Apologies for the lack of sightings! A lot of our committee members have been away for the winter. Key highlights include:
The pair of Chough have been present the whole winter and have been seen roaming between Peninnis and Toll’s Island, and have briefly made an appearance on St Martin’s, too.
A ringtail Hen Harrier was seen on the 23rd January at Porth Hellick and on Tresco, and again on St Martin’s in the middle of February.
Great Northern Divers are still present around the islands. A Black-necked Grebe has stayed around St Mary’s harbour.
A 1w Little Gull was found at Porthcressa on 14th February. Lesser Black-backed Gull (27th January), Mediterranean Gull (2, 26th January), Black-headed Gull (30, 15th February), Common Gull (4, 15th February) and Kittiwake have all been seen around the islands.
There have been regular reports of Buzzard, Kestrel, Jack Snipe, Black Redstart, Firecrest, Linnet, Blackcap, Chiffchaff, Raven and a Siberian Chiffchaff (Carreg Dhu). There was a drake Shoveler on Porth Hellick pool on the 23rd January and a female Shoveler at Lower Moors on 7th and 19th February. A trip to Bryher on 6th February saw 9 Grey Plover.
Counts of ducks on Tresco in late January (25th – 27th) included 7 Pochard, 1 Tufted Duck, 4 Shoveler, 1 Wigeon and 1 Pintail. The Pink-footed Goose remained by the church.