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| Part of a flock of 43 Taiga Bean Geese |
Other birds of interest were several hundred Pink Footed Geese that flew high overhead, 11 Whooper Swan & 4 Stock Dove.
Sunday 31 October 2010
Wild Goose Chase
Went over to Slamannan this morning to catch up with the Taiga Bean Geese. Often located in the field opposite Luckenburn Farm and sure enough there were 43 in said place:
Other birds of interest were several hundred Pink Footed Geese that flew high overhead, 11 Whooper Swan & 4 Stock Dove.
Other birds of interest were several hundred Pink Footed Geese that flew high overhead, 11 Whooper Swan & 4 Stock Dove.
Saturday 30 October 2010
Waxwing Lyrical
With at least 4,000 Waxwings arriving in Scotland during the week and some having pushed as far West as Glasgow a nice sunny morning was an opportunity to take some photos and collect a year tick.
Reports of a big flock at Baillieston on the east side of Glasgow was only a short drive away and soon I was enjoying at least 70 of the little beauties:
Reports of a big flock at Baillieston on the east side of Glasgow was only a short drive away and soon I was enjoying at least 70 of the little beauties:
Fieldfare was also present:
After my fill of Waxwings I moved round to Hogganfield. A few Goldeneyes, 50 Goosander and 2 Whooper Swans were the highlights:
Tuesday 19 October 2010
Wryneck at Last
Last day on Scilly (16 October) was bright and warm with a moderate east/north breeze. Overall it has been a great trip, I have thoroughly enjoyed it, saw some great birds and always felt that there was something to see. What a contrast to 2009 !
However, after going almost continually since 1999 perhaps it is time to try something else in Autumn 2011. Though I have absolutely no doubt I will be back on Scilly in years to come.
The boat was not until 4:30 pm and therefore I had time to finally nail a Wryneck for the trip:
Spent the remainder of the time photographing Sanderling at Porthloo:
However, after going almost continually since 1999 perhaps it is time to try something else in Autumn 2011. Though I have absolutely no doubt I will be back on Scilly in years to come.
The boat was not until 4:30 pm and therefore I had time to finally nail a Wryneck for the trip:
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| Wryneck |
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| Wryneck |
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| Wryneck |
Spent the remainder of the time photographing Sanderling at Porthloo:
What exactly is an Eastern Yellow Wagtail ?
Friday 15 th October again started dull but it brightened up by early afternoon.
There wasn't a lot to get terribly excited about so perhaps the target for the day was to mop up some stragglers and get the list up over 100.
A Firecrest at Carreg Dhu Gardens showed well as did 2 Bramblings with c150 Chaffinches in the 'Quinoa Field' at Tremelethen :
A Kingfisher at Porthellick Pool brought the trip list to exactly 100. Water Rail and 2 Jack Snipe also showed well.
The Yellow Browed Warbler was still present at Porthellick and showed much better today.
The recently published Mitchell & Vinicombe checklist includes as an added species something called "Eastern Yellow Wagtail" so on news of a possible at Pelistry I went to see what the fuss was about.
One of the apparent clinchers is the call. The EYW has a buzzier 'psit' call than its more Western neighbours. I heard the EYW call as I did the 'ordinary' one the other day at Carn Friars. I would not like to comment as to difference or otherwise and I simply do not see or indeed hear Yellow Wagtail often enough to add anything sensible to the debate. Some birders were of the opinion that the call of this supposed EYW did not conform to its supposed ID, but then again some felt that there was a 'buzzy' quality about the call. Mitchell & Vinicombe refer to research carried out in 2003:
"............ that a deep split exists in Yellow Wagtails between the Eastern Palearctic forms ................. and all the other subspecies .................."
"......... that grey and white birds occur rarely in most subspecies of Yellow Wagtail and commonly in Black Headed and Sykes Wagtails.............. It seems likely that most such birds (i.e grey & white) seen in Britain will prove to relate to tschutschensis (one of the Eastern Palearctic forms).
Other birds of note today included a Common Buzzard at Porthellick and c15 Sanderling, 1 Common Sand and a Black Redstart at Porthloo.
There wasn't a lot to get terribly excited about so perhaps the target for the day was to mop up some stragglers and get the list up over 100.
A Firecrest at Carreg Dhu Gardens showed well as did 2 Bramblings with c150 Chaffinches in the 'Quinoa Field' at Tremelethen :
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| Brambling |
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| Brambling |
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| Brambling |
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| Brambling |
A Kingfisher at Porthellick Pool brought the trip list to exactly 100. Water Rail and 2 Jack Snipe also showed well.
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| 'Mr Boby' |
The Yellow Browed Warbler was still present at Porthellick and showed much better today.
The recently published Mitchell & Vinicombe checklist includes as an added species something called "Eastern Yellow Wagtail" so on news of a possible at Pelistry I went to see what the fuss was about.
 |
| Eastern Yellow Wagtail |
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| Eastern Yellow Wagtail |
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| Eastern Yellow Wagtail |
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| Eastern Yellow Wagtail |
One of the apparent clinchers is the call. The EYW has a buzzier 'psit' call than its more Western neighbours. I heard the EYW call as I did the 'ordinary' one the other day at Carn Friars. I would not like to comment as to difference or otherwise and I simply do not see or indeed hear Yellow Wagtail often enough to add anything sensible to the debate. Some birders were of the opinion that the call of this supposed EYW did not conform to its supposed ID, but then again some felt that there was a 'buzzy' quality about the call. Mitchell & Vinicombe refer to research carried out in 2003:
"............ that a deep split exists in Yellow Wagtails between the Eastern Palearctic forms ................. and all the other subspecies .................."
"......... that grey and white birds occur rarely in most subspecies of Yellow Wagtail and commonly in Black Headed and Sykes Wagtails.............. It seems likely that most such birds (i.e grey & white) seen in Britain will prove to relate to tschutschensis (one of the Eastern Palearctic forms).
Other birds of note today included a Common Buzzard at Porthellick and c15 Sanderling, 1 Common Sand and a Black Redstart at Porthloo.
Melodic Martin's
Thursday 14 th October was fairly dull weather wise but was quickly brightened by a Great Northern Diver in Portcressa Bay. The remainder of the morning was quiet with only a brief glimpse of a Yellow Browed Warbler in Sallows at Porthellick, although it was fairly vocal, and 4 European Golden Plover on the airfield of any note.
News of a Melodious Warbler (a lifer) however, quickly changed my mood and by early afternoon I was on my way to St Martin's. A winter plumaged Slavonian Grebe was seen from the boat and shortly after landing a Marsh Harrier was out towards the Eastern Isles.
Directions for the Melodious were a bit vague "between the school and the polytunnel". On finding the latter I quickly realised that there was some distance between the two and that this was going to be far from 'a walk up and tick job'. Indeed the last and possibly only sighting of the day so far of the Melodious was "a brief sighting early morning". The prospects of actually seeing the bird seemed low and this combined to a non appearance of a Common Rosefinch in the same area left me with a distinct feeling of 'I shouldn't have bothered'.
I headed back towards the quay on the news that a Tawny Pipit had been refound. On the way the obligatory St Martin's Sanderlings were added to the trip list. The Pipit was showing very well at the top of the beach but had a nasty habit of ducking behind various tufts of marram grass just as I was about to press the shutter. Images were frankly a bit disappointing but you can tell it's a Tawny I supppose:
The Tawny Pipit flew off along the beach and I quickly lost any interest in trying to relocate it when I heard there was a Melodious Warbler on show at Seven Stones, just around the corner. After a tense wait a hippo was found round the back of the pub and sure enough I glimpsed a Melodious/Icterine in elms.
The bird showed briefly on and off for the next 20 mins but I was not able to get good enough views to satisfy myself, although the photographic evidence was fairly conclusive.
Time was pressing as boat departure was nearing. The bird had moved further up the hill behind the pub into the next set of elms. Here it gave far better views and I was able to see no pale panel on the wing coverts, very obvious short wing length, a very yellow breast and the long pale hippo bill. Latterly, it showed right above our heads.
Back on St Mary's I killed some time before dinner in the ISBG hide at Lower Moors and finally got my first glimpse of the year of Water Rail.
News of a Melodious Warbler (a lifer) however, quickly changed my mood and by early afternoon I was on my way to St Martin's. A winter plumaged Slavonian Grebe was seen from the boat and shortly after landing a Marsh Harrier was out towards the Eastern Isles.
Directions for the Melodious were a bit vague "between the school and the polytunnel". On finding the latter I quickly realised that there was some distance between the two and that this was going to be far from 'a walk up and tick job'. Indeed the last and possibly only sighting of the day so far of the Melodious was "a brief sighting early morning". The prospects of actually seeing the bird seemed low and this combined to a non appearance of a Common Rosefinch in the same area left me with a distinct feeling of 'I shouldn't have bothered'.
I headed back towards the quay on the news that a Tawny Pipit had been refound. On the way the obligatory St Martin's Sanderlings were added to the trip list. The Pipit was showing very well at the top of the beach but had a nasty habit of ducking behind various tufts of marram grass just as I was about to press the shutter. Images were frankly a bit disappointing but you can tell it's a Tawny I supppose:
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| Tawny Pipit - doing its best to hide from a gang of twitchers |
The Tawny Pipit flew off along the beach and I quickly lost any interest in trying to relocate it when I heard there was a Melodious Warbler on show at Seven Stones, just around the corner. After a tense wait a hippo was found round the back of the pub and sure enough I glimpsed a Melodious/Icterine in elms.
The bird showed briefly on and off for the next 20 mins but I was not able to get good enough views to satisfy myself, although the photographic evidence was fairly conclusive.
Time was pressing as boat departure was nearing. The bird had moved further up the hill behind the pub into the next set of elms. Here it gave far better views and I was able to see no pale panel on the wing coverts, very obvious short wing length, a very yellow breast and the long pale hippo bill. Latterly, it showed right above our heads.
Back on St Mary's I killed some time before dinner in the ISBG hide at Lower Moors and finally got my first glimpse of the year of Water Rail.
Monday 18 October 2010
'Sub A' Day.
The pager had been strangely quiet regarding the Subalpine Warbler on Bryher the previous day. Indeed there had been no news at all since 2pm. However, following some reassurance from some birders that it was still present late afternoon I was definitely off to Bryher today (Wed 13 th) for potentially bird number 393 in Britain.
Since the boat was not until 10:15 I had a quick look round the west side of Peninnis. A Black Redstart was a year tick and a Sandwich Tern was a trip tick.
The boat to Bryher produced 2 Little Egrets in the Tresco Channel. The Sub A had been showing yesterday in gorse just north of the Fraggle Rock Cafe and after a short wait it showed briefly but well on a few occasions. Finally it perched up sunning itself for a few minutes but was rather distant and largely obscured:
At Hell Bay a confiding Lapland Bunting gave great views:
Little Egret off Church Quay:
Other birds of note on Bryher today included Short Eared Owl (roosting in the dump), Raven, 1 Fieldfare, c6 Redwing and a Hooded Crow. A female Marsh Harrier was seen from the boat.
Since the boat was not until 10:15 I had a quick look round the west side of Peninnis. A Black Redstart was a year tick and a Sandwich Tern was a trip tick.
The boat to Bryher produced 2 Little Egrets in the Tresco Channel. The Sub A had been showing yesterday in gorse just north of the Fraggle Rock Cafe and after a short wait it showed briefly but well on a few occasions. Finally it perched up sunning itself for a few minutes but was rather distant and largely obscured:
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| Sub A Warbler - What a view........not. |
At Hell Bay a confiding Lapland Bunting gave great views:
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| Lapland Bunting |
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| Lapland Bunting |
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| A pint of the local brew to celebrate a lifer |
Little Egret off Church Quay:
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| Little Egret |
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| Little Egret |
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| Great Black Backed Gull - Common on Scilly |
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| Peacock Butterfly |
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| Fraggle Rock |
Other birds of note on Bryher today included Short Eared Owl (roosting in the dump), Raven, 1 Fieldfare, c6 Redwing and a Hooded Crow. A female Marsh Harrier was seen from the boat.
A Day of Dipping
Tuesday 12 th October was another day of glorious autumn sunshine and light Easterly winds.
News of a Nightingale on St Agnes and some other bits and pieces persuaded me to part with £ 7.80 for the boat to Aggy.
I haven't seen Nightingale for many years (the early nineties on Salthouse Heath being my only one). However, I again failed to break that run today as there was no sign from the area of Chapel Fields where it had been seen, apparently well, the previous day. The Turtle Dove had gone from the lighthouse garden as had the RB Fly from the Fruit Cages.
On the positive side at least 2 Ring Ouzels were in Periglis Cove but I dipped the Wryneck and Black Redstart.
Whinchat was present close to the Big Pool:
A tramp round Wingletang failed to find any of the reported Lapland Buntings. Yet more Northern Wheatears, this time on the beach at The Beady Pool:
Afemale Pied Fly showed well in The Parsonage:
A couple of Chiffchaff were feeding on a sunny ivy covered wall and were frequently returning to the same branch of a Pitisporan giving me an opportunity for a good image:
A Lesser Whitethroat was present in Chapel Fields late afternoon.
The boat arrived back on St Mary's just before 5pm and this gave me time to nip up to the back of the golf course for Pied Wheatear. Unfortunately, it had flown shortly before I had arrived !
News of a 1st winter male Subalpine Warbler on Bryher promised much for tomorrow.
News of a Nightingale on St Agnes and some other bits and pieces persuaded me to part with £ 7.80 for the boat to Aggy.
I haven't seen Nightingale for many years (the early nineties on Salthouse Heath being my only one). However, I again failed to break that run today as there was no sign from the area of Chapel Fields where it had been seen, apparently well, the previous day. The Turtle Dove had gone from the lighthouse garden as had the RB Fly from the Fruit Cages.
On the positive side at least 2 Ring Ouzels were in Periglis Cove but I dipped the Wryneck and Black Redstart.
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| Ring Ouzel -wild and wary as usual |
Whinchat was present close to the Big Pool:
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| Whinchat |
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| Male Stonechat against a blue 'Scilly Sky' |
A tramp round Wingletang failed to find any of the reported Lapland Buntings. Yet more Northern Wheatears, this time on the beach at The Beady Pool:
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| Northern Wheatear - Nice contrast against the seaweed |
Afemale Pied Fly showed well in The Parsonage:
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| Female Pied Fly |
A couple of Chiffchaff were feeding on a sunny ivy covered wall and were frequently returning to the same branch of a Pitisporan giving me an opportunity for a good image:
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| Chiffchaff |
A Lesser Whitethroat was present in Chapel Fields late afternoon.
The boat arrived back on St Mary's just before 5pm and this gave me time to nip up to the back of the golf course for Pied Wheatear. Unfortunately, it had flown shortly before I had arrived !
News of a 1st winter male Subalpine Warbler on Bryher promised much for tomorrow.
Yet Another American Wader !
Monday 11 th October was similar weather wise to the previous day.
The Western Black Eared Wheatear remained on the Garrison.
On the Western side of the Garrison I happened upon a partial albino Blackbird that I first saw flying and which certainly gave me a start.
2 Snow Buntings were on Peninnis Head:
2 Jack Snipe again gave good views at Lower Moors and the 2 Little Buntings continued to show well at Carn Friars together with a Yellow Wagtail. A Sparrowhawk was also at Carn Friars.
A Pec Sand was on the beach at Porthellick although it always remained distant.
Northern Wheaters continued to be commonly seen including this obliging individual on Porthellick Beach:
I usually only see Raven on St Martins, but this particular one was at Porthellick:
Spotted Flycatcher in the trees across from the riding stables:
The end of another glorious Scilly day:
The Western Black Eared Wheatear remained on the Garrison.
On the Western side of the Garrison I happened upon a partial albino Blackbird that I first saw flying and which certainly gave me a start.
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| Partial albino Blackbird !!!!!!!!!!!!! |
2 Snow Buntings were on Peninnis Head:
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| Snow Bunting |
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| Snow Bunting |
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| Snow Bunting |
2 Jack Snipe again gave good views at Lower Moors and the 2 Little Buntings continued to show well at Carn Friars together with a Yellow Wagtail. A Sparrowhawk was also at Carn Friars.
A Pec Sand was on the beach at Porthellick although it always remained distant.
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| Pec Sand |
Northern Wheaters continued to be commonly seen including this obliging individual on Porthellick Beach:
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| Northern Wheatear |
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| Northern Wheatear |
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| Turnstone at Porthellick |
I usually only see Raven on St Martins, but this particular one was at Porthellick:
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| Raven "Cronking" |
Spotted Flycatcher in the trees across from the riding stables:
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| Spot Fly |
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| Spot Fly |
The end of another glorious Scilly day:
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| Evening view across St Mary's Harbour towards the Garrison |
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