Scillies - Day Nine - Rose-breasted Grosbeak

What a bonkers day. Invariably when a rare bird gets sighted, I generally lounge around for a couple of days before deciding whether or not to go and see - that's if it's still around of course.

On Scillies, you go.

Having heard the news of the latest mega rare on the Isles, I legged it to the quay and boarded a totally rammed boat toward St. Martin's.

A typically frantic chase ensued, the bird was inconsiderately mobile, disappearing for lengths of time before being refound and charged down by around 200 birders. You wonder why sometimes.

It wasn't until around 3pm that I clapped eyes on the Rose-breasted grosbeak sheltering under a line of trees. It then flew into the adjacent field and I flew off to the quay to get the early boat.

The bird was then seen to fly in our direction by some standing on the slipway. It finally settled in a nearby tree with all the boats occupants able to view it from their offshore positions. It was all slightly mad.

St. Martin's is a beautiful island - it had shamefully taken me five visits to the Isles to get myself there.

As well as the Grosbeak, a Whinchat, Willow Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Raven, Skylark, and Peregrine were all seen while in pursuit of this American finch.

The morning had started calmly, making my way down to the Old Town churchyard where the Red-eyed Vireo was once again showing nicely in the canopy of the elms. Four Swallow flew past.