16 October 09 St Marys

The last day & in case there was something to be seen on another island it was thought best to stay on Marys where we could get a boat easier should the need arise.

All in all the day was pretty tedious, with another view of the Wryneck just below the airport & a Jack Snipe at Porthellick being the highlights.

A wait near Longstones failed to secure the Radde's Warbler & a similar wait behind Porthloo duck pond also failed to secure the Rosefinch.

15 October 09 St Agnes

Yesterdays report of a Melodious Warbler in the Chapel Fields area prompted a trip to Aggy & myself & Andy spent about an hour checking out its last reported location. Rumours of it being dodgy were further fuelled by a no show.

Dunlin, Lapwing & Juv Curlew Sand from Pergilis were all added to the trip list & 3 Flycatchers, Spotted; Pied & RB were all seen in the Parsonage.

A 1st winter Med Gull was seen from the boat on the way back.

14 October 09 Bryher & St Marys

In what was increasingly looking like being a quiet week any new bird was a bonus & 2 Shelduck off Samson fell into that category.

Bryher appeared promising in that there were a fair number of Redwing on the move and several Wheatears and Meadow Pipits flitted around.

2 Sparrowhawks were seen, another great view of a Peregrine was had & then news that the Richard's Pipit had been refound near Hell Bay. It showed well briefly & just as I was setting up the camera it flew uttering a characteristic loud "Shreep" almost Sparrow like call.

4 Spoonbill showed very close on Green Island from the boat & back on Marys a Black Redstart was seen at Porth Thomas & a Peregrine was plucking prey on Taylors Island.

13 October 09 St Marys

A Fieldfare was "chacking" from a tree above Lower Broom & a Yellow Browed Warbler showed reasonably well. A Whimbrel could be heard calling from Porthcressa Bay.

2 Skylark were over the Garrison & several White Wags were on the football pitch. 4 Common Scoter had been reported from The Roads & although very distant I added them to my list.

Cake & coffee at Longstones coincided with a ringtail Hen Harrier going through & I wondered if this was the large bird of prey I had seen earlier on off Porthloo.

A probable Woodcock came in over Telegraph & dived into a field out of sight. There was a male Ring Ouzel at Carn Vean.

12 October 09 St Marys

The islands were still very quiet and the organised flush of a Little Bunting at Telegraph was a complete non event. Took to photographing the Scillonian coming in between Inisidgen & Tresco:

5 Redwings over Newford confirmed that migration was still in progress but birding was still a bit of a slog. A Water Rail showed at the duck pond, a single House Martin with a party of Swallows over Maypole & a Firecrest in Holy Vale were 'highlights' mid afternoon.

Porthellick Pool held 9 Whooper Swan:

A Wryneck was seen well on the Giant's Castle and at least 1 Whinchat was close to the airfield. A Spot Fly was in a pitisporran above Porth Minnick.

11 October 09 Tresco

A Long Billed Dowitcher had been present on Tresco for some time & had been seen the previous day & a Spotted Crake had been seen over the last few days on the Abbey Pool. The boat docked at New Grimsby & we were soon looking at 7 Little Egret in the channel & a Peregrine went over.

We wandered along the south side of the Great Pool seeing nothing very much & spent some time scanning the Abbey Pool for the Dowitcher taht had not been seen. A Water Rail showed well. An adult winter Med Gull was in Pentle Bay.

Drake & female Pintail were the best ducks on the Great Pool and a Whimbrel was on the Simpson field. C6 Red Legged Partridge were in the fields adjacient to the Great Pool.

Up to 60 Gadwall present on the Great Pool

10 Oct 09 St Agnes

Catching the first helicopter from Penzance ensured that I was on St Marys before 8 am. With the islands being relatively quiet I decided to head round to Porthloo where a Med Gull had been reported. No sign of the Med Gull but a Peregrine on Taylors Island & a partial summer Barwit were of interest. Some Turnstone allowed some close photos:

The pager reported a possible Blyth's Pipit on Aggy so decided to go for it. Met Andy & Bob on the quay. The pipit was just down from Wingletang & when we got there a number of other birders were looking at a pale sandy pipit. Andy reckoned that the best way of telling Blyths was by call that sounded not dissimilar to a Yellow Wag. This bird flew and uttered a call quite unlike Yellow Wag. It was loacted again & showed well for sometime. We concluded that this was a Tawny Pipt.

A Red Throated Pipit flew over Wingletang, recognised by its characteristic drawn out "Speeeee" call. A few Wheatears were evident.

The juv Rose Coloured Starling showed well just below Coastguards & a male Blackcap was in the same area.

2 Firecrest were on Barnaby Lane & another showed in the Parsonage. A few Chiffys were present in most places.

09 Oct 09 Martin Mere

I set off from Glasgow just after dropping Louise & Rachel at school to head for Scillies. The original plan was to make a detour to Nottinghamshire to see the Steppe Grey Shrike that had been present for several days. The pager was ominously quiet & just before Carlisle it confirmed that there was no sign of the Shrike that morning. A new plan was required !

I decided to stop at Martin Mere & then in the late afternoon carry on southward.

Several thousand Pink Feet, 23,500 had been counted that morning, were present. C30 Pintail, 5 Pochard and a single Whooper Swan. C8 Tree Sparrow were seen & up to 30 Ruff were seen.