The lockdown has an upside with a very good show of cetaceans at the moment with large numbers of Common Dolphin and some Risso’s Dolphin & Minke Whale in recent days.
Monday
The second (possibly third) Purple Heron of the spring was at Porth Hellick Pool and a Hobby was seen over Porth Hellick & Watermill.
A trip to Tresco proved fruitful with a Honey Buzzard flying east towards St. Martin’s and a female Red-backed Shrike at Borough Farm.
Also on the island were a Hobby, 21 Dunlin, a Whimbrel, a Mediterranean Gull, a Spotted Flycatcher and 5 Wheatear.
A pair of Pochard with 5 ducklings were on the Abbey Pool.
Tuesday
A female Red-backed Shrike was caught and ringed at Porth Hellick, a Swift was over Tremelethen and there were several Hobby on St. Mary’s with 4 seen together over Higher Moors before drifting over Longstone & then Lower Moors.
Wednesday
Another trip to Tresco was equally as good as Monday’s. Another shrike was at Borough Farm, this time a Woodchat. Also seen were 8 Whimbrel, a Greylag Goose and a Wood Warbler.
There were 3 Pochard but no sign of any ducklings, they have hatched for the last few years, but the young do not seem to survive.
On St. Mary’s a Golden Oriole was singing at Longstone, a Cuckoo was at Trenoweth and a Swift & a Hobby were over Porth Hellick Down.
