Scilly 23 - Day 15...Update!

Better late than never.

My 4th GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH for Scilly. 

Full Summary on return...

Monday evening...A bit more...

The GCT story started pre-dawn on Friday as I reacted to late information Thursday regarding a sighting of a Catharus sp at Lower Moors...there was photographic evidence. I arrived on the track at 7am...there was no-one there? By 7.30 there were 6 present including the finder Elliot. He showed me exactly where he saw the Bird. Dick Filby and friend were there, as was Kris Webb aka "Spider" I gave it a good hour but there was no sign of the Bird. We had to be out of the Flat by 9.30 so I returned to help Louise.

Around 11 I left her to read and returned to the same area but had a walk along to Porthloo to try for Sanderling. No sand but plenty of fresh Seaweed...hence no Sanderling for the Trip List. Phone reption is patchy on Scilly, so the radio is a BIG help and it came in handy yet again when the dulcet tones of Dick Filby rang out once more...

GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH Rocky Hills

I was FIVE minutes away!!! On arrival I was surprised to see around 30 Birders already present. The Bird was on view fairly distantly and intermittently...

A strange setting!

I saw a few Birders moving around to the adjacent track s I followed them round. Unfortunately the Bird flew into the hedge before I got to the gate they were viewing from. After around 15 minutes it reappeared and eventually gave great views albeit into the sun...

This was my 4th record of this Species on Scilly, following Birds seen in 1991, 2002 and 2008. So, I'd finally got my American "fix"for the Trip, better late than never! Still a MEGA in my book.

After lunch I managed to add Spoonbill, Brambling and Yellow-browed Warbler to bring up the Ton for the Trip.

I'll do a Summary later in the week...

Trip Total - 100 Species

Scilly 23 - Day 14

Last FULL Day. I persuaded Louise to join me for a visit to Tresco (10.30- 3.15) despite the uncertain forecast; it was good to get "off Island" once more before we leave. I had the traditional stroll along Porthcressa first thing to blow away the cobwebs from last night's visit to the wonderful Atlantic. We even won the quiz...of sorts!

Yet again it was a fabulous dawn...mild and sunny with no wind...

Little Porth

I picked up a couple more Black Redstarts and enjoyed this dapper Dunnock basking in the early morning sun...

We disembarked at Carn Near which meant a good walk to...the Cafe at Tresco Gardens! We managed to get there before the shower. Nice cake!

We then did acircuit around the Great Pool. No luck with the Great Spotted Woodpecker or Male Golden Pheasant but we did have great views of a Red Squirrel, far cuter than the Grey...

The flora along this road is spectacular and a treat to see...a Sub-tropical paradise...

We reached the first viewpoint over the lake and a proper bench...

I couldn't add anything to the Trip List from this vantage point. We continued around the Lake to the Swarovski Hide. Here I added Black-tailed Godwit...

...and Pochard...

As we reached the far end of the Lake I started to reminisce. I do this a lot during my visits. I have so many great memories of Birds seen on these Islands. It always adds to my visits. A couple of examples from today...

AMERICAN ROBIN...House and fields...2006

The other memory is VERY special indeed. Even more so as the Years roll by. In 1996 I made a 2 day visit to Scilly to try for a VERY SPECIAL Bird. I had two young lads and it was during my half-term holiday. I took the boat across to Tresco and had vague directions on where the Bird was located. I was ON MY OWN!!!

I walked the path along the side of the Great Pool as I did today. I tried a couple of spots that I thought were correct with no luck. The third short path had around half-a-dozen mature trees. Feeding happily in one of them was a...BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER. Bearing in mind it's now TWENTY SEVEN years later, I'm pretty sure this was the spot...

This was obviously the pre-digital camera era but the memories are etched in my brain. I spent an amazing hour watching this legendary Species...I repeat...ON MY OWN!!! A couple among many reasons I keep coming back.

I've now seen 96 Species for the Trip. I'll be trying to break the Ton tomorrow.

Scilly 23 - Day 13

 This morning I did the full circuit of the Garrison. Another wonderful walk. I met Tony from my neck of the woods on Porthcressa exercising his Dog. We both agreed it was a stunning setting...defintely my favourite Bay...and the closest to our flats...

Viv Stratton also turned up, he'd already been up Peninnis with his Dog!

I made my way through the "hole in the wall" and headed down to...

Nothing seen here so onto Morning Point and then North around the Headland to...

A couple of Snow Buntings had been reported here yesterday but I couldn't find them...neither could anyone else!

St Agnes in the distance

The next stop was...

I'd "had" a couple of Grey Wagtails here on a previous visit. As this thought came into my head a Yellow Wagtail landed on the fence! Before I could get my camera on it, it departed for St Agnes!!

I did the Dead Pine Walk and had 6 Redpolls "over".

Then some News...Common Whitethroat by Garrison House...a potential Scilly Tick! I had a half-hearted 30 minutes solo effort but I couldn't locate it. I also had a look for the Lesser Whitethroat by the Football Pitch but no joy there either.

Time to meet the Boss for a drink in Town.

More News...the "Large Bunting" had been seen again by Trewince. I had to go...just in case? I made it just in time for the "organised flush" of the weedy field. Plenty in there including Tree Pipit and Brambling (neither of which I saw). The problem was the birds that flew immediately disappeared into the hedges! It was impossible to get prolonged views. After around 30 minutes the assembled crowd of around 40 started to disperse.

I continued North towards Borough Farm for another attempt to add Ring Ouzel to my Trip List. It was becoming personal lol! I found the correct field and waited. I was soon joined by a resident Birder who'd just come from Newford Duck Pond (my next site). He told me he hadn't seen any Yellow-browed Warblers nor did he see the Ring Ouzel as he passed earlier. We waited some more. He then said he'd check the next field. No sooner had he disappeared around the corner...

I called him back and we spent the next 20 minutes enjoying this superb Thrush. He had his scope with him which enhanced the sighting....

I'd had my fill, so I said goodbye and headed for the "Duck Pond". I'll cut this short. I gave it an hours solid grilling...I couldn't find a YBW. This is definitely one of my unluckiest Sites on the Island. No matter I'd seen my Thrush.

I returned via Holy Vale and Longstones. AsI approached the gate at the end of the path before reaching Longstones, I scanned the short grass field and was pleased to find 15 Fieldfares and 10 Redwings present. I then noticed a dark bird in a berry bush...

Unbelievable. 13 days with no luck, then I find one after twitching one! That's Birding.

There had been a report of 3 Cattle Egrets...unsuprisingly with Cattle in a field by the Pine Belt, near the Farm by Longstones. Viewing was difficult as there is no access to the private land here...

My luck was in on this occasion as the Cattle and hence the Cattle Egrets came into view...

The day was finishe doff with a context Tick...at least for me. As I was passing the Sunnyside Trial I had a quick look over the wall (as you do). Some Wood Pigeons...No...Stock Doves...4 of them, very briefly. I can't remember seeing many/any on St Mary's before?

An excellent day.

Trip Total - 94 Species

Scilly 23 - Day 12

Finally made the trip to the end of Peninnis this morning as there were reports of Cory's and Sooty Shearwaters passing. I took the usual steep but short path up past Buzza Hill...

No CLIFF SWALLOW or CHIMNEY SWIFT this morning!

Unfortunately there were no reports of the heavily flooded path and the fenced off area at the end with cattle grazing? I had 30 minutes but didn't see any Shearwaters...

On the way down I checked the Pig Field and surrounds. I picked out some Winter Thrushes in the gloom but still no Ouzel?

I didn't fancy taking the flooded path on again to I walked East around the Coastal footpath to Old Town Bay. The sun came out...

I made my way down to the Churchyard and sat on one of our favourite benches overlooking the Bay. It was like summertime now. I gave Louise a ring and she joined me from Hugh Town. Aftre around 30 minutes...a message...

Red-breasted Flycatcher on the lower part of the Peninnis Trail. After yesterday's performance on the Garrison I was reluctant to make the move. However it was only a couple of hundred yards from where we were sat! The directions were excellent and I arrived at the "second gate" to find that there was no-one there? I looked up and spotted a bird "flicking about". There it was in the open in bright sunshine. Bliss!

It performed beautifully for me for 10 minutes. A couple of other Birders eventually arrived and I put them "on" the Bird before rejoining Louise. Without question my best ever experience with this generally elusive Species. Right place, right time.

First view. I think I was being watched

Bit of a Cutie!

I then spent 30 minutes Birding the Churchyard adding Blackcap (a male) to the Trip List...

Harold Wilson is buried here

After Lunch I succumbed to a Butterfly Twitch! News had been circulating all morning about an American Painted Lady along Sandy Lane. The field was to be re-opened again at 3pm, so I made the significant walk from Hugh Town...eventually! I arrived just after 3 to see a small group of admirers stooped over a small area in the centre of the field. I was helped onto the Butterfly by "Higgo" one of the local Birders (many thanks). Unfortunately by the time I had my camera on it, it had closed its wings...still smart though...

 Less than 30 records for Britain apparently. A Green Darner dragonfly also did a couple of circuits of the field...another Rarity from America. I have to admit my interest in these two areas is limited but I hope I appreciated the occasion.      

However, this was the star for me...

My luck had finally changed regarding this Species and it was worth waiting for.

Trip Total - 88 Species

Scilly 23 - Day 11

 An overnight thunderstorm with impressive thunder was followed by torrential rain for most of the morning. Yes...Scilly DOES get bad weather. The plus was there was no wind. I got wrapped up (or I thought so) and made my way around to Porthloo to search again for the Redstart that had been present there for a few days. Last time I concentrated on the Boat Yard but this time I focused on the beach and it eventually paid off, despite the deluge...

I returned to Hugh Town to meet Louise for a coffee around 11.30 to find yet another "waterproof coat"...wasn't!!!

After lunch things brightened up somewhat and I eventually ended up on the Garrison between Lower Broome and Morning Point. A samll group of Birders were present searching for the ever elusive and mobile Red-breasted Flycatcher. I don't have much luck with this Species but this afternoon I had great views through the "Bins"and managed a couple of dodgy "grabs"...

I bumped into a few more regulars namely Adam Hutt, Paul Freestone and Simon Slade. Simon is a keen British Lister also but we share a love of Scilly that outweighs a British Tick...although it can sting at times!

I sat on a bench at Porthcressa for the last hour picking up a few Cory's Shearwaters passing and deciding I was definitely at the right end of the Country at this time...

A couple more from recent days...

Stonechat, St Agnes

Mediterranean Gull, Porthcressa Bay

Trip Total - 86 Species