Isles of Scilly - 3rd to 12th October 2024
3rd October
Familiar streets, familiar faces, so great to be back on the magic Isles. Expectations heightened as to what might transpire this week.
The journey from home took nine hours of unexpected efficiency - three trains, a flight, and a taxi - all of which were on-time. Shame that this level of punctuality feels like a rare win.
Not wasting any time, and with bags dropped into the apartment, I scampered up to Penninis where the short-toed lark rather rudely marked my arrival by vanishing from site. Taking this personally, a visit to the Standing Stones field did however yield a red-backed shrike, wryneck, and a vocal yellow-browed warbler.
4th October
Felt a bit ropey today but was up at a decent hour and was out for another go at the short-toed lark which was nowhere to be seen. Walking round Penninis was of course an absolute joy but there was very little around. A wryneck sat up on a stone wall viewed from the western side saved the morning.
The plan was a trip across to Tresco for a go at the western bonelli's warbler that appeared to have left our shores. There was very little on offer apart from a spotted flycatcher seen within scrub west of the Great Pool and a lone grey plover that flew round close to Carn Near.
Back on St. Mary's, the short-toed lark finally revealed itself and showed quite well as it crept through the weedy field adjacent to King Edwards Lane.
Making tracks down to Newman Battery area on The Garrison, the 1st winter ring ouzel finally gave itself up sitting up on some vegetation in the gardens of Newman House before heading north. A yellow-browed warbler was calling from elms close to the cottage and a whimbrel flew past the Battery.
5th October
The rain set in at around 3pm, heavy rain and strong winds, but the strength of the wind was a feature for much of the day. The morning started with a visit to the now enduring short-toed lark showing well on the well-furrowed field on Penninis. A juvenile peregrine dashed through toward Old Town.
After a brief visit to see Harold Wilson at the Old Town Churchyard, I continued onto Carreg Dhu gardens where a firecrest was heard but evaded sight along the track from Carn Friars Road. The gardens yielded little of note.
Wandering past Longstones resisting indulgent temptations, the vineyard at the Holy Vale end of Sandy Lane held a pied flycatcher, spotted flycatcher, yellow-browed warbler, and two chiffchaff amongst commoner species. Spending at least 45 minutes there watching the flycatchers dart in and out of the vegetation at close range appeared incongruous relative to the dearth of migrants elsewhere.
I spent a bit of time at Carreg Dhu gardens, sheltering from the breeze and just chilling out a bit before wandering down through Rocky Hill and into Lower Moors where a water rail was seen practicing a bit of self-care with an enthusiastic wash by the reedbed.
Finally onto Penninis Head where the wind was now keener than before, the grey looming on the horizon in anticipation of the impending storm. Gannet swooped by and a Cory's shearwater flew close in and landed on the sea for around 15 minutes, later seen heading off west.
6th October
A brilliant day of Scilly birding that comprised a hat-trick of new birds for Scilly. Walking out onto Porthcressa, I was stunned to see a juvenile little tern actively feeding close to the shoreline. It was present there for around 20 minutes later relocating to the Old Town Bay where it rested on the beach showing down to around 10 metres. A rare bird on Scilly.
Having met Rob and Ian, we made our way through the allotments at Penninis where three spotted flycatcher and a willow warbler were actively feeding amongst the vegetation. It felt rare after last night's storm on a still and muggy morning.
The short-toed lark was again present in the furrowed field on Penninis showing down to a few metres.
A pied flycatcher was picked up on the pines along the field margins. The skies darkened, it was very still but the impending showers materialised into a deluge and we got properly soaked. We eventually made our way to the Old Town Church taking refuge in God's house. "It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain" Isaiah 4:6 :-)
The rain relented and out we popped, picking up a brief firecrest in the churchyard. Making our way through the Old Town, the little tern was once again feeding within the bay.
Lamenting the water ingress of my camera, we tracked through via lower moors when a message came through of a tawny pipit on the airfield which eventually presented itself nicely throughout the day.
At least ten wheatear were on the airfield but there were probably many more.
Two whinchat were seen en route later adding another two at Carn Friars during a glorious afternoon after the skies cleared with the sun beating down drying off the residue of the earlier downpour.
Walking along the coastal path toward Giant's Castle, a hobby flew through, a new Scilly bird for me.
Cake and coffee at Longstones was an overdue first of the trip at Longstones. Then it was a mad dash for the ortolan that was reported on the airfield. Heading along Sandy Lane, picking up two cattle egret along the way, there was no sign of the bird but the tawny pipit was again looking great backlit from the welcome sunshine.
The ortolan failed to reveal itself so a walk over to Lower Moors for the showy Jack snipe was a welcome year bird. To my frustration, the ortolan was reported again that finally gave itself up - just - as it appeared intermittently along the vegetated furrows. Another new Scilly bird (stunning photo below).
It was one of those crazy Scilly days that make visiting the magic Isles such a joy.
7th October
Plenty of ground covered but it was a case of 'as you were' with the long stayers prolonging their sojourn on the magic Isles. The overnight storm had passed leaving a luminated morning. Once again meeting the tireless Ian and Rob, a repeat of yesterday's route through the allotments produced two willow warbler and a single spotted flycatcher.
The short-toed lark was once again enjoying life in the tilled field showing down to a few metres. Heading down to the Old Town, the juvenile little tern was present for a second day flying close to the shoreline. The red-backed shrike was still enjoying its environs at the Standing Stones field.
Another look at the ortolan near the airfield was an improvement on the views from the previous evening in better light.
We wound out way past the airfield up to Carreg Dhu and onto Longstones for the customary and essential coffee and cake where a vocal tree pipit flew over. En route to Sandy Lane a spotted flycatcher was present along the track to Holy Vale. A pied flycatcher, spotted flycatcher and yellow-browed warbler were entertaining the assembled crowd along Sandy Lane although we missed out on the red-breasted flycatcher.
Heading through the Holy Vale trail, the forecasted rain set in. Taking shelter in the Stephen Sussex hide at Porth Hellick, a whimbrel flew past as the rain tumbled down.
A brief hiatus from the rain, we made for Sandy Lane again but the rain had once again presented itself with vigour. I broke away from my peers and sought shelter in Carreg Dhu gardens. It continued to pour down but spirits were lifted while watching an energetic firecrest totally unperturbed by the relentless torrent.
The rain did finally abate, returning to Sandy Lane and then up to Borough Farm heading to Newford Duckpond where a water rail and grey wagtail felt like meager consolations to a dearth of, well anything really. Checking the fields along Pungies Lane only revealed four skylark.
On the golf course, 13 golden plover wheeled round and landed out of site. Unfortunately the dotterel eluded our gaze.
Three lapwing and six snipe flew over on our walk down to Porthloo where a 2nd winter Mediterranean gull was loafing offshore.
8th October
A relaxed start to the morning heading to the quay for today's visit to Bryher. An unprecedented group of three barnacle goose flew past the harbour heading in the direction of Tresco. A further eight birds were then seen flying past once we had landed on Bryher.
A great start to the day with Rob and Ian heading down to the Great Pool where the whooper swan was present with six mute swan. On cue, a message came through that the hoopoe had been picked up at Great Par and within no time, we had seen it fly onto the beach where it rested giving lovely views. It remained in the area for a while before flying further inland. A great egret was also present there. A single whinchat was seen on the walk back toward to the pool and all this before we'd hit 11:30 which made the day a little less frantic.
After coffee and cake at Olivia's we made our way up to the headland but there was very little around apart from a couple of wheatear. The day was a mix of sunshine and showers on a keen westerly but passerines were very much in short supply. Spotted flycatcher and two blackcap were the only other species of interest as the rain cleared.
On the quay, a grey plover was seen distantly along the beach on the receding tide.
Back on St. Mary's, the dotterel was strutting along the golf course, always a lovely bird to catch up with. At porthloo, a small selection of waders included six sanderling, seven ringed plover, three bar-tailed godwit, five turnstone and a curlew.
9th October
A slightly different feel to the day as the winds swung round to a northerly direction heralding a small influx of redwing which were a feature most of the day. Meeting up with the indefatigable Rob and Ian, the now well worked route started at Porthcressa with two 1st winter Mediterranean gull loafing just offshore and a great egret resting on rocks beneath the allotments. Walking through the allotments, two spotted flycatcher were still present there.
The short-toed lark was continuing to enjoy its prolonged stay on Penninis once again showing down to a few metres. A female merlin initially seen distantly on rocks on the western side of Penninis flew a little closer allowing great scope views. A few Cory's shearwater were passing by the headland.
Heading down toward the Old Town, the juvenile red-backed shrike had moved into a smallholding adjacent to the road where we watched it catching wasps at close range.
A brief but failed attempt at the ortolan, we wound our way down to Porth Hellick where two wigeon were present in front of the Stephen Sussex hide much to the delight of the boys. We then passed through Carn Friars and up to Normandy where another spotted flycatcher was seen in trees to the back of a field, with another present at the reliable site at the Sandy Lane end of Holy Vale.
Two stock dove flew over Rocky Hill and swallow were another feature of the day with around 30 over Lower Moors.
10th October
Flogged the fields round St. Mary's today deciding not to join the crowds on Aggy. On Penninis, two golden plover flew over the headland while walking along the western track where a wryneck was flushed from vegetation close to the stone walls. A merlin shot past in pursuit of meadow pipits on the headland. A single house martin shot through and a few were seen during the course of the day.
The short-toed lark was still present on Penninis. Redwing were continuing to pass through with a few seen grounded feeding in the weedy fields. A surprise flypast of five whooper swan at Porth Hellick rested in the bay that later headed off west. A single reed bunting was also present there.
One whinchat was still at Carn Friars. Other highlights included three firecrest at Maypole and a pink-footed goose flying over Watermill.
The most interesting sight of the day were the goose barnacles that had unfortunately been grounded on a high tide in incredible numbers. They were still alive but their fate is bleak unless a high tide could somehow wash the sizable flotsam back into the sea,
11th October
A glorious morning welcomed my arrival to Porthcressa shortly after sunrise. Today felt like something was stirring and it certainly came to pass. Strolling up to Penninis, a lone wheatear was feeding on the headland.
Two whooper swans, part of a group that seem to be doing the rounds flew through Porthcressa. A lovely 1st year black redstart was bouncing around the beach at Porthcressa.
The plan was to head to St. Agnes where without too much of a wait, two olive-backed pipits were crawling through bulb dump close to the pool/cricket pitch. The two birds were then flushed by a vehicle powering down the adjacent track alighting in a path where one bird showed beautifully - really stunning birds and a proper autumn gem in my opinion.
It was a stunning day. The sun was out on a gentle easterly. A wheatear flew onto the coastal path near to Periglis as I made my way up through Barnaby Lane to Wingeltang deciding to just sit in the sun, and take in the views.
However, there was much yet to see. The snow bunting was busily feeding close to the maze where a nearby pink-footed goose looked forlorn within a small croft.
High overhead, a short-eared owl was getting buzzed by a couple of corvids. The owl was later seen flying low to the north of the island, this being only my second for the isles.
Heading back to Porth Killier was the stroke of luck I needed. Distantly over St. Mary's, a black kite was soaring over the centre of the island past the transmitter seen clearly through the scope. While hoped for, this was a massive surprise and a long overdue first sighting in the UK.
Back on St. Mary's, the Isabelline wheatear delighted the crowds just beneath the Star Castle on the Garrison.
12th October
A final stroll round Penninis Head on a glorious morning basking in the sun and contemplating the end of another brilliant few days on the magic Isles. The long-staying wryneck and short-toed lark, and a 1st winter black redstart on the town-side of Porthcressa completed the morning walk before the journey home.
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