Wishing all of our members a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Sunday (19/12)
Surf Scoter – The first-winter bird was just south of Skirt Island, Tresco.
Lesser Scaup – 1 still on the Abbey Pool, Tresco.
Glossy Ibis – 1 flew from Simpson’s Field across the Great Pool, Tresco.
Cattle Egret – 2 with cattle in a field between Parting Carn and Tremelethen.
Spoonbill – 1 on Green Island, Samson.
Red-throated Diver – 1 off Skirt Island, Tresco.
Eider – 1 just south of Skirt Island, Tresco.
Purple Sandpiper – 1 on rocks at Porth Hellick, near the Old quay.
Pochard – 4 on the Abbey Pool, Tresco.
Shoveler – 3 on the Great Pool, Tresco.
Pintail – 4 on the Great Pool, Tresco.
Wigeon – 4 on the Great Pool, Tresco.
Merlin – A sick bird was on Porth Mellon and taken into care.
Siberian Chiffchaff – 1 was on Porth Hellick Loop.
Black Redstart – 1 on Porthloo Beach.
Grey Wagtail – 1 at Porthloo.
Monday (20/12)
Surf Scoter – 1 still off South Beach, Tresco.
Cattle Egret – 1 with cows at Parting Carn and 3 at Longstone.
Spoonbill – 3 flew from Samson Flats.
Common Scoter – 1 off South Beach, Tresco.
Eider – 1 off South Beach, Tresco.
Red-throated Diver – 1 off South Beach, Tresco.
Great Spotted Woodpecker – 1 was in trees by the Skate Park next to the school playing fields. It then flew towards the Dump Clump.
Siberian Chiffchaff – 1 on Tremelethen Farm.
Lapwing – 1 on Porth Hellick Beach
Woodcock – 3 on Tremelethen Farm.
Mediterranean Gull – 1 at Porth Mellon and 1 at Porthloo.
Grey Wagtail – 1 at the Health Centre and 1 on the road at Parting Carn junction.
Tuesday (21/12)
Spotted Sandpiper – The wintering bird was back on the north end of Porthloo Beach.
Surf Scoter – 1 still off South Beach, Tresco.
Cattle Egret – 4 with cows at Parting Carn.
Spoonbill – 1 on Tobaccoman’s Ledge southeast of Skirt Island, Tresco.
Rook – 1 flew low northwest over Longstone, this is a scarce bird on Scilly.
Common Scoter – 1 off South Beach, Tresco.
Eider – 1 off South Beach, Tresco.
Red-throated Diver – 1 south of Skirt Island, Tresco.
Great Northern Diver – 3 between St. Mary’s and Tresco.
Shoveler – 3 flew along the south side of Tresco and were later seen on Porth Hellick Pool.
Golden Plover – 1 on the Golf Course.
Whimbrel – 8 at Pendrathen.
Fieldfare – 1 on the Golf Course.
Black Redstart – 2 on Porthloo Beach and 1 on the beach below Tregarthen’s Carpark.
Wednesday (22/12)
Surf Scoter – 1 still off South Beach, Tresco.
Cattle Egret – 4 with cattle in a field behind Gimble Porth, Tresco. There were also 2 with cattle opposite Longstone Lodge and 1 with the cows at Parting Carn, whether these are part of the 4 from Tresco is open to conjecture.
Eider – 2, a first-winter drake and a female close in off Watermill.
Great Northern Diver – 4 seen from Pendrathen.
Black- throated Diver – 1 seen from Pendrathen.
Red-throated Diver – 1 close in off Watermill.
Little Egret – 1 Porth Mellon.
Shoveler – 3 were still on Porth Hellick Pool.
Golden Plover – 9 on the Golf Course and 2 on Porthloo Beach.
Whimbrel – 2 at Pendrathen.
Mediterranean Gull – 1 Newford Island Quay, Porthloo and 2 off Pendrathen.
Redwing – 25 on the school playing field.
Black Redstart – 1 on Porthloo Beach and 1 on Porth Mellon Beach.
Thursday (23/12)
Spotted Sandpiper – The wintering bird was again on the north end of Porthloo Beach.
Cattle Egret – 2 at Parting Carn.
Slavonian Grebe – 3 seen twice in flight between near Little Gannick, Eastern Isles (photo).
Spoonbill – 3 on Green Island, Samson (photo).
Great Northern Diver – 1 off Innisidgen, 1 in Pentle Bay, Tresco, 1 off Samson and 1 flew over Holy Vale.
Black- throated Diver – A “possible” near Carn Near, Tresco.
Red-throated Diver – 1 Nut Rock, Tresco (photo).
Dark-bellied Brent Goose – 1 off Samson and probably the same 1 seen later at Shark’s Pot and Porthloo (photo).
Shelduck – 9 Samson.
Golden Plover – 9 on the airfield turning circle and 1 on Porthloo Beach.
Whimbrel – 3 at Pendrathen.
Mediterranean Gull – 2 Shark’s Pit and I off Samson.
Skylark – 5 circling over Airport/Old Town.
Black Redstart – 2 on Porthloo Beach, 1 Shark’s Pit, 1 at the Airport Carpark, 1 Bant’s Carn and 1 on the beach below Mermaid Carpark.
Grey Wagtail – 1 Porthloo.
Friday (24/12)
Surf Scoter – The first-winter female was off Skirt Island, Tresco.
Lesser Scaup – 1 still on the Abbey Pool, Tresco.
Glossy Ibis – 1 in a field on Pool Road opposite the David Hunt Hide, Tresco.
Cattle Egret – 2 still with cattle in a field between Parting Carn and Tremelethen.
Spoonbill – 3 Samson.
Slavonian Grebe – 1 off South Beach, Tresco.
Red-throated Diver – 1 off Skirt Island, Tresco.
Dark-bellied Brent Goose – 1 still at Porthloo.
Pintail – 2 on the Great Pool, Tresco.
Wigeon – 4 on the Great Pool, Tresco.
Shoveler – 3 on the Great Pool, Tresco and a drake on Porth Hellick Pool.
Pochard – 8 on the Abbey Pool, Tresco and a pair on Porth Hellick Pool.
Eider – 1 off South Beach, Tresco.
Lesser Whitethroat – 1 on Pool road, Tresco.
Fieldfare – 1 on the Golf Course.
Black Redstart – 1 Little Porth and on the beach below Mermaid Carpark.
