and increasing warmth and strolled the short distance to the wooded lane where the bird had been seen. It didn't look particularly promising as the scrub on both sides of the lane was extremely thick limiting any view, with the larger copse stretching some way back, and inaccessible. With a number of other birders we diligently examined every movement which only gave up Long-tailed Tits, Great Tit, Goldcrest and Chiffchaff. A flyover Grey Wagtail, Raven, Chaffinch and Kestrel were all we could squeeze out and after over 2 hours decided to move on, finding 2 Firecrest as we left, the Warbler was not reported again.
We drove to Marazion and soon had close views of the long-staying 1w Woodchat Shrike in a horse field before we moved to overlook the marsh from the road, discovering that we'd just missed a Purple Heron which headed into the reedbed. We did add some nice birds including a smart Whinchat, 16 Cattle Egret, Common Snipe, Little Grebe and in the bay looking towards St michael's Mount, Gannet, Brent Geese (pale bellied), Rock Pipit, Shags and Cormorant.
As light was fading we drove to the harbour car park in Penzance where a Peregrine was chaisng some Feral Pigeons, and took our luggage to the hotel. A fine pub meal ended the day with excitement still building for tomorrow.
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| Our first view of the Lesser Grey Shrike was rather hidden. |
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| . but remained partially hidden |
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| The narrow lane at Polgigga which did not produce a Black-and-White Warbler |
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| Woodchat Shrike |
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| Woodchat Shrike |
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| Woodchat Shrike |
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| Cattle Egret |
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| Whinchat |
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| Looking back towards the field where the Woodchat was |
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| Marazion Marsh |
Saturday 7th October
We walked down to the quay for the Scillonian departure and found seats on the upper deck. We were hoping for an interesting crossing as there were still good numbers of shearwaters being reported in previous days.
Other than Gannets, our first sighting was Common (Short-beaked) Dolphin, then we started to see groups of auks, both Razorbill and Guillemot being identified, and our first shearwater was a close Manx Shearwater, before we started to see Cory's Shearwaters and had good sightings of over 15, we also added 2 Storm Petrels and a Grey Phalarope, when over halfway through the crossing, just as activity was getting interesting, we hit a fog bank and didn't see anything for the remainder of the journey until we started our approach to the harbour on St Mary's and there was a small gap in the fog.
The island itself seemed much clearer and by the time we had dumped bags in the accommodation we were in bright sunshine and clear skies. We headed out, straight towards the airport where a Bobolink had been seen over the last few days (It is a rare American finch-like passerine, much like the African Bishop family). We joined a crowd, most of which had been there for a few hours and soon found that the early morning report was by one observer only, adding to speculation that the last true sighting was yesterday rather than this morning. We spent a while overlooking the weedy field and had some compensation when a Common Rosefinch appeared for a short period, we also had a flyover Great Egret some Barn Swallows, several Meadow Pipits and Stonechat, Greenfinch and Linnet. Eventually deciding to move on (the Bobolink was not seen again).
We walked towards Carag Dhu gardens and saw a Glossy Ibis oddly feeding happily on a plastic-covered field, and into the gardens at Carag Dhu, where we found a Pied Flycatcher, shortly followed by another on the trail to Holy Vale.
We walked up to Maypole and saw 2 Wrynecks over a hedge in a field and then our wandering took us down to Porth Hellick pool where we saw Garganey, Water Rail and several Common Snipe, including a couple of interesting looking greyer birds. which remained just that.
In Porth Hellick bay a Little Bunting gave fairly fleeting views and we added Sedge Warbler, Kingfisher, Ringed Plover and Greenshank.
An action packed day with some great birds seen, ended with Ian's unusual variation of a Jambalaya, which was well received.
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| The Scillonian III |
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| Penzance from the boat |
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| As we approached St Mary's through the fog |
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| Common Dolphin |
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| Northern Gannet |
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| Cory's Shearwater |
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| Slightly distant Common Rosefinch in Pittosporum hedge |
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| Common Rosefinch obscured in weedy field
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| Pied Flycatcher |
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| Pied Flycatcher |
With a few of the more interesting birds reported earlier in the week appearing to have disappeared yesterday, we chose to get the boat to St Agnes this morning, principally to look for the Buff-breasted Sandpiper.
The boats to St Agnes left at 10.15am which gave us enough time beforehand to walk down to Porthloo beach, picking up a few common species although it felt generally quiet, with the best being a Blackcap and a Garden Warbler in the hedges near our accommodation at Harry's Walls.
We arrived in good time for the boat which was filling up quickly, once down the steps we crossed another boat to get to the St Agnes crossing, which turns out was a Nature and Wildlife tour that was also going out to the Bishop's rock lighthouse which our friend Justin had decided to go on, just to see whether the Red-footed Booby was there, although it hadn't now been seen for at least 3 weeks.
On arrival on St Agnes we walked straight to Wingletang Down where the Buff-breasted Sandpiper had been seen and it was only a short wait before we got excellent views of this fairly confiding bird. As there was no other news, we decided to spend the afternoon birding around the island, firstly walking down to Horse Point, there were a few Wheatear, Stonechat, Meadow and Rock Pipits and Sanderling, Ringed Plover and Turnstone on the rocks but few other birds. We stopped for some lunch at Horse Point, the most southerly point of the island, looking out to sea and towards the Bishops Rock Lighthouse, plenty of Gannets and a handful of distant Cory's Shearwaters could be seen and we could see the 'Nature and Wildlife' tour boat in the distance heading towards the lighthouse .
We started to walk up the west side of the island and then one of those frozen-in-time moments happened. We had no phone signal whilst we were having lunch at Horse Point, but obviously just walked back into an area of signal. It was around 12.15pm, I looked at my phone to find any messages on birds we might have missed and had one of the those jaw-dropping moments that probably involved a few expletives. The Red-footed Booby was sitting on the Bishops Rock lighthouse, the lighthouse we could just about see about 5 miles in the distance. My immediate instinct was just to look and stare at the lighthouse.
Then the panic sets in, we were on the closest island, but the wrong island as the boats would be leaving from St Mary's and our next scheduled boat to return was at 2.30pm. But then a message came through that a boat to the Bishops Rock Lighthouse would be leaving St Mary's at 1.30pm and picking up at St Agnes at 1.45pm. We headed straight back to the quay and found that there were around 15 people already in front of us and it was still over an hour before the boat was due.
The wait was excruciating. One of the birders in the queue was in radio contact with the people arranging the boats and we heard news that a boat due to leave St Mary's was already full but a second boat was being organised and there were already 70 people in the queue for that one !. It's all very well not knowing whether a bird will be visible when arriving at a site as that's just a normal part of birding, but being in a position when it is out of your control whether you will be able to get to the site or not is just stressful. To make it worse the 'Nature and Wildlife' tour boat dropped some occupants off at the St Agnes quay with a lot of very happy laughing birders.. including Justin.
However, on the appointed hour, we spied a boat heading towards us and it was a large boat, The 'Meridien' that was empty !! - so all the c100 people on the quay were able to get on the boat. We were told it would take around 45 minutes to get out to 'The Bishop' .
We started to see more Cory's Shearwaters a couple of Manx Shearwaters and a Great Skua, before we had the lighthouse in our sights we were intently looking at the helipad at the top of the lighthouse where the Booby was reported to be sitting on the 'webbing' that overhangs from the struts of the helipad... and there it was, the Red-footed Booby, sitting calming, preening and stretching for the next 20 minutes as we bobbed around in the boat beneath the lighthouse.
Joy, relief, elation, all experienced in those moments. We probably saw a few more Cory's Shearwaters on the return journey and 2 Sandwich Terns. A mild effort of birding arriving back at St Mary's had us missing the Rosy Starling that had been seen around the town but picking up a Sand Martin and on the garrison, seeing another Pied Flycatcher, but we were still soaking up the Booby which was helped down by a couple of pints of 'Bishops Rock' with our dinner !!!
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| Wingletang Down on St Agnes |
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| near Horse Point on St Agnes |
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| Buff-breasted Sandpiper |
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| Buff-breasted Sandpiper |
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| The Meridien - our saviour.. and it was empty |
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| Cory's Shearwater |
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| Cory's Shearwater |
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| Great Skua |
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| As we approached the Lighthouse .... would it be there ? |
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| We got pretty close |
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| Red-footed Booby !!!!! |
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| yes it had Red feet ! |
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| booby |
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| Red-footed Booby |
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| Cory's Shearwater |
Our plan today was to walk around St Mary's. The forecast was for fog at various times as there was little wind and that's what we woke to, so we were a little later getting out to allow the cloud lift a little. We met Justin just outside and walked down to Porthloo beach again, a few more waders were on the tideline which included a few Sanderling, Dunlin and a single Ruff. A little further up the road towards the golf course a Common Redstart was seen but we had little else of note before walking back for breakfast.
Our next stop was Lower Moors, where from the hide a female Pintail was close-by then a Jack Snipe briefly flew up before settling partially in view. We waked through to old town then up the path to Peninnis Head, by this time the sun was out and it was heating up again. A few Northern Wheatear were seen and a smart male Black Redstart was on the Lighthouse and some more Cory's Shearwaters were seen distantly although the light was tricky for looking on the sea. On the path back to Hugh Town a Whinchat was the only bird of note. A fine Pasty in town for lunch was followed by another scramble up to Garden Battery to find the Rosy Starling, which for a second time managed to elude us.
In the afternoon we started by walking through Sandy Lane, which was quiet until a single Golden Plover flew over calling. We stopped at Maypole and had another look at what was now a single Wryneck, before news came through of 2 Richard's Pipits about 15 minutes away. We walked to the area and the 2 birds flew over the road calling and settled in a partially cultivated field. We managed to watch the birds albeit from a distance for the next 20 minutes with a Wheatear and Black Redstart also in the field and the Golden Plover did another flyover.
A single Pink-footed Goose was a few fields away and a slightly odd view of a warbler kept us in limbo for a few minutes until we had a better view of what was a Common Whitethroat. We walked through Lower Moors and had a look at the beach at Porth Hellick without much of interest, but ended quite a productive day.
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| Peninnis Head |
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| Peninnis Head |
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| St Mary's Harbour from Little Porth |
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| Porth Hellick beach |
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| Common Redstart |
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| Jack Snipe |
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| Black Redstart |
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| Stonechat |
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| Wheatear |
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| another Wheatear |
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| Common Kestrel |
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| Wryneck |
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| Richard's Pipit |
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| Golden Plover |
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| Pink-footed Goose |
Tuesday 10th October
Our first few days on the island we had done pretty well for the birds and were still lapping up the joy of seeing the Booby and generally how well our plans had worked out on the back of which today was to go to Bryher to try and see Dotterel, Melodious Warbler and Red-backed Shrike. At some point, probably before we left the house, the birding gods decided to kick us in the nuts probably due to what they viewed as over-achievement to date.
We walked straight up to Shipman Head Down where the Dotterel had been for a couple of weeks, well at least until yesterday it had, as there was no sign today. We walked round the head and down the West side of the island to the Popplestone fields where the Melodious Warbler, which had also been around for at least a week also appeared to have followed the Dotterel as there was no sign. So we walked further South to where the Red-backed Shrike had been reported from some unlikely looking fields surrounded by Pittisporum hedges, we had our lunch looking out for the shrike but nothing was giving into us then news came through of an Ortolan Bunting which had been seen near the fire station. So maybe this was going to be the point our luck changed, we worked out where the fire station was and headed in that direction. As we walked up a lane towards the fire station we had to make way for a tractor, after the vehicle passed we saw some birders down on the cricket pitch pointing and positioning themselves looking towards a large hedge. It turned out that the tractor had flushed the Ortolan Bunting at the point we were concentrating on not being run over, which had flown either into or over the hedge, but for us not to be seen again. At that point we decided that we may have been better staying in bed today. The brief highlights of our few hours on Bryher were a Whinchat, several Siskin and a Firecrest.
We got on the first boat back to St Mary's with the weather starting to deteriorate, but as we got back to the quay, reports were saying the Rosy Starling was again in town in trees opposite the Admiral pub on the high street. We went straight there, but there were lots of Starlings around then as we walked past the co-op a birder shot round the corner saying the Rosy Starling was just on the roof of the Co-op. We of course couldn't see the roof from underneath the building !. We went back to Garden Battery and spent more minutes not seeing the Starling again......
Today thankfully ended.
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| Not always worthy of mentions, but Song Thrush have a good population on the islands |
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| Firecrest - todays star bird ! Wednesday 11th October A different plan was needed for today, and with a fairly strong South-Westerly wind we decided to start with a sea-watch on Peninnis Head. We left just before first light, it was about a 30 minute walk, but we had an excellent watch between 7.30am and 12.15am with an incredible passage of Shearwaters, strangely though, until 9.45 we had hardly seen anything and then the waves of birds started to move. totals as follows ; Cory's Shearwater 1,118 Great Shearwater 429 Sooty Shearwater 102 Manx Shearwater 77 Gannet 321 Great Skua 2 Arctic Skua 1 Curlew 1 Whimbrel 1 Kittiwake 1+ The Black Redstart was still in the area before we headed back towards the town, where a quick cup of tea at Justin's included 2 Convolvulus Hawk Moths. With renewed vigour we set out to conquer the Rosy Starling, heading up to Garden Battery just as we got to the top of the steps a birder was walking towards us saying 'the Rosy Starling was just on that rooftop 10 seconds ago' !!! a familiar feeling started descending but this time we were not to be defeated and just as the rain started we saw the Rosy Starling a little distantly but it was seen at least. The afternoon saw us tackling the North of the island up to Telegraph, Newford Duck Pond and towards Watermill, but we saw just common species without adding anything for the trip list.     Thursday 12th October Today we attacked St Martin's, there had been reports yesterday of both Rustic Bunting and Arctic Warbler and with the winds having been more northerly we thought this would be a good bet. The boat to St Martin's leaves earlier at 8.45am so we went straight to the quay in the morning. Both birds had been seen towards the East end of the island, there are 2 quays on St Martin's which are used pending the tides, but we were dropped at the West end of the island, which required a bit of a longer walk. Our original intention was to try first for the Arctic Warbler, but somehow we all ended up following groups to the place the Rustic Bunting had been seen, which was a weedy field near the end of the island. There had obviously been an arrival of Thrushes with several groups of Redwing and a single Fieldfare, some more Golden Plover and surprisingly our first Skylark. Our wait overlooking the weedy field ultimately drew a blank as there was no further sighting of the Rustic Bunting but there had been a recent report that morning of the Arctic Warbler. We walked back to the copse where the bird had been seen and started our vigil. After 2 hours we had only seen a Great Tit, Chiffchaff and Robin. A lot of birders had drifted away but we decided to stay knowing that the return boat around 3pm was from the quay at this end of the island. At around 2pm we heard a shout, ran about 50 metres to a gap in a hedge looking into an orchard and the Arctic Warbler was showing, flitting around the top of a Pittisporum hedge. We had really good views for a short period (not for the camera) and this made our day , it was time enough to head back to the quay and get the boat back to St Mary's . After arriving back on St Mary's seeing another Black Redstart. We finished the day walking to Lower Moors and having an amazing view of a Jack Snipe just below the hide.       Friday 13th October A day to avoid travel, but it was an easy decision to stay on St Mary's as there was nothing of particular note on the other islands although a Pallid Harrier had been seen on St Martin's yesterday afternoon. We started the day walking through Lower Moors and it had the feeling there were more birds around. Flyover Redwing some Fieldfare and Swallows were in the sky along with large numbers of Common Snipe which we saw throughout the day with a flock approaching 25 birds being the largest number. A Willow Warbler singing was a surprise. It's great at this time of year when you can see the overlap between Summer and Winter migrants together. We walked through old town up to the coastal path to walk to the end of the airfield where another Buff-breasted Sandpiper had been seen with a small flock of Golden Plover. We found both in a short time there before walking toward Giant's Castle where a Snow Bunting was reported, we had only spent a short time there with no immediate sign of the Snow Bunting with some Cory's Shearwaters offshore when news of the Pallid Harrier sitting in a tree in Lower moors had us heading back towards town. Ian and I were in front and having rounded the coastal path towards Old Town I saw the Pallid Harrier distantly flying towards the Garrison, Ian managed to see the bird but by the time Chris and Paul had caught up with us the bird had disappeared. We walked through town to the viewpoint at Buzza but the harrier did not reappear. A visit to the cemetery gave us a Spotted Flycatcher and we decided to head back to Giant's Castle to have another go for the Snow Bunting. This time the bird was happily in view enjoying some grass seed. The other highlight of the area was 2 Crimson Speckled Moths. The end of our last full day on the islands and we had another decent meal in the Mermaid in town.         a second Crimson Speckled Moth Saturday 14th October Back to the mainland this afternoon, we walked down to Porthloo beach for the last time this morning and luck was with us as Chris called a raptor looking back towards Hugh town and again we saw the Pallid Harrier which although distant again at least we had all seen the bird, it wasn't visible long before it seemed to go down near Lower Moors. We walked to Lower Moors to see whether it would appear seeing another Glossy Ibis fly over again but no further luck with the Harrier before we had to head back and de-camp from our accommodation and take our bags to the harbour. Once we had sorted out the baggage for the boat it left us with a few hours before we had to return. We were back out again and walked up to Peninnis Head, hearing that the Pallid Harrier had been seen to go down in Lower Moors we found a viewpoint at the end of King Edwards Drive, looking over the area and before long we saw the Pallid Harrier in flight away from Lower Moors along the side of the airport and out to sea, heading purposefully South and away. We took it slowly after that, enjoying another pastie and getting a better view of the Rosy Starling. The Scillonian left on cue and the crossing was fairly quiet seeing a Red-throated diver, more Cory's Shearwater, a Sooty Shearwater, Manx Shearwater and Bonxie. An uneventful drive back from Penzance on Sunday morning ended a good week with over 100 Species and some special birds.         |
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