Scillies - Day One

I do like flying and especially when it's real flying such as Skybus' twin props.  It was a windy morning at St Just and the flight to the Isles was touch and go but we got out on schedule.

And it started well on Scillies too with this ridiculously confiding Spotted Crake that scampered towards the boardwalk on Lower Moors before disappearing back into undergrowth.

It was dull and overcast, the excitement of the previous couple of weeks had passed, so it was a case of sweeping up the long stayers on the island that included this American Golden Plover on the beach at Porth Hellick.

I spent some time in the Stephen Sussex hide watching the feeding probable Wilson's Snipe and trying to compare it to the groups of Common Snipe on the pools at Porth Hellick.  It did feel like a different bird, very contrasty, barred flanks and much paler upper and underparts.  Something else I noticed just how well-marked the head was, resembling Jack Snipe.  Photos have shown obvious barred auxillaries and dark bars on the outer tail feathers, but I guess the overlaps between the two species are being examined and time will tell whether the bird is ultimately proven to be our American counterpart.

Unfortunately I wasn't able to get any photographs but pics of Common Snipe below.

   

Another highlight was my first ever Prickly Stick-Insect at the Old Town Churchyard.  I had no idea they were present on the island.  I also found a vocal Firecrest there.  A Laboratory Stick-Insect was brought into the log at the Scillonian in the evening.

It brightened up at the end of the day and this juvenile Common Redstart was present on rocks at Porthcressa.