Scilly - 11.10.24

Black Redstart

Our final day on the islands had already arrived and so after breakfast we were walking past Porthcressa just as a Black Redstart was found and it showed well in front of the laundrette. 2 Whooper Swan headed out into the bay past Morning Point then had second thoughts and flew back.

Whinchat

As we hadn’t been over to the east side of St.Mary’s all week that’s where we headed hearing a Yellow-browed Warbler calling from Lower Moors area on the way. Another was heard at Higher Moors. By Porthellick Pool a Reed Warbler was seen briefly and a Yellow Wagtail was heard from neighbouring fields. Up at Carn Friars a Whinchat showed well along the edge of the horse paddock. 

As we walked past Normandy I picked up a goose in with a couple of Pheasant. It was a Pink-footed Goose and presumably the same bird that favoured the same area last year. 

Great Northern Diver

Watermill Cove was the next stop where despite it not having been reported for 2 days I quickly re found the winter plumaged Great Northern Diver just to the north off of Innisidgen. As we were there a message came through of an Osprey over the western end of St.Martin’s. I started scanning over the area of Lower Town and managed to find it as it flew off west. 

As our tummies were grumbling we thought we’d go and get something to eat at Juliet’s Garden and whilst walking down Porthloo Lane the radios burst into life with the news of a Black Kite heading towards Telegraph. Typically we’d only just been there but we found a gap in the hedge and looked back towards the tower and we were rewarded with distant views of it as it circled around before it dropped behind the trees. My 3rd in the UK, 4th if you include the Lincs Black-eared Kite. 

Isabelline Wheatear

After some food we stopped off at Porthloo beach and had 4 Bar-tailed Godwit in amongst the other waders then it was off up to Star Castle. Here we eventually had crippling views of my 3rd ever Isabelline Wheatear as it fed on the hotel lawn before it flew up and over the castle.

A Great end to the day with the Wheatear being my 200th species for the year. 

So the trip ended with 118 species seen including 5 Scilly ticks and 23 year ticks. Sadly no mega/lifer to get the adrenaline flowing but still a great week. Roll on 2025.