randombirder

These were slower days after the initial flurry of activity.  Days that allowed time for tea and cake which is essential for trips to Scilly.  Just strolling around in beautiful autumn sunshine that felt more like summer than the slowly diminishing remains of yet another sidereal year. Views like this from the old town cemetery never tire. The 6th returned a confiding snow bunting that after a bit of a search, re-appeared along King Edwards Lane barely a couple of metres away. A quick decision to head down to the quay for a trip across to St. Agnes for my annual visit to see my dear friend David Bradshaw which is always a Scilly highlight for me.  A quick coffee and scone at the Coastguards Cafe and we were off to catch up with two dotterel that had made landfall on Wingletang Down.  A merlin flashed by but the buff-bellied pipit had moved on. The light radiated across the islands. The 7th was a real treat.  The tide was sufficiently low to allow safe pedestri...

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 redsha...