Scilly - 5.10.24

Short-toed Lark

We started the day at Porthcressa where 2 Mediterranean Gulls were feeding just off the beach before we headed back up to Peninnis to try and see a Wryneck. We had great views of the Short-toed Lark again along with 2 Wheatear by the lighthouse. The Wryneck wasn’t seen so I had a quick sea watch where  4 Cory’s Shearwaters were seen. 

In Old Town churchyard a Pied Flycatcher made its way onto my year list before we headed off to Carreg Dhu gardens. 2 Raven showed well in a field near Parting Carn before we entered the gardens rear entrance. It was here that Will Scott’s voice boomed over the CB radio saying he had an unusual hirundine pretty much over where we were standing. We got onto it and it was a very tatty looking thing but eventually it was ID’d as a House Martin with strange wing moult. Just my second Scilly Great White Egret flew over the gardens too looking somewhat out of place.

Wheatear

 

Cornwall + Scilly 4.10.24

Red-backed Shrike

Another year has passed and so it was that time of year to head down to the SW for a day in Cornwall and a week on Scilly. This plan didn’t happen as the bad weather had caused the Scillonian III to be cancelled on the Saturday and as that’s usually the last mode of transport to be cancelled I decided that rather than risk being stuck in Cornwall until Monday I cancelled my flight and booked onto Fridays sailing instead. I was this year joined by Brendon Fagan and so at midnight we set off and arrived at the Hayle Estuary about 6.30am and had a quick scan of Ryan’s Field. Here I year ticked Bar-tailed Godwit and also noted 2 Kingfisher and 3 Raven. 

We then headed to Penzance and parked up and wandered round to get on the boat. Some familiar faces were on board and as we waited to set sail I thought I could hear Chough calling and sure enough I wasn’t hearing things as heading south right over the boat was a flock of 27 Chough! This was by far the biggest flock of this species I’d ever seen.

The sailing was a good one both sea state and birdwise. 3 more year ticks were seen with 35+ Cory’s, 14+ Great and 2 Balearic Shearwaters noted. 

Once on Scilly we headed straight up to Peninnis where after a few minutes we saw the Short-toed Lark in a bulb field. Just after we’d seen this a Merlin flew over. Standing Stones field was our next stop where we immediately got onto the juvenile Red-backed Shrike. 2 Yellow-browed Warbler were heard in the NE corner of the field but not seen. A Wheatear at Porthloo beach was just my 4th of the year. It was good to be back albeit a day earlier than planned.