Tuesday (22/08)
RED-FOOTED BOOBY – It was still sat on the Bishop Rock Lighthouse.
Scopoli’s Shearwater – A “possible” seen in Scilly waters from the Scillonian III on the return trip (photos were taken and confirmation is awaited).
Cory’s Shearwater – 18 flying east, seen in one quick scan from Old Town Beach, 280 seen in Scilly waters from the Scillonian III on the return trip and c100 on the evening fishing/birding pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Great Shearwater – 6 seen in Scilly waters from the Scillonian III on the return trip and 25 on the evening fishing/birding pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Sooty Shearwater – 2 on the evening fishing/birding pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
European Storm-petrel – 22 seen in Scilly waters from the Scillonian III on the return trip and 50 on the evening fishing/birding pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Sabine’s Gull – 1 seen in Scilly waters from the Scillonian III on the return trip.
Black Tern – 1 seen in Scilly waters from the Scillonian III on the return trip.
Arctic Tern – 2 on the evening fishing/birding pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Great Skua – 1 seen in Scilly waters from the Scillonian III on the return trip.
Grey Phalarope – 1 seen in Scilly waters from the Scillonian III on the return trip and 4 on the evening fishing/birding pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Green Sandpiper – 1 Lower Moors.
Red-backed Shrike – 1 still in a field at Parting Carn junction on a telegraph wire.
Pied Flycatcher – 1 in the Gardens behind the Municipal Dump and 3 on in Old Town Churchyard.
Wheatear – 1 by the airport terminal and 1 on Tresco Cricket Pitch.
Short-beaked Common Dolphin – 25 on the evening fishing/birding pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna – 10 seen in Scilly waters from the Scillonian III on the return trip.
Blue Shark – 1 caught tagged and released on the evening fishing/birding pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Wednesday (23/08)
RED-FOOTED BOOBY – It was still sat on the Bishop Rock Lighthouse until 10:45, when it was seen to fly off towards Scilly. Much to the visiting birders’ relief, it returned early afternoon.
Cory’s Shearwater – 450 from a pelagic trip near Bishop Rock.
Great Shearwater – 3 from a pelagic trip near Bishop Rock.
Sooty Shearwater – 2 from a pelagic trip near Bishop Rock.
Balearic Shearwater – 3 from a pelagic trip near Bishop Rock.
European Storm-petrel – 5 from a pelagic trip near Bishop Rock.
Little Eget – 1 on Bryher.
Mediterranean Gull – 10 with a mixed flock of Gulls circling above Hugh Town late evening, perhaps feeding on flying ants.
Green Sandpiper– 1 on the Project Pool between the Dump Clump and Lower Moors.
Wryneck – 1 briefly on the boardwalk on the beach side of the Seaward Hide at Porth Hellick Pool before flying into the willow opposite the hide.
Turtle Dove – The first of the autumn was 1 at Higher Town, St. Martin’s.
Red-backed Shrike – 1 still in a field opposite the entrance to Parting Carn Farm.
Common Redstart – 2 on Bryher by the church.
Pied Flycatcher – 1 Salakee Fields, 1 at Porth Hellick, 1 Carret Dhu and 5 on Bryher
Spotted Flycatcher – 1 at Porth Hellick.
Thursday (24/08)
RED-FOOTED BOOBY – It was still sat on the Bishop Rock Lighthouse.
Greenish Warbler – 1 was heard in the pines at the Riding Stables, then was seen briefly in the hedge opposite before flying towards Maypole Farm.
Purple Heron – 1 seen flying from Bryher to Samson.
Wilson’s Storm-petrel – 1 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Cory’s Shearwater – 150 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Great Shearwater – 2 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Sooty Shearwater –1 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
European Storm-petrel – c30 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Green Sandpiper– 1 still on the Project Pool.
Whimbrel – 1 flew low over Harry’s Walls.
Wryneck – 1 in Old Town Churchyard.
Red-backed Shrike – 1 still in the field opposite the entrance to Parting Carn Farm.
Common Whitethroat – 1 at Longstone, 1 at Bishop’s View, Porthloo Lane and 1 on Gugh.
Garden Warbler – 1 by the road at Higher Moors.
Common Redstart – 1 in the Dead Pine Walk on the Garrison.
Pied Flycatcher – 1 Carret Dhu, 2 in Old Town Churchyard, 2 in the Dead Pine Walk on the Garrison, 4 at Bishop’s View, Porthloo Lane, 1 at the Riding Stables and 1 at Borough Farm, St. Mary’s.
Spotted Flycatcher – 3 on the Dead Pine Walk on the Garrison, 2 at Longstone, 1 at Porth Hellick, 1 in Old Town Churchyard, 2 at Bishop’s View, Porthloo Lane, 1 at the Riding Stables and 2 at Carn Friars.
Wheatear – 14 on Porth Hellick Down, 2 at Deep Point, 5 between Blue Carn & Giant’s Castle and 2 on Periglis, St. Agnes.
Tree Pipit – 1 at Bishop’s View, Porthloo Lane
Short-beaked Common Dolphin – 15 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Blue Shark – 1 caught tagged and released on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Friday (25/08)
RED-FOOTED BOOBY – After a morning’s absence it was back on the lighthouse at 13:50.
SOUTH POLAR SKUA – Scilly Pelagics continue to astound. Unbelievably another was seen on the evening pelagic trip (photo). It could be seen as the same time as the Red-footed Booby, quite a double act! Examination of photographs showed it to be a different bird to that seen on July 31st. There have now been 5 British records, 3 on Scilly and the only 2 picked up exhausted/injured were seen from the MV Sapphire!
Wilson’s Storm-petrel – 1 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Woodchat Shrike – A juvenile on the wires and hedges in the horse paddock, Sandy Lane (photo).
Red-backed Shrike – 1 still in the field opposite the entrance to Parting Carn Farm (photo).
Cory’s Shearwater – 150+ in Scilly waters seen from the Scillonian III on the morning crossing from Penzance to St. Mary’s to Penzance, 5 off Peninnis, 50 near the bishop Rock and 200 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Great Shearwater – 10 in Scilly waters seen from the Scillonian III on the morning crossing from Penzance to St. Mary’s to Penzance, 2 near the bishop Rock and 25 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Sooty Shearwater – 1 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
European Storm-petrel – 1 in Scilly waters seen from the Scillonian III on the morning crossing from Penzance to St. Mary’s and c50 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Arctic Tern – 4 in Scilly waters seen from the Scillonian III on the morning crossing from Penzance to St. Mary’s and 1 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock,
Green Sandpiper– 1 on Porth Hellick Pool and 3 on Lower Moors Pool.
Pied Flycatcher – 1 by Southwest Water Pumping Station Entrance.
Risso’s Dolphin – 2 in Scilly waters seen from the Scillonian III on the morning crossing from Penzance to St. Mary’s.
Short-beaked Common Dolphin – 30+ in Scilly waters seen from the Scillonian III on the morning crossing from Penzance to St. Mary’s and 20 on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
Atlantic Bluefin Tuna – 10 in Scilly waters seen from the Scillonian III on the morning crossing from Penzance to St. Mary’s.
Blue Shark – 1 caught tagged and released on the evening pelagic trip 5 km southwest of the Bishop Rock.
