Isles of Scilly - 3rd October 2021

A really great day in the company of many of the regular autumn Scilly birders.  Headed out to Tresco stopping first at the Swarowski Hide where the spotted redshank was still present on the Great Pool.

A female pintail was associating with the common wildfowl, a single grey wagtail, two pink-footed goose, snipe and a couple of house martin provided interest.  Having been totally oblivious to the presence of two pectoral sandpiper on Abbey Pool, the rather inconvenient walk back from whence I came provided consolation for the effort made.

From there via the cafe, the climb up to Castle Down yielded the dotterel that wasn't all that confiding, keeping its distance but providing satisfying views across the heather-filled landscape. 

Moving onto Bryher in now improving weather conditions began the search for the buff-breasted sandpiper that was eventually located along the track on Shipman Head Down.  Lying down on the heather in an attempt to get some photographs, the bird started to walk towards me.  Keeping still and totally oblivious to my presence while the other birders congregated behind me, the buffy continued its approach nonchanantly feeding within a few feet, while desperately trying to keep still.  At that moment, it was best just to put the camera aside and watch this diminutive nearctic wader walk pass my position.

 A truly wonderful moment.

A couple of adult mediterranean gull were seen from the boat back to St.Mary's.