Scilly 25 - Day 12

 Well "IT" arrived!!!

9.39 Scilly EYE-BROWED THRUSH St Mary's at Porthloo near the Duckpond

Something ALWAYS turns up here...eventually. There was personal good and bad news. I'd booked a Cart for the day but we were at the Pharmacy attending to a minor matter and I had no signal of any type. On returning to the flat briefly I saw Alan Hannington and Higgo hastily jumping into a car, so I knew something was afoot? After sorting ourselves out we headed for the Duck Pond. It was quite busy!!!

A few false alarms but no further sign by the time we left at 11.45. In hindsight I maybe could have arrived earlier BUT it's irrelevant now. It would turn up on the one morning we had something "on". It's NOT all good luck here. Fortunately its not a British Tick as I saw the Auchmithie Bird in Spring 95. Maybe it will be relocated? The scale of the Rarity (31st record) brought most Birders to the Site c100. I saw many familiar faces including Simon another stalwart who informed me he'd seen the 1987 Bird! You must have started young pal! The last record here was 1993 and this is the 8th in total. There was a record in 1991, my first visit but it was earlier in the month before "Teachers Week".

So...a BIG dip. After returning for some lunch I decided to try for a few Trip ticks that were on offer around the Island, making the most of our transport. We started in Old Town where our target was a GWE. Sure enough the Bird was feeding happily in the Bay...

A particularly fine Specimen I thought.

Next it was the Churchyard, Louise walked down to a familiar bench while I checked out the field the Spotted Flycatcher had been reported in. The visibility was limited from the gate but I stood and waited hoping for some movement. I saw a couple of "flickers" that looked promising...then there it was, fortunately performing in the near corner of the field...

We then moved up the Island to Telegraph passing a group of Birders on the way. Turns out they were watching a Red-backed Shrike, so a quick U-turn in the "mobile" and a bit of help getting into position had me getting great views through a Scope...much obliged! The Bird was distant and into the Sun but I managed a record shot...

As we ventured further another small group were waiting for views of a Little Bunting but a combination of wind and no recent sightings had us moving on once more...BUT not far...as just down the road another small group were staking out a Yellow-browed Warbler. This is a Species I don't have much luck with but the area the Bird had been seen in was quite open, if somewhat distant. An adjacent Birder said it was calling constantly... I took his word for it! I concentrated on a lone Sallow which was quite open in habit. After around 10 minutes, up it popped...

c50 Yards

Complete with out of focus heads in front of me as I was sat on the Cart! Four quality Birds within a Mile!

Alas, no further sign of the Star Bird despite extensive searching. Could still be around though?

Trip Total - 66 Species