I had booked a week on Scilly during October hoping to see one or two rarities, Its the first time back there in October since 2016.
On Sunday 9th I left home at 9.00 stopping off at Climping hoping to get a view of the Barred Warbler that had been seen the day before. A small group of 8 had assembled when I arrived with the news it hadn't been seen for half an hour. I had decided to give it till mid day before continuing the journey to Helston were I was staying overnight. After about an hour the Warbler popped up and showed well. I managed to get a quick pic and continued my journey.
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| Barred Warbler |
The Scillonion had a later departure on the Monday, due to the big tides and didn't arrive in St Marys untill 2pm. With news of a Swainsons Thrush still on Tresco I jumped onto the boat to there knowing I wouldn't have too much time there as the return boat was at 4.30pm. Arriving at Tresco our boat couldnt dock as the Lyoness was unloading which took 20 minutes before we could come on land. Only one other birder was on board (Mark) and we both walked as fast as we could to Racket Town where the bird was. On arrival a couple of birders were just leaving and said it was showing well at times.
An hour later Mark spotted it deep inside a bush, a few seconds later it flew out and landed fairly close giving us good views. Managed a couple of photos then had to rush back to get the boat.
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| Swainson's Thrush |
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| Swainson's Thrush |
Feeling very pleased having seen a lifer on my first day the bird was to remain on Tresco for another 3 days. I then checked into my accommodation at Longstone Lodge St. Marys
Tuesday 11th, I didn't want to spend my time running round chasing birds found by others but wanted to find my own - the best I found was a couple of Firecrests in Carreg Dhu gardens and a Jack Snipe at Porthellick. But with lovely weather I set off walking the coast paths on the east side of the island
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| Atlantic Grey Seal with pup |
I spent a while at Porthellick Down where an American Buff-bellied Pipit had been seen the day before but all I could see were several Meadow Pipits
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| Meadow Pipit |
Wednesday 12th a dull morning, I started off in the gardens again and then went down to Porthellick pool where I spotted a slightly different looking Snipe which turned out to be a Wilson's Snipe another lifer for me.
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| Wilson's Snipe with Common Snipe |
While sitting in the hide I got news that a Two-barred Greenish Warbler had been found on Tresco, so I made my way to the harbour along with several others and caught the next boat over
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| Heading for Tresco |
After about half an hours walk I reached the site where a large crowd had already assembled, by now it was starting to drizzle - the bird was in Sycamores along the road where there was constant traffic making viewing difficult.
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| Road from New to Old Grimsby |
About an hour and a half I finally got a reasonable view, and decided to leave the even larger crowd and have another look for the Swainson's Thrush (which didn't show) and get the 2.30 boat back by now it was raining hard.
Since the bird was seen there is debate over whether its a Two-barred or just a Yellow-browed or maybe something else.
The bird in question - photo by Nigel Hacking taken from the Whats App group Scilly Birding.
Thursday 13th, I started off again at the gardens and then on to Porthellick pools looking for the Wilson's Snipe again, but I couldn't find it. I started walking around the coast and got a message of a Melodious Warbler had been found at Higher Moors, only 20 minutes away retraced my steps and on arrival told its disappeared. But then within 10 minutes it popped up on the top of a bush in front of me.
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| Melodious Warbler |
Pleased with seeing the Warbler I carried on my walk around the coast reaching the Old Town in time for lunch, purchased a Pastie and sat on the sea wall chatting to Phil who I had met in Norfolk earlier in the year. We noticed several birders running away from Lower Moors towards Hugh Town, not knowing what news had broken we joined them and found out that a Blackburnian Warbler had been found on Bryer. although the next boat was due till 3pm we needed to be in the front of the queue. 20 minutes later we were about 30th in the queue at the harbour. The boatmans association had by now organised a special boat to take us to Bryer and we left about 2pm, leaving many others on the quayside for the next boat.
On the way to Bryer we got good views of the male Long-tailed Duck
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| Long-tailed Duck |
With it being low tide the boat had to take a long route around Sampson and then offloading us into a zodiac for a wet landing at Rushy Bay which took time but got us there quicker than waiting for that 3pm boat.
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| Wet landing Rushy Bay |
A 20 minute fast walk to Popplestone Fields a crowd was gathered and increased in size as more boats landed more people of which there must have 300 plus.
The bird showed after 40 minutes giving reasonable views but sadly there was quite a bit of pushing and shoving going on by those wanting to get nearer so I decided to leave and get an early boat back.
Back on St Marys I went up to Trenoweth to look for the Olive-backed Pipit but no luck.
Friday 14th As usual I had a look around Carreg Dhu Gardens and then went to the harbour for a Pelagic trip aboard The Sapphire.
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| Aboard The Sapphire |
We headed out westerly searching out a feeding frenzy but there was not the number of Shearwaters that had been seen earlier in the week. We did however see a couple of Great Shearwaters 6 Sooty Shearwaters and 4 Puffins of note.
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| Sooty Shearwater |
There were also numerous pods of Dolphins and 1 Whale species possibly Minkie
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| Common Dolphin |
Heading back we passed the Western Rocks seeing Purple Sandpipers, Shags and several seals
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| Shag |
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| Atlantic Grey Seals |
Back on dry land, on the Garrison a Common Rosefinch had been showing well earlier, it didnt take long for me to see it although most of the time it was partially obscured by leaves.
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| Common Rosefinch |
Late afternoon I headed back to Trenoweth where the Olive-backed Pipit had been seen again this morning, while there Julian Branscomb of the IOS Wildlife Trust was showing someone a rare plant and walking down the field flushed the Pipit and I got a glimpse as it flew into the fir trees.
On the way back I stopped to admire this tree
Saturday 15th another day walking around the island, the best I could find today was a Whinchat
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| Whinchat |
Although breezy, glorious weather was had which made up for dipping on a Bluethroat.
Sunday 16th, as there were no flights today or Scillonion and the Blackburnian Warbler was still on Bryer I thought I would try and get some photos. A full boat at 10am I was the last to get on. A shorter walk than before and a very pleasant and unstressed group watched the bird as it fed between the Popplestone Fields.
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| Blackburnian Warbler |
Once again although breezy lovely weather and views
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| Popplestone Bay Bryer |
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| Bryer looking towards Tresco |
Back on St Marys mid afternoon, I took another look for the Bluethroat, but after 2 hours of waiting for it to show I gave up, walking past Newford Duck Pond a Yellow-browed Warbler was calling. Back at Trenoweth an organised viewing had been planned for the Olive-backed Pipit. A small gathering of 20 watched as someone who had permission to walk through the field to flush the bird - I got a glimpse just before it was flushed. The bird shot into the hedge and wasn't seen again today.
Monday 17th I decided not to try for that Bluethroat again but walked around St Marys not seeing very much except the views and another glimpse of the Common Rosefinch.
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| Tolls Island |
I was back at the harbour at 3.30pm to catch the Scillonion back to Penzance. A smooth crossing was had with excitement on board with several birders having done a day trip for the Blackburnian and seeing loads of Great Shearwaters a few Cory's and a Fea's Petrel which I didnt get on to as was on the wrong side of the ship. Cetaceans were plenty with Common Dolphins and 2 sightings of Minkie Whales blowing.
A great week, probably will do it again next year all being well.
