Lads week on the Isles of Scilly October 2019

Isles of Scilly October 11th to 18th.

Missing a trip to these tranquil island in 2018 I arranged a week slightly later than normal, not that it matters when you go at this year for myself, Mark Hill, Clive Allen and his brother Mark. We were staying Friday to Friday and Bed and Breakfasting the day before and again on our return to the mainland. We set off early morning on the Thursday hoping that there were birds to see at places like the Hayle Estuary, Marazion and the valley's on the Lands End Peninsular. Well the Hayle didn't disappoint with an Osprey eating a fish atop a post, distant but enjoyable we watched as it tried to eat the fish while being hassled by crows who'd prefer that they were eating it after 10 minutes the Osprey up and left carrying his fish as if it were a torpedo. We scanned the area for other goodies but just found the usual species for the time of the year; Teal, Wigeon, Mediterranean Gulls, Grey Plover, Bar-tailed Godwits, Curlew and Redshanks. We moved on to Marazion hoping to scan the roadside pools at this RSPB reserve, the beach and sea, however rain put pay to that idea. It looked brighter further west so I thought we should try at least one of the valley's, I opted for  Nanqidno as it is easy to follow bird the trees and bushes that grow alongside the stream. As I approached the small parking area I noticed to birders looking in an Ash tree that was growing over the stream. We got out our gear and went to investigate, they had been watching a Red-breasted Flycatcher but it had gone into hiding. We left them and went in search of the bird it didn't take Mark or Clive long to locate it, getting a photo was extremely difficult but I did manage a couple of record shots. 




   Red-breasted Flycatcher, Nanquidno


After birding Nanquidno and a quick coffee in Sennen we moved on to Portgwarra hoping to see a Red-eyed Vireo that had been reported there. It wasn't the easiest bird to track down but eventually it showed on the edge of some Blackthorn scrub. You can see how hard it was to see in the next picture even when almost on the edge of the scrub.


   Red-eyed Vireo


Our flight to Scilly wasn't until 2.00pm on Friday but when we awoke in our B&B in Penzance it was raining and the cloud was very low, not a good sign. We didn't do much in the way of birding deciding to keep near the airport. We did spend some time in Kenijack and Cot Valley but the skies were very quiet and I don't mean with birds. We were very close to the airport and the planes weren't flying. When we eventually went to the airport quite a few people were waiting to go, a couple of flights had already been cancelled and the longer we sat the more it looked like we would not be going. The dreaded announcement eventually came 2 hours after our designated time for take off. We went to check in to ask about B&B's in Penzance but more importantly to book the earliest flight out tomorrow morning, there was no way I wanted to go on Scillonian ferry especially if it was windy. It can be horrendous wollowing out in the Atlantic with people throwing up while others try and sea watch. We were booked on the 8.15am but now needed to find somewhere to sleep, easier said than done especially when there was a local derby rugby match the following day and people had booked all the B&B's months ago. What now? You can see the answer below, we settled for a caravan, even that took some doing because it was the end of the season and we only wanted it for one night. However a little gentle persuasion and pleading by Mark H and Clive  did the trick and the owners at Roselands Caravan Park; www.roselands.co.uk gave in. They recommended good places to eat and drink in St Just, 2 mile away. We went out for dinner but brought some wine and beer to drink at home as we got bored watching England


   My 3 companions for the week were, Mark A, Clive A (brothers) and Mark H 


Thankfully the weather on the Saturday was much better and we flew out on time. Our accommodation was  a 4 bed apartment in Harbour Lights right in the heart of town with superb views towards Bryher and Tresco. It didn't take us long to quickly unpack and get out birding. The armed gent on the right in the photo below is me, don't worry I am only armed with a camera. The photos below show how beautiful the Isles of Scilly are and a few of the birds that we managed to see. Some were very difficult and the Yellow-billed Cuckoo that was present for 5 of our days on the island never gave itself up for us. 





Even though we arrived 17 hours late we hadn't missed much apart from a tasty meal and a few pints. Our first day was spent looking for the YB Cuckoo and the Blue Rock Thrush both would have been UK lifers for all of us. I never spend to long waiting for a bird particularly when all you are looking at is a reed bed with a small wood in the distance YBC. The BRT on the other hand has acquired a territory possibly 3 miles or more long in some places on some really rugged cliffs, not high ones but difficult to view with bolder strewn across the shoreline making it difficult to scan the sandier parts the bird has been favouring. Our first view of the Blue Rocked Thrush was of a bird being flushed by a birder that tried to get to close. The bird erupted from the base of the cliff and cutting the corner at Morning Point headed towards Porthcressa and out of view. A view of around 10 seconds even if you could see enough detail to ID the bird wasn't the best but it was a lifer for all of us except Mark A, he failed to connect with it. Hopefully we could rectify that one day.


Some on the island carry walky talkies to keep receive and pass on bird news as soon as it happens. On the Sunday around 8.30 mine crackled into life Rose-breasted Grosbeak on St Martins. Another lifer but I am not into standing on a narrow path with lots of birders waiting to gain a glimpse of this Yanky bird. As we walked down a steep slope crowds were gathering on the key for an early boat that had been arranged to  begin ferrying birders to and then from the island hopefully all with smiles on their faces. Even though the bird was being seen it was flighty but mobile, meaning that some missed out and would have to make a return journey. We decided to hope and pray that the bird is a stayer and we would go tomorrow. 




We went on a long walk to the north of the island our target was a White-rumped Sandpiper and a couple of species of American teal, one in particulars origin was in doubt.


On the walk we came upon a GBB Gull family defending a seal carcass.



We scanned the area of the supposed WR Sandpiper but could not locate it, on questioning another birder he said it had been spooked by a Peregrine and headed towards Tresco. Bloody typical! 


   Green-winged Teal ??????????


Common Teal


Blue-winged Teal on Porthellick




Water levels on the pools at Porthellick and Lower Moors are really high and is unattractive to waders. It is a shame as in previous years  we have seen some stunning vagrant shorebirds here.


Having seen a Red-eyed Vireo on the mainland it was great to see another in the cemetary at Old Town Church.




Food on the Islands is delicious and the beer not to pricey, especially compared to London prices.



If you aren't paying attention if eating outside particularly here in Juliette's Garden you may end up losing some of it. These House Sparrows are not shy, feeding from my hand, stealing a crouton or even pulling out of a slice of gammon from a sandwich when Clive wasn't looking.



Having not seen the White-rumped Sandpiper the previous day and with the skies more overcast than sunny we decided yet again not to go to St Martins and the RB Grosbeak. Our target was the sandpiper. As we left Juliette's garden after another lunch with associated sparrow flock the Scillonian was coming into harbour. This time as we approached Toll Point we could see a small group of birders. This hopefully meant that the target wader was still here. I asked one birder if he'd seen it, he said he had a few minutes ago but wasn't sure where it was. It then re-appeared down near the shoreline, which was a fair way off. I chose to move towards an area of stinking sea weed where there were some boulders that I could sit on. I was the amazed when the sandpiper walked up the beach allowing me to get some half decent photos, amazing! Then even more amazingly it took off and landed even closer to me on the stinking sea weed pile that was covered in flies. What a beautiful little wader.


   White-rumped Sandpiper









After enjoying the WR Sandpiper for 40 mins we headed down towards Carreg dhu Gardens hoping to see Firecrests. We managed to find and see one bird that showed really well but in the shadows, meaning the photos that I took were poor and not worth showing. We also saw a couple of Hummingbird Hawkmoths.



As usual if we were in the Lower Moors area we called in at the Dump Clump in the hope of seeing the YB Cuckoo. We failed again but did see another Red-breasted Flycatcher which was partially hidden by branches and  was another bird that I was unable to photograph. However I was really pleased when the Red-eyed Vireo showed well.in the church yard.




The next day the Wednesday the 15th we were all set to go to St Martins however I was feeling a bit under the weather and decided that I didn't fancy the boat trip and the others should go to see the Rose-breasted Grosbeak. They were against it but said they should go and if I was better I would go tomorrow if the bird was still present. I was happy walking the lanes and paths on my own. The boulder strewn beaches are always worth looking at even if the birds aren't rare.Going on what my radio was saying the Grosbeak was being seen and I hope that the others had connected with it. The highlight of my day was a Red-backed Shrike in a field near Old Town Church. Mid afternoon I had a message from Mark to say that they were back and had seen the RB Grosbeak and where was I. I arranged to meet them at Porthmellon Beach and take them to see the RB Shrike. 


   Northern Wheatear 



   Stonechat



   Robin



   Rock Pipit


    Peregrine Falcon on Taylor's Island off Porthloo Beach 




    Red Backed Shrike juvenile. We saw this bird on 3 days













On clear sunny days the Cornish coast look quite close.


   View from St Martin's towards Tresco

The 16th dawned bright and sunny and what was very handy there was an early boat to St Martin's at 8.45am. This would mean that there wouldn't be many aboard, even though someone thought they may have seen a Yellow-throated Vireo the day before. Once off the boat it was a route march from Lower Quay to Higher Town. The good thing was that it looked like only 8 of those on the boat were interested in the Grosbeak and ?Vireo. When we reached the quarry, one of the areas favoured by the grosbeaks we stopped and scanned the small area, no sign. We then headed to the Bakery in Higher Town another area favoured by the bird. We stayed here for a while, also checking fields and hedges for the possible YT Vireo. With no sign of the bird  people began spreading out. I headed towards the quarry when Mark H rang to say that the bird had been seen and people were on the move. Our paths crossed in the town, and we headed towards the Cricket Pitch. we hadn't gone far when the group stopped and looked at a nearby hedge. There was my 2nd lifer of the holiday and showing brilliantly. The light could have been better but with views as good as that who cares. It flew from oneside of the field to the other and posed again. Having only visited this island once before, when a Bonelli's Warbler was here, which stayed hidden for long periods which meant we didn't explore the island. This time we had plenty of time so we explored a little. Little Arthur's Farm was a quaint little farm with loads of potential, alas we only saw a Spotted Flycatcher.  







   Raven mobbed by a Crow above Higher Town.


    Meadow Pipit, Starlings visit the muddy puddles along the track to Little Arthur's Farm.



    Spotted Flycatcher


This is the boat that brought us smiling back from St Martins.


Common Redstart on the Peninnis Trail a path opened up to birders during October that winds around edges of some fields on Peninnis Head that connects King Edwards Road to the coastal path near Carn Leh. 




This not great photo of a Spotted Crake was a species that frustrated us a little. For many people it showed out in the open, even walking on the path at Lower Moors. Some actually filmed it on their phones. We did see it well but never without vegetation in the way.



Our last day was a case of now or never if we were going to connect with the Blue Rock Thrush, so that Mark A could see it and that hopefully we could all get a decent view. The question was where did we go. I chose Peninnis Head as the bird had been spending more time there in the previous couple of days. The weather on our last day was predicted to be 50 mph winds and frequent heavy showers. We had a quick tidy up of our digs and set off, wet weather gear in our back packs. We dodged several heavy showers by standing by a hedge but the last bit of the route is open ground, with huge boulders to shelter by. We walked around a bit but couldn't locate the target bird or a Wryneck that had been elusive all week. Gannets one of my favourite birds were being blown close to the shore. After sheltering from one shower the sun came out and a nearby Wheatear looked stunning. I lay down to take its photo when I spotted a female Merlin heading straight towards us hugging the ground.The Wheatear wasn't the target a Meadow Pipit was, after some spectacular manoeuvring the chase ended in a miss. The Merlin gliding off into the distance. I thought I'd check the Islands WhatsApp group to see what had been seen so far that day. There on the screen was BR Thrush Peninnis Head west side, almost where we were. I walked towards what I thought was a more favourable area when the thrush flew up from the rocks. So frustrating, where did it go? we had all got much better views but it had headed away. We approached the next likely area, moving very slowly, peering over the edge we couldn't see it it. We had to be careful, the winds were gusting, sometimes pushing us one way or the other. I looked to the cliff face in front of us, where there was a hole approximately beach ball size, suddenly out walks the Blue Rock Thrush, again we had good views before it was off like a rocket. I lay down attempting to grab a picture. I fired off a few frames but the results weren't great. It was a record that will stick with us. We decided not to pressure it anymore.  


    Wheatear


    Merlin







    Gannet





   Shag


    Wheatear catching bees



One of our last memories from the Scilly's this year was this Yellow-browed Warbler by the Garrison campsite. I was just about to say to Mark A that this small Sycamore was a good place for Yellow-browed Warblers when I spotted this little chap. The windy conditions made the bird very mobile but it kept coming back into this tree but often on the back of it and hard to see.



The next important sighting was are the planes flying? They stop for a period over lunch and we hadn't seen or heard any for sometime. Then this little chap came into view, a big sigh and we knew we would be on the mainland within an hour.








       

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