Mood swings

Starting to get downhearted? Not a bit of it. I'm here, in the game and still 4 more days to go!

Things started well today when I returned to Carn Gwarval first thing to try and get a peep at the Barred Warbler. It was windy, very windy but the area concerned was reasonably sheltered. I had the site to myself but after 30 minutes I hadn't seen it. A mature lady birder turned up and she commented on the strength of the wind and the limited chances of seeing it. She started to wander off down the lane when she shouted "here it is!" She was right...

A fine, uplifting sight. Chuffed to get an image of a very elusive and fast moving bird. After returning to the flat to pick up the now fully titivated partner we walked down to Old Town bay. I stopped off at the dump clump were I bumped into Viv Stratton, a veteran of Scilly and west country birding. We had a chat over the Scilly/Shetland debate. Interesting stuff but with no real conclusion! Great to see him...nice bloke.

When we reached Old Town I checked out the Churchyard while Louise read on a bench with a friend for company. Scilly Song Thrushes have to be the tamest...

Great birds

Nice Little Egret in the bay...

and a dapper Heron...

As we moved on towards the airport we noticed Old Town cafe was open. This is the first year since we got together it has been open during our visit. A nice surprise indeed!

After lunch I spent some time in Lower Moors looking for the Jack Snipe. I couldn't find it but there were a couple of Common...

A fine Greenshank was showing well...

Despite giving it a good hour all I could muster was 3 Chiffchaffs! You could say things were...quiet. The wind was still strong so I suggested to the boss that she might want a little shopping fix. She unsurprisingly agreed and I headed off for...

This famed site has produced some great birds over the years...I've never seen anything here...today was no different as I couldn't locate the R.B.Fly seen over previous days. As I was searching Alan Hannington wandered past and told me a Great Northern Diver was showing off Morning Point. I arrived to find a handful of hopefuls looking out to sea. The sea was obviously rough which made viewing difficult. One chap gave me a clue which direction to look and after a short time I connected...

summer plumage

Again, the camera did well. This bird was a good 800yds out. A handy tool for record shots. Other interest was provided by another Med' Gull...

A final bonus came in the form of a Kittiwake which I managed to pick out amongst the Black-headeds

Couldn't resist another panorama from the Garrison over Hugh Town and beyond...

Trip total...59

St Agnes tomorrow. Hope they've got some pasties at the Turks Head!

Calm before the Storm

Pre-breakfast walk produced a Med' Gull on Porthcressa...

We decided to have a trip to Tresco...

View across to Bryer

Slow again I'm afraid. I'd love to be waxing lyrical about all the great birds I've seen...alas not today. Highlight was a Kingfisher on the off island rocks! A couple of Kittiwakes on the return journey were notable.

As we approached St Mary's a familiar sight came into view...

my favourite aspect, as it disappears!

Finished off trying for the Barred Warbler in the quarry at Carn Gwarval, a site incidentally I'd never visited before. It wasn't to be. A report of a Short-eared Owl on the airport pricked my ears up as this would have been a Scilly tick, but I couldn't get "on it".

Trip total...51

Chilled..for now

Day started rather belatedly at Porthcressa...a combination of sleep catch up and MOTD! A Black Redstart had been reported and it was just round the corner...the beach that is!. It was a beautiful day, clear, crisp sunshine with a moderate southwesterly. There's always something on this beach and today was no exception. The Black Red' didn't reveal itself despite a good hours vigil but I managed 3 Wheatears...

2 Stonechats and a Grey Wagtail...

There were also plenty of Rock Pipits...

I'll cut this one short. It was a quiet day, a couple of late House Martins were notable.

We ended up at Porth Hellick enjoying these Greenshanks...

There are a reasonable number of birders present on the islands and the forecast looks favourable. Maybe tomorrow?

The Shetland/Scilly debate rolls endlessly on. My opinion for what it's worth. Holiday on Scilly, twitch Shetland! Simple.

For the record I've seen 39 species so far

Postcard from SCILLY

View of Penninis Head and St Agnes from Morning Point

Landed and connected, after an up and down start to the day. 

We arrived at Land's End around 10.30pm and checked into our B&B. The weather was foul most of the way down...strong wind and driving rain. We'd checked on-line to discover that flights and sailings had been cancelled on Friday so we feared the worst as we ate breakfast. A 5 minute drive had us at the airport for 7.45am. It was uncomfortably quiet as I parked the car. No sign of any planes but there was a minibus?  

I entered the reception area to join Louise and spotted some familiar faces from previous years. After a short chat it became obvious that we were "on hold". Strong cross winds on St Mary! The Spewllonian was sailing at 10, this wasn't an option for us. Many fellow travellers disagreed and off they went...all the best!

A further chat with the girl on the desk revealed that the chances of flying today were "slim" and there would be no flights on Sunday! Therefore 2 DAYS down the drain. Miraculously shortly after the minibus had dis-appeared we were asked to check our luggage in. Next news we were in the departure lounge...and away!

A strange sequence of events with many theories being aired. I couldn't have cared less...we were GOING!!

We landed around 11 and checked in the flat.

That's that. The birds? Nothing to report I'm afraid. I had a go for the Barred Warbler near the Health Centre and the R.B.
Fly on the Garrison. No joy.

To be honest I'm just glad we're here! The real stuff starts tomorrow...hopefully?

Rough-legged Buzzard

Following on from my futile attempt to relocate the RLB late on Tuesday, I received a text from Phil Jones informing me he'd seen a/the RLB at Skeffling this afternoon...and boy...did he see it!!!

I've a couple of hours to look for it in the morning.

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Well, the time has finally arrived. I've harped on about it long enough. Weather looks promising...time will tell. I'll try and post updates during the week, hopefully telling you about all the American Warblers I've seen.  Well, you can dream...can't you?

They will always be Dendroica to me...simply my favourite genus!

ISABELLINE SHRIKE!

Convenience store or Hypermarket? I'm afraid I weakened and by 2 I was heading for Spurn. What swung it was the Hoopoe which was seen again late yesterday. As I approached Long Bank I could see a few birders running around like headless chickens...somethings afoot I thought! Turns out they'd found an ISABELLINE SHRIKE! (P.156, S.116)

Being in situ before the throng arrived allowed me to position myself on the bank to obtain a few pics...

An excellent find by Steve Lawton and his pal. I'd seen him at various sites over the years but this was the first time I'd spoke to him. We had a good chat and he told me he'd been on the same ferry as me returning from the RUBYTHROAT twitch. He'd also shared a car with Simon Slade who I twitched the CAPE MAY with! This twitching world is a small one. Steve must be OK...he's got a German Shepherd!

A couple more...

Not great this one BUT it does show the russet forehead and tail...

Still plenty of tired migrants around. Goldcrests seen in every conceivable habitat including lawns!

On the Beach edge...

Great birds...full of character.

Oh Dear...

SIBERIAN THRUSH, SHETLAND!!!

Not again...and definitely NOT for me. I must admit my Scilly defence is looking decidedly brittle at the moment. It's not surprising however that with more observer coverage and netting that Siberian birds are being discovered at this high latitude. Just got a text of young gun Chris Bromley asking me if I want a place on a charter from York tomorrow. Really appreciate him giving me the heads up...which I unfortunately can't take this time. I told them...don't gobble 'em all up to quickly...you'll have to take up fishing/golf/tiddlywinks by the time you're 30 chaps! I'll add this one to my retirement list...if I get there...

Massive rarity BUT I have to admit, it's a pretty dull uninspiring individual. I'm only jealous!

A decent last couple of hours

Earlies caught up with me as the pager woke me up mid-afternoon with the news of a Rough-legged Buzzard on Beacon lane.  I decided to park on Long Bank so I could scan the area (and give Bud a stretch) as I wasn't sure where the bird or birders were. I gave it 30 minutes, nothing came over the radio, so I decided to have a look in the Crown and Anchor car park.

It was obvious there had been "a fall". Siskins were feeding like mice around my feet...

Goldcrests (P.155) were everywhere, constantly moving through the vegetation...

It seemed like a good decision especially when this gem came briefly into view....

Yellow-browed Warbler

The shine was taken off the decision slightly when I heard Mick Turton announce the RLB had just flown over his head at Easington Cemetry. If I'd remained on Long Bank...I'd have seen it! Still, I'd seen some good stuff. There was also a Hoopoe seen after I left!

I shop at the convenience store (Holmpton). The Hypermarket is down the road!

Finish at 1 tomorrow so I'm hoping for a last good thrash before heading for the South West...

Scilly me

You've heard enough of my loyalty to Scilly. All the young guns (and some older ones) understandably favouring the Northern Isles...I've succumbed twice. Good choices though, I feel!

When you've been blogging a while there's a danger of inevitable repetition. Maybe things have changed but one thing I DO know...Scilly will strike again...hopefully next week.

A few reasons I go...it pasted in a strange order but you get the idea!

European Penduline Tit

Hawfinch

Eurasian Serin

Red-eyed Vireo

Rose-coloured Starling

Radde's Warbler

Dusky Warbler

Subalpine Warbler

Pallas's Warbler

Spectacled Warbler

Booted Warbler

Melodious Warbler

Blyth's Reed Warbler

American Robin

Aquatic Warbler

Grey-cheeked Thrush

Isabelline Wheatear

Bluethroat (red-spotted)

Citrine Wagtail

Buff-bellied Pipit

Red-throated Pipit

Blyth's Pipit

Tawny Pipit

Olive-backed Pipit

Red-rumped Swallow

Short-toed Lark

Common Nighthawk

Chimney Swift

Snowy Owl

Sabine's Gull

Spotted Sandpiper

Solitary Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Upland Sandpiper

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

Pectoral Sandpiper

White-rumped Sandpiper

American Golden Plover

Cream-coloured Courser

Sora

Spotted Crake

American Black Duck

Blue-winged Teal

Lesser Scaup

Wilson's Snipe

Black-and-white Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Ovenbird

Northern Waterthrush

Common Yellowthroat 

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

...and that's just what I've seen...still plenty I haven't.

Cuckoo please!

Grey Phalarope

Got home around 3 after the delights of the first buz! I decided to go up to Out Newton for a while to see what was passing...maybe some Whooper Swans? I'd been there around 20 minutes when a message came through..."Grey Phalarope off Easington boat yard". A bird always worth seeing, especially if it was close in.

I arrived at the boat yard and had a scan. No sign of the bird...granted, it's not the biggest! I then got a shout from Ian Smith who'd just arrived to say it was showing further North opposite the Gas terminal We walked up the beach and I noticed John Hewitt and Steve Exley on the clifftop. They were looking at it feeding on the tideline...nice. I had great views through the 'scope and managed a few pics...

P.154, S.115

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More weather theories abound on-line. BIG low to the west stretching from way out west...Newfoundland to be precise. This combined with easterlies hitting these hear parts COULD make it a VERY interesting week...PLEASE!!!

• 

Pied Fly!

No big deal in the grand scheme of things BUT a BIG deal to me! It was obvious from the off that birds were present from dawn. Any bird is encouraging. Amongst the common migrants I managed to dig out my first Pied Flycatcher (H.106). It CAN happen here!

A few reports of Whooper Swans moving South but no luck here...yet.

A few bits

Managed a couple of village ticks the last few days. First 8 Brent Geese flew south along the beach. I know..well overdue! This was quickly followed by at least 4 Brambling in the garden of the last house on School lane. This brings my Village life list to a modest 135. Plenty to go at.

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A few more thoughts from the weekend. So, I actually saw Shetland in daylight on my second visit. Impressions? Big, very big. Wet, windy and dull! Don't think I'll be selling a holiday to Louise. Obviously it gets great birds. Not much better than the RUBYTHROAT. It does however involve a lot of driving from one site to another, unless you stay faithful to one area/island of course.

Talking to the young uns in the car they are firm advocates of the far north. They feel Scilly has "had it's day". Weather patterns, shipping lanes...who knows? Nobody. You pays ya money, you takes ya choice. Mine will continue to be the (un)Fortunate Isles. Too many memories, too many great birds seen. It will strike again...hopefully between the 18th - 25th. Besides Louise loves it...thankfully!

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I received an e-mail yesterday from Simon Slade, a birder I met on Scilly last year and who stays in the same flats as we do. Last year when I came off I bumped into him again almost immediately at Full Sutton airfield as we twitched the CAPE MAY together. His e-mail informed me he was on the same ferry as we were on Sunday night! He managed to capture a great image of the RUBYTHROAT. Believe me, this wasn't easy! It was hard enough to get a decent view through the bins.

Anyway, here it is...

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Got a phone call from Andrew (Kinghorn) to say he'd connected with the SCARLET TANAGER on Barra on Wednesday. Quite a trip as he's also twitched the LITTLE CRAKE at Minsmere on Tuesday. These youngsters have so much energy...and time! He went with Dan Pointon via Skye and the Uists, returning to Oban. Something to bear in mind for the future...retirement...if I get there!

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Dawn at 7.22 tomorrow. I'll be down the clifftop till 10...

SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT - the full story

It was 3.44pm on Friday afternoon. I was faithfully patrolling my all to familiar empty clifftop bushes when the slow drip started up...

MEGA Shetland SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT 1w male Mainland at Levenwick

Well blow me down!

Initial thoughts - Now what did I promise myself? Which species qualify for the expensive and time consuming long haul North? Anything American? Top Sibe? Arctic Sp? Surely this was one of them.

Being honest it took me a surprising three hours plus to decide to try and put a plan together. I'd managed to arrange another six day window off work and this was only day 2...very lucky indeed. So, I had the time, no problem. With my wonderful partners approval...of course!

Next problem...cost! I'd chartered to Shetland last year for the CAPE MAY WARBLER because it was probably my "most wanted" bird to see in Britain. This species has also always been very special to me, as an almost mythical bird from the East...the Holy Grail? Yes, there have been a few records of late but that's no guarantee for the future...and it's a MALE (it turned out to be the first ever ADULT!).

Are there any Charters available? Is there another/cheaper way?

Believe me I'm not made of money and the fact I had until next Wednesday, the cheaper albeit longer option seemed more attractive! I had a fish around on the online forums for latest info' and made a few phone calls. I also called the charter company I'd used previously.

Anyway, the plan came together when I saw a post from Andrew Kinghorn on Facebook saying he was going and he'd booked a flight? I'd twitched with him before a couple of times so I contacted him and he told me he'd booked with Fly-be from Aberdeen, flying at 7am Saturday morning. He was leaving at 11pm tonight from his house in Durham and he had a spare seat.

OK, I'm in! After what seemed an eternity booking a place on the plane I set off from home around 8.30.

The journey up was interesting as it involved FOUR road closures! Don't you just love the British road system. Oh, and don't forget the 50 mph average speed check areas! Anyway I arrived at 11.15. Shortly afterwards two other intrepid twitchers arrived Chris Bromley (16) and James Shergold (20). I was the "old man".

The journey was uneventful and we arrived at Aberdeen around 5.30am. We took off on time and landed at Sumburgh at 8...

...we picked up the hire car and were heading for Levenwick at 8.20. We arrived and joined the expectant crowd huddled together peering into the chosen garden. The weather was grim, very grim. Heavy, persistent rain. I'll make this bit brief. We spent four hours stood waiting without a sniff of the bird. Various claims were made but none of us saw anything. By noon I'd had enough. Soaked to the skin doesn't cover it. My "waterproof" coat had failed the Shetland test. We reached a local shop were I took my coat off. I might as well have never had it on! I can honestly say it was the worst morning I've had twitching in 28 years.

Things were not great at this moment.

We needed to use the car heater to get dry(er) and warm up (I had a heavy cold before I left home). I was seriously asking myself at this juncture if I was getting to old for this lark!

It was till persisting it down so we decided to try for the juv PALLID HARRIER that had been reported at Tingwall Airport. On the way we came across a family of Whooper Swans. Andrew informed us that they breed here...

When we arrived a group of around 50 birders were looking at the bird which was showing distantly over the airport runway...

I said it was distant!

As it drifted off over the hills we followed it and I managed a closer image through the gloom...

We were now warmer and definitely drier now so we returned to the original site. Numbers had thinned by now but we started a second stint. Thankfully the rain had eased which lifted spirits somewhat.

Around half 4 a shout went out. "They've found it in the Pechora garden". I didn't have a clue where this was but it obviously didn't matter as we just went with the flow! That was after I'd picked myself up out of the ditch I'd fell into whilst grabbing my camera from the car.

The new site wasn't any better for viewing as it was a narrow driveway with thick cover either side. Still, we had hope again.

At 5.15pm I saw an ADULT MALE SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT in Britain!!!

Oh happy day indeed! No photos unfortunately, as it was far to quick for me! I wasn't going to beat THIS cracker anyway!

To try to keep costs down we'd booked on the ferry back on Sunday evening (something I definitely wasn't looking forward too). The youngsters, well two of them at least, were going to sleep in the (very small) car...I wasn't...so I sorted out a B&B in Lerwick...

View from my room

We had another hour or so Sunday morning but the bird remained very elusive so we decided to have a drive onto Yell as James wanted to add the female KING EIDER to his British list. Unfortunately we couldn't locate the bird amongst it's commoner cousins but we enjoyed tremendous views of a Bonxie over the moorland...

Back to Levenwick. Around 4.30 I obtained my best view of the RUBYTHROAT as it came out albeit briefly onto the path, no more than 20 feet away. I got a great view of the all important throat. Brilliant stuff!

Thoughts were now turning to the journey home. Mine were particularly turning to the sea conditions! A few wags commented on how bad the weather was going to turn. I tried to dismiss this as I looked for my trusty Stugeron tablets. I don't get on with the sea. Another advantage of flying!!

We boarded at 5pm, two hours early due to the tides. As I booked my ticket the lady informed me that we still wouldn't be able to dis-embark until 7am Monday as the staff wouldn't be there at 5. Great!

Within half an hour I'd had enough of the oil rig drunks and so had the young 'uns, so we got a cabin.
What a decision! We were all well down on sleep. Next thing I heard was an announcement for breakfast at 6am!! Considering the horrendous sea conditions (the Ferry was cancelled Sunday morning) we'd all managed a great nights sleep.

We left the Ferry at 7 and made our way home.

That's it then. A successful and very enjoyable, if prolonged Birding adventure. I met a few friends from the past and the atmosphere on the island amongst the twitching community was friendly and helpful. I'd like to shake the hand of the Birder who re-found it! Oh and thanks for putting up with the "old fart" chaps.

They get some great birds "up North". I still prefer Scilly though!

Postscript - Twitching never sleeps. SCARLET TANAGER on Barra.

This brings back painful memories. I'd booked the first flight over to Scilly (as I always do) on Saturday 22nd October 2011. On Friday news broke that this species was present at St Leven, Cornwall. Could I get a later flight enabling me to try for it first thing on Saturday?

I managed it and was full of hope as I arrived at dawn. No sign and time was running out as my late morning flight was approaching! MEGA alert SCARLET TANAGER St Mary's, Isles of Scilly!!! By the time I got there it had disappeared...

SIBERIAN RUBYTHROAT

It didn't take long for the

  BIG ONE 

to break. Just got back. Full story tomorrow. 

Bright and breezy

Spent the morning on the beach with Bud trying to blow a cold away. A kind passenger decided to share it with me! Glorious day with a warm southerly. Not great for finding migrants but there's plenty of time yet. It soon became noticeable that waders and ducks were moving South at varying distances.

c200 Scoter in small groups...

I accidentally caught the zoom lever which advanced the camera to digital. Not great but better than I thought it would be at 48x hand held in strong wind..

plus a couple of Teal!

These birds were a fair way out.

It even picked a Sanderling out...

A few groups of juvenile Dunlin passed closer...

buff heads

Distant Wigeon brought into focus, again with digital zoom...

I got a text this morning from Gavin..."Great kingfisher record for Skeffling. I lived there over 25 years and must have walked that drain hundreds of times with no luck". Seems I was VERY lucky. I guess every sighting has to be taken in context. It's not necessarily what you see...but where you see it. I tell myself this every time I'm on the clifftop!!

Well, the magic month is upon us. What delights will it bestow on us? Time will tell. On-line forums have gone into melt down with many ABA species mentioned (every Wood Warbler?) amongst bragging rights. Correct strategy and luck are needed to connect with the inevitable BIG ONE. As already mentioned I'll be marooned on Scilly from the 18th BUT I could be in the right place?

Good Hunting to you all...that's if you're a twitcher of course!

A few bits...

Spent some time on the Humber these past few evenings. First at Skeffling. Only had the last knockings of light and wasn't optimistic about seeing anything of note...but there's a dog that needs exercising! He was just hopping in the car when I noticed a couple of Little Egrets making there way West. Then at 6.46 I heard a high pitched peep and a Kingfisher popped over the floodbank and landed in the drain. Nice surprise! A total of 10 Little Egrets counted.

Seeing these Egrets obviously going to roost yesterday evening, I tried Patrington Haven tonight. Maybe I could improve my count? I arrived about 6.15, set my scope up...and waited.

A group of 11 at 6.35pm

TWENTY SEVEN counted altogether...and I could have missed a few in the fading light. A fine sight indeed and a great success story for the County.

EYEBROWED THRUSH

I'm forced to post again this evening as I've just seen a photo of the EYEBROWED THRUSH that was present on North Ronaldsay yesterday. No sign today unfortunately.

You might want to take a deep breathe before viewing it!

WOW!!!

Armchair tick?

Looks like I've got another British TICK? We all deserve it for the walk!!!