Scilly Season

As it officially starts today and the weather here is horrendous, I've poured some Coffee, grabbed a few biscuits and thought I'd reflect on my Years here. Hope you find something of interest?

I first became aware of the potential of these Islands in the late 80's in my fledgling Years (see what I did there?). Richard Millington's exciting monthly accounts in Bird Watching magazine fired my imagination. Two young lads and my Football career prevented a trip but a visit was always in the back of my mind. Speaking to Birders and further reading made me fully aware of the heydays of the late 70's and 80's when some fantastic MEGA'S turned up there, whetting my appetite still further.

Eventually in 1991 when I'd started teaching, I negotiated a half-term trip to the Fortunate Isles in late October. I was Steve Naive then, not having a clue about logistics and conditions. I soon found out when the Spewlonian ventured out off Lands End into a Force 8!!! I'm still scarred. Anyway I made it and on arrival I made my way up to the Garrison Campground with my far from adequate two man tent. There were only 3 tents present: one looked like an old canvas Army job. The occupant was a Birder called Dave Abbott (some of you may know the name). One other was Pete Grimshaw and the third was a Birder called Ian?

We spent quite a lot of time together during the week enjoying the Birds on offer. I also managed to get a sickness bug and the Tent was far from waterproof...what joy. Bearing in mind I'd only been Birding a few Years, I had an interesting Trip List! The MEGA Bird was a SORA, which had initially been identified as a Spotted Crake. All the Rarities were news to me at this stage and I fell in love with the Islands and the excitement that it exuded. Other notables...

GREY-CHEEKED THRUSH - a fairly regular arrival but they dried up for quite a few Years after this one? There was an EYEBROWED and SWAINSON'S present earlier in the Month!!!

ISABELLINE WHEATEAR - this wasn't a Lifer as I'd seen one at Spurn the previous week!

Wryneck

Richard's Pipit

Tawny Pipit

Red-throated Pipit

Nightingale

Barred Warbler

Yellow-browed Warbler

Red-breasted Flycatcher

Hooded Crow

Rose-coloured Starling

Lapland Bunting

Snow Bunting

Little Bunting

Responsibilities meant my next trip wasn't until 1996 and this was a two day Twitch, again at the end of the October Half-term. I'd missed some Whoppers in between including a YELLOW-BROWED BUNTING in 1994. I can even remenber where I was when the Pager went off...B&Q car park in York. Sad but true!

Anyway, back to 1996. I flew this time!! I arrived and headed for the Quay on the Thursday 24th. I caught the boat to Tresco and with limited information (pre-internet) I made my way along the Great Pool path to the location of said MEGA. After some confusion I decided I was in the right area. It's a long time ago but I can't remember many/any other Birders being present!? Then there it was, creeping up the trunk of a tree not 5 yards away...

BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER

It was a female and there had been a male on St Mary's earlier in the Month from 5th through 14th (which probably explained the lack of numbers here). Even then I realized what a monumental sighting this was. It is still the only one I've seen in Britain and I don't think the excitement and tranquility of that morning will happen to me again on the Islands. I also added a couple more in the form of AMERICAN BLACK DUCK there and AMERICAN BUFF-BELLIED PIPIT back on St Mary's. As I was waiting for my Taxi to the Airport on the Saturday morning, I bumped into Brett Richards who informed me there had been a report of a LITTLE BUSTARD on the Lizard! (I didn't have a Pager at that time). That's handy I thought. Once in the car at Lands End I gave a couple of other chaps a lift and we managed to connect with a prolonged flight view over the undulating farm fields before dusk...just! Quite a trip and definitely a good decision to travel in hindsight.

In 1997 my youngest son Robert came with me for the full week. He was only 12 but proved to be great company as he always is. Even his patience was tested by the VERY elusive COMMON YELLOWTHROAT around Harry's Walls on St Mary's. This wasn't the best situation to fuel a hoped for interest in the Hobby. Probably put him off for Life...although he's now showing interest again...at 40! We also saw a BLACKPOLL WARBLER...well...and a Pallas's.

I also made an optimistic twitch for the ill-fated SPOTLESS STARLING in February 1998 which turned out to be...a European!

1999 was a VERY Good Year. Even better for those who were there before I arrived at the usual Half-Term week. I believe SHORT-TOED EAGLE, SIBERIAN and WHITE'S THRUSHES were available on the SAME DAY!!! Nowhere like it! Fortunately I've seen them all subsequently.

However...I did have my moments...several of them. On arrival I made my way immediately to the North of St Mary's at Bar Point. A lone Birder was present, it was Pete Greaves a Scilly stalwart from Doncaster. He was already "on" the Bird and we were soon enjoying prolonged close views of...

CHIMNEY SWIFT

...not a bad start to my week! Things got even better later in the week...the 24th...again! A tip off from my Landlords neighbour early morning led to this yarn...

COMMON NIGHTHAWK

Full story here

That is why it's so special in my Rush Birds List - see left hand column. 

I also managed great views of a couple of...

UPLAND SANDPIPERS 

on the slopes below the Airfield. A flock of 5 White-rumped Sandpipers is also worth a mention. 

Into the new Millenium...

More successful Twitches were...

CREAM-COLOURED COURSER - 2004

OVENBIRD - 2004

GREAT BLUE HERON - 2015

YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO - 2019 

HERMIT THRUSH - 2019

RED-FOOTED BOOBY - 2023

I also tried for the BELTED KINGFISHER in 2018 and EGYPTIAN VULTURE in 2021. No successes but at least the last visit coincided with the appearance of the Walrus! 

Holidays

SPECTACLED WARBLER - 2000

SOLITARY SANDPIPER - 2000

Buff-breasted Sandpiper (3) - 2004

AMERICAN ROBIN - 2006

ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK - 2007

WILSON'S SNIPE - 2007. 2011, 2022

Aquatic Warbler - 2006

NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH - 2007

Red Eyed Vireo - 2011, 2020

INDIGO BUNTING - 2020

Pallid Swift - 2022

Pallid Harrier - 2023

I guess by now your seeing the attraction of these marvellous Islands for a Rare Bird enthusiast. They are the icing on the cake but the whole experience is more than just the Birds for me. It's a wonderful place to spend the last days before the clocks change and the gloom sets in. 

This will be my 30th visit to Scilly and my List now stands at a fairly decent 247. Maybe I'll reach 250 this trip?

Well, that passed on a few hours on a dreary, wet afternoon. I really enjoyed compiling a Summary, it brought back some fantastic memories. Hopefully plenty more to come. Hope you enjoyed the ride, I did!

We arrive on the 11th for 2 weeks. I'll be doing a daily diary which you may or may not, want to follow...