randombirder

A truly bonkers day that will go down as one of my best Scilly experiences, and probably one of my best birding experiences. Expect the unexpected is the way things go on these Isles. Feeling energised after a cheeky lie-in, the rosy starling was present, after a brief attempt yesterday, sitting up on residential dwellings at Little Porth. Feeling buoyed by this, I headed for the quay. A few hours on Agnes was the plan on another warm, glorious sunny day. The buff-breasted sandpiper was typically confiding, scampering around the assembled crowd. Not particularly desperate to see anything in particular, I watched the sea for a bit and then walked the coast path toward Coastguards. This is when the fun started. A morning boat had already set off for Bishops Rock, a speculative visit to the lighthouse with the hope of some interesting seabirds and the outside chance of something a little more scarce. And then the news came through that it was there. The red-footed booby was there!! I l...

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 photogra...

An eventful weekend.  The plan was to head to Scilly for the day.  Silly indeed.  A spontaneous trip planned for an early departure from Newquay with, by association, an even earlier start from London.  The drive was quick, I mean, four hours to Newquay Airport.  That's the catch with drives to Cornwall.  Do them at night when everyone is in the pub or in bed. I was knackered already, waiting to board the flight.  But the announcement came.  Flight cancelled.  Aircraft had gone 'tech' (as they call it the industry). Full refund received and off I went.  Back in the car and no plan.  One thing was certain.  I had a hotel room booked in Newquay. So obviously I headed down to Porthgwarra.  Made sense as it was only an hour and twenty minutes away.  Cornwall tapers, and my goodness it tapers with mileage. It was breezy, the sun came and went.  As did the rain.  Horizontal at times. But it was sunny whe...

I'll have to remind myself about the fortuitousness nature of this one and how it went some way to banishing the disappointments of recent failed missions.  A little late starting out after Friday drinks yesterday evening, the head was feeling a little tender, but the plan was to get out and see something new. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper had arrived at Dungeness yesterday afternoon and was still present this morning.  The weather wasn't great in London but was agreeably pleasant on the promontory of Dungeness, warm sunshine coupled with a keen but warm southerly breeze. I decided to head for the Makepeace Hide where the neartic wader had been reliably observed during the length of its short stay.  It was picked up distantly on one of the islands half way out on Burrowes Pit where it was evident that the bird was extremely mobile.  I decided to stay put while the other birders made for the Firth hide. It was only after a couple of minutes or so when I picked up t...