Scilly - 11.10.25

I started the day by heading towards Old Town where at the far end of Trench Lane we had excellent views of the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling as it fed on the front lawn of the last house on the left. I then popped into Standing Stones field where I found a Whinchat followed by re finding the long staying male Brambling which was a year tick. It was mentioned at the log that it’s believed to be the same bird that first appeared there in April! Matt Naylor then found a Garden Warbler which was only the 2nd I’d ever seen on the islands!

My first Jack Snipe of the trip was seen at Lower Moors unbeknownst as to what was to occur later on in the trip with regards to this species.

A Yellow-browed Warbler was seen very briefly from the screen at Shooters Pool and in Carreg Dhu gardens 2 Firecrest were seen quite quickly. I found another Firecrest by the vineyard field at Holy Vale/Sandy Lane junction.

Convulvulous Hawkmoth

At the end of the lane just inland from Watermill Cove I bumped into Paul Kemp and his wife who were staying at the same accommodation as me. They informed me of a good moth near the entrance to the house Peacehaven and sure enough there on a tree was only my 4th Convulvulous Hawkmoth that the moth-ers from the house had trapped overnight and put there for us to view. 

I then made only my second ever visit to Helvear where I accidentally flushed a Mistle Thrush from a horse field.

The last bird of note was 2 Whimbrel at Pendrathen Quay where I’d seen one back in April.

Hedgerow Darwin Wasp

As I walked past Pendrathen Quarry entrance a striking red,yellow and black insect landed by my feet. It was identified by those more knowledgeable than myself as a Heteroplema amictum or Hedgerow Darwin Wasp. A new one for me.