randombirder

October is a phenomenal month for birding, where the unexpected is somewhat expected but in what form is down to the birding gods.  The Rufous-tailed Bush Robin was first reported on Saturday morning - wholly unexpected - an absence from the UK of around forty years demonstrates just how scarce this species is.  I'd tried to prise them out in Spain in the past with no success - they're not easy to find and are relatively scarce breeders across the Iberian Peninsular. Heading back from Scillies on the Saturday, an early alarm call and I was on my way to Stiffkey for first light. A fair sized group had already congregated in an area of arable immediately west of the car park.  Thankfully the bird was still present feeding amongst the stubble and short scrub along the field margin.  The long rufous tail was conspicuous in the low morning light - rising and dipping as it scampered around picking off small inverts.  It was damp and very gloomy on the Norfolk coast.   A really satis

Leaving Scilly is always a sombre moment.  It's been another great trip with undoubted highlights being the Black-and-White Warbler and Swainson's Thrush.  But it's never always about the sightings, to concentrate solely on the birdlife diminishes the visceral experience of spending time on the Isles.  As always, it's also refreshing that it won't be too long before I set foot back on these venerated shores. A quick walk out onto Porthcressa, where a Black Redstart flicked through while waiting for the Nightingale to appear at Little Porth which didn't actually appear despite a couple of attempts.  I guess one was enough for the trip. The flight back was as exhilarating as always. Until next year.

An interesting day with the thoughts of leaving looming large on the horizon.  A long walk was planned today in the hope of kicking up something along the way.  Finding a Red-breasted Flycatcher along the slopes of the allotments on the west side of Porthcressa heightened hopes for the day. This interesting yet rather bedraggled Meadow Pipit resembled features of the Icelandic race appearing much darker than its warmer counterparts. Making slow and deliberate progress was reaping its rewards in modest ways.  At least three House Martin were associating with Swallow as seen from the Penninis Trail.  Pausing for a while at the Old Town Churchyard, a male Blackcap , two Firecrest , and a flyover Grey Wagtail  kept hope bubbling away.  There was a notable increase in Goldcrest numbers. While checking out the sallows in the standing stones field, a Yellow-browed Warbler popped out - a lovely bird of course but there was hope of something a little scarcer.  Four more were seen/heard la

It was a glorious day today.  The sun was shining, the sky blue, and the wind had dropped.  Wasn't sure where to stroll today so headed along the path towards Penninis from Porthcressa.  Both Redwing and Fieldfare were features today with both species searing overhead in reasonable numbers.  Swallow were pulsing through Porthcressa Bay. Strolling slowly along the track bumping into a few birders along the way, my mind was made up for a trip to St. Agnes, and there were a couple of incentives. An about-turn and just a few metres along the track, a stonking male Ring Ouzel scampered along the path halting our progress - adorning a gorgeous gorget and shimmering wings. A little further just before the allotments, a vocal Yellow-browed Warbler busied itself in the morning sun.  Piling onto a packed boat to St. Agnes proved that the American Buff-bellied Pipit was a popular bird that wasn't too difficult to pin down at the stunning Horse Point.  While associating with a group o

More ramblings today heading first to Penninis where after a couple of attempts, the Snow Bunting was feeding close to the lighthouse showing really well, and a lovely one too. Bumping into Rob Stonehouse, we heading down toward Porth Hellick checking the airfield for anything that may have dropped in but it was all very quiet.  A lone Wheatear was present along the coastal path near the airfield. Heading down toward the pool, a Lapwing was seen flying north over the downs - a bonus bird as this was my first ever on Scillies in six years.  We also saw it fly during the afternoon. An area of bracken near Camel Rock where the Little Bunting had been frequenting the previous day  popped out briefly onto the path after a short wait, disappearing again into the long grass. A lot of walking and very little of note, missing out on the Barred Warbler above Watermill that inconveniently decided to bunk off for a bit. Back at Porth Hellick, two Jack Snipe were bobbing by Stephen Sussex hide

A trip to Tresco today.  Yesterday had seen a flurry of interesting vagrants onto the island suggesting there was plenty around.  The weather was changeable, blustery with frequent showers.  It didn't feel great out there demonstrated by just how difficult it was to catch up with some hoped for species. Wandering around Abbey Pool, two Crossbill flew over calling.  A single Snipe was present on the far side of the pool, and the three resident Black Swan were looking typically ornamental.  Grey Heron  numbers had increased to nine by late afternoon on Abbey Pool with two  Little Egret  there. Great Spotted Woodpecker on the Isles is still a rare commodity so one in the Abbey Gardens was a welcome sighting although I can foresee this being a more frequent occurrence.  Around the Abbey, two Firecrest , and three Yellow-browed Warbler all showed really well at times.  On the great pool, five Wigeon , two Pochard , three Shoveler , three Redshank , Greenshank and a Mute Swan were pr

To be honest, I was still annoyed this morning. The only way to appease this was to head to Bryher again in the hope that the bird was still there. A couple of hours had passed with no sign at all. I'd ambled off in the hope of finding something else lurking within the vegetation. I could hardly believe it when my phone chimed with the news that the swainson's thrush been seen again. Sprinting back to the location, and a short wait, the diminutive catharus appeared, and showed brilliantly at times as it flitted around the thickets. Such redemption and a huge relief after the calamity of yesterday. A brilliant bird, noticeably smaller than song thrush, with clean pale underparts and that diagnostic eye-ring. It was just wonderful to observe. The day had started on the Garrison where a single flyover redwing was the only sighting of note. Later, a walk around Porthloo beach was brimming with waders with at least 45 sanderling , and two bar-tailed Godwit feeding along t

I don't really know how to describe today other than feeling just 'a little' perplexed by an aberration in my decision making process. The plan was to spend a relaxing day in Tresco after the relentless exertions of autumn Scilly birding of the previous days. This was until a wrench was well and truly thrown into the works when reports started to come through of a Swainson's Thrush on Bryher. Having failed to connect with the one on St. Mary's, perhaps another opportunity had presented itself.   But we had a plan - and that plan was a day-trip to Tresco.  No deviations. The conundrum is as follows. Considering the situation objectively, vagrant Swainson's are buggers to connect with.  Catharus can be notoriously evasive, appearing for a few moments, then disappearing into deep cover, frustratingly for long periods. I just wasn't prepared to focus my gaze onto a hedge potentially for hours. My objective and pragmatic approach made sense at the time, I d

A much more sedate day after the carnage of yesterday which was quite a relief.  It's great seeing rare birds but the associated mad dash and in some cases - the lack of distancing - makes the event less enticing than what would be expected during 'normal' times. Heading first to Penninis where a couple of vocal Crossbill flew over and a couple of Raven drifted by.  This Peregrine put in an appearance while battling a stiff breeze.  A Wheatear was seen near Pulpit Rock. An attempt to connect with the Swainson's Thrush were all in vein as the bird wasn't sighted at all today. An amusing chat with Rob Lambert and Cliff Smith made my morning as we watched a showy Yellow-browed Warbler bounce thorough the willows near Nowhere. A vocal tail-dipping Chiffchaff was present there too. A Small Copper basked in the strong sunlight. We then took a long walk around the island - hugging the coastline and taking in the backdrop.  A couple of Grey Seal were seen close in

Well.  What a day it turned out to be.  It all started quite sedately actually.  A wander round the Garrison in the morning but seeing very little apart from a Wheatear and a few Goldcrest flitting around the pines.  Heading down towards Pottery took two attempts (because of the limited viewing area) to see the Lesser Whitethroat showing features of blythii.  It did look very brown on the mantle as it flicked low into the sycamores. The Swainson's Thrush was reported again, this time in paddocks within the vicinity of the dump clump.  There was a lot of birders there so decided to stay away and look for the reported and continuing Nightingale .  A short wait and the bird popped out and settled on the metal fenceline.  Another crazy Scilly sighting of what is usually a skulking migrant.    Then the messages started appearing.  A totally underwhelming message of a Black-and-White Warbler on Tresco had all birders charging for the quay.  Thankfully there were two boats heading off

Tuesday was one of those days where it felt that effort wasn't fully rewarded with any quality.  Apart from a brief Common Rosefinch at the New Point Quarry, there wasn't much to shout about.  The wind was still strong from the west making meanderings a little cumbersome. The day's only notable sightings were of a lone Sand Martin again associating with around eight Swallow in the open area next to the Old Town Church.  A small group of Siskin flew over while wandering around Normandy. Wednesday was so much better, the wind had eased feeling a lot milder than the past few days.  The low sun illuminating through the high cloud.  At last, it felt Scillonian again.  Heading towards Porth Hellick, a juvenile Ring Ouzel flew past me close to the airfield turning circle, pausing briefly before heading away.  Two Wheatear were present in the area. Porth Hellick itself held the juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper that had arrived the previous afternoon, viewed through the gap to the

A slightly better day weatherwise - the wind had relented somewhat but there was still a stiff breeze blowing.  A bonus couple of hours sunshine felt warm in sheltered areas. A few interesting sightings today started with a Merlin shooting over Porthcressa beach.   Heading down to the Old Town cemetery where around a dozen Swallow were flying around along with a single Sand Martin .  A male Blackcap flew into cover. Heading up toward Longstones where the six long-staying Pink-footed Goose were grazing in a field adjacent to Sandy Lane. Things began to pick up a bit down toward Porth Hellick where a Whinchat was seen along the trail. Nine Crossbill were seen flying into pines opposite the Stephen Sussex hide. Migrants were still very thin on the ground but three Wheatear at Giant's Castle and one at Penninis were the first sightings of the trip.  A small flock of Siskin scurried through towards Porth Hellick. A Kingfisher arrowed across the Old Town bay.