Sightings

Thursday’s birds were:

St. Agnes – The Bee-eater, a Woodlark and 2 Cuckoos.

Gugh – A Whimbrel.

Annet – 120 Manx Shearwaters and 2 Great Northern Divers offshore.

St. Mary’s – A Cuckoo in Holy Vale and a Jackdaw (a scarce bird on Scilly) at Longstone.

Bryher – 5 Whimbrels and a Cuckoo.

St. Martin’s – A Whimbrel.

At sea – A successful trip produced 100+ Manx Shearwaters, 30-40 European Storm-petrels, a Yellow-legged Gull, an Arctic Tern, 2 Sunfish and the highlight of the trip a Leatherback Turtle (more…)

Monday’s Birds were:

St. Mary’s – The Red-backed Shrike was again at Porth Hellick, where there was also a Garden Warbler and a Green Sandpiper. A Common Sandpiper and an unseasonal Common Snipe were at Lower Moors, a Siskin was at Longstone, 2 Hobbies were over the island, an Osprey flew over Normandy at 20:50 and a Honey Buzzard flew over late morning heading towards the Eastern Isles.

Bryher – Undoubtedly the bird of the day was a summer-plumaged male Red-throated Pipit found at Popplestone Bay. Also on the island were 5 Whimbrels, 4 Dunlins, and a Spotted Flycatcher.

St. Martin’s – A Short-toed Lark was on Flagstaff Hill and Osprey flew over the island at 12:30 and also seen were 5 Whimbrels.

St. Agnes – Another Short-toed Lark was on west side on the coastal path near Porth Askin and there were 5 Whimbrels on the island.

Tresco – A Whimbrel, a Dunlin, 2 Sanderlings, a Common Buzzard, a Hobby, a Whinchat and a Spotted Flycatcher (more…)

Thursday’s birds were:

Bryher – The Dotterel was still on Shipman Head Down and an Osprey flew in from the direction of Tresco. Also seen on the island were 6 Common Swifts, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Lesser Redpoll.

St. Agnes – A Common Swift, 2 Cuckoos, a Black Redstart, a White Wagtail, a Spotted Flycatcher and a Common Whitethroat.

St. Mary’s – A Spotted Flycatcher was at Trenoweth and a Common Whitethroat was trapped and ringed at Porth Hellick.

St. Martin’s – 3 Common Swifts.

Inter-island waters – 85+ Manx Shearwaters were off Annet and 5 Great Northern Divers were off Samson/Annet.

At sea – Amongst the birds seen on the first pelagic trip of the year (earlier than usual), were 10+European Storm-petrels, an Arctic Tern and a Great Skua. (more…)

Sunday’s birds were:

St. Mary’s – The Northern Harrier flew out of its overnight roost in Lower Moors about 05:55 and was later seen well at Porth Hellick before flying off high to St. Martin’s late morning. It was back on St. Mary’s mid-afternoon at Trewince and was then back at Porth Hellick briefly but there was no further sign by nightfall.
3 Whimbrels were on the Golf Course and 1 was on Old Town Beach and a Golden Plover was on the airfield. 2 Jackdaws were at Parting Carn, 5 Wheatears were on the Golf Course and 1 was at Porthloo.

St. Martin’s – As well as the Northern Harrier paying a brief visit a Bee-eater was heard and a Marsh Harrier was seen.

Tresco – 4 Whimbrels, 3 Sanderlings, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Buzzard. Pochard have bred again, an adult an 6 young were seen.

Inter-island waters – 6+ Great Northern Divers were seen on the “Seabird special” on which a Wheatear was also seen on one of the smaller rocky islets. (more…)

Friday’s birds were: St. Mary’s – The Laughing Gull after spending nearly a month decided on a change of islands and showed very well at Porthloo Duck Pond. The Marsh Harrier again flew from St. Agnes to St. Mary’s and Read more…

Wednesday’s birds were: St. Mary’s – An unidentified Harrier species flew through Lower Moors. An Iceland Gull was off the Quay and at Porthloo, where there were also 5 Whimbrels. St. Agnes – 10+ Whimbrels. Thursday’s birds were: St. Martins Read more…

Sunday’s birds were:

St. Mary’s – A Roseate Tern was in Hugh Town Harbour, it was ringed and from initial enquiries it was ringed in 2013 at Rockabill, Ireland. Also on St. Mary’s 7 Dunlins were on Porthcressa Beach, a Common Swift was over the Garrison and a Merlin was at Rocky Hills.

St. Agnes – The Woodchat Shrike was still on Wingletang Down and an Osprey flew over. Also on the island were 2 Common Swifts, 20 Whimbrels, a Bar-tailed Godwit, 16 Wheatears, a Cuckoo, a Black Redstart, a White Wagtail and a Firecrest. (more…)

Tuesday’s birds were: St. Mary’s – An Iceland Gull was at Porthloo, 4 Sandwich Terns were by Hugh Town Quay and a Common Whitethroat was at Bant’s Carn. St. Agnes – 14 Whimbrels and a Cuckoo. Bryher – 7 Whimbrels. Read more…

St . Mary’s – The Red-rumped Swallow was on Kittydown, where there was also a Whinchat. 3 Whimbrels, a Common Swift and a Lesser Whitethroat were at Porth Hellick. The Spotted Crake was heard in Lower Moors at 04:30 in Read more…

Friday’s birds were:

St. Mary’s – 3 Common Swifts were over the island. Reed, Sedge & Grasshopper Warblers were in Lower Moors and a Common Redstart, a Lesser Whitethroat & a Common Whitethroat were on the Garrison, with another Common Whitethroat in Old Town. The male Pied Flycatcher was still in Carreg Dhu Gardens and a Water Rail & 2 Siskins were at Holy Vale. 10 Whimbrel flew over Hugh Town and there were good numbers of hirundines aver Porth Hellick Pool, with 35 Swallows, 40 Sand Martins and 5 House Martins. (more…)