Wednesday’s birds were:
St. Mary’s – A Tawny Pipit was found on the airfield, an adult Woodchat Shrike flew from the vegetation on Porth Hellick bank towards Salakee farm. The Ortolan Bunting was still on Peninnis, the Bar-tailed Godwit was still on Porthcressa beach and the Yellow-browed Warbler & the Pied Flycatcher were still at Newford Duck Pond. The Merlin currently present was seen at several different locations. A Firecrest was on the Garrison and 4 Spotted Flycatchers were in an orchard on Carn Friars Farm.
Bryher – Another Tawny Pipit.
At sea – 39 Great Shearwaters and a Grey Phalarope were reported from the Scillonian III on the morning crossing from Penzance to Hugh Town.
INSECT NEWS: 2 Large Coneheads were found on Bryher, these constituted only the 3rd and 4th records for the UK
Thursday’s birds were:
St. Mary’s – The Tawny Pipit was still on the airfield and the Ortolan Bunting was still on the western side of Peninnis. Another Ortolan Bunting was reported flying over the quay towards the Golf Course. The Merlin was still around, the Bar-tailed Godwit was still on Porthcressa Beach. A summer-plumage Great Northern Diver flew over Peninnis, a Garden Warbler was at the allotments there and a Common Rosefinch was on the coastal path on the west side of Peninnis but was very elusive. A Lesser Whitethroat & 2 Whinchats were at Carn Friars and nearby another Lesser Whitethroat was trapped at Porth Hellick ringing station. 5 Whinchats were in the Standing Stones Field, 4 Spotted Flycatchers were in the Dead Pine Walk on the Garrison, another was at Green Farm yet another was at Bant’s Carn. 50 Meadow Pipits & a Whinchat were on Salakee Down, another Whinchat was on the coastal path past Juliet’s Garden Café and 70 Meadow Pipits were on the Golf Course. A Yellow-browed Warbler and a Water Rail were at Newford Duck Pond.
St. Agnes – A Turtle Dove, a Wryneck and a Common Rosefinch.
Gugh – A Common Rosefinch, maybe the St. Agnes bird?
Bryher – Another Tawny Pipit, a Common Redstart, 3 Whinchats, a Pied & 12 Spotted Flycatchers and yet another Common Rosefinch, there may be up to 4 Rosefinches on the islands.
Green Island, near Samson – A Spoonbill.
At sea– 140 Great & 4 Sooty Shearwaters were seen from the Scillonian III about a mile east of the islands and another 111 Great & 5 Sooty Shearwaters were seen on the return crossing between St. Mary’s & Wolf Rock.
The last evening pelagic trip, 9 miles southeast of St. Mary’ the last of the season finished with a bang. 700 Great Shearwaters, 30 Sooty Shearwaters & only 7! Manx Shearwaters, 3 Great Skuas, a Grey Phalarope, 2 Puffins and 50 Common Dolphins