Day 1 - 21 October
With the group travelling on three different flights we met at our guesthouse in Porthcressa Bay at lunchtime. Terry and Mo, who travelled earliest had already seen Northern Wheatear and Mediterranean Gull whilst waiting for us to arrive. A Black Redstart was still on view in their usual haunt at the base of the Garrison Wall. Once everyone was introduced we headed off in to the field after a quick cup of tea. Our first port of call is not the most scenic place on Scilly, but the dump is well known for attracting good birds. After a brief shower then sun came out and it was not long before Paul spotted a movement which turned out to be a Red-breasted Flycatcher. This bird performed very well for 10-15 minutes and was briefly joined by a second individual. A good start, much appreciated by Mike who had missed the species earlier in the year on a trip to Poland. Walking round to Porthhellick we picked up 2 Common Raven and our first common migrants in the form of 7 Common Chiffchaff, 2 European Reed Warbler, several Goldcrest and Redwing. Stopping at Old Town for refreshments we continued over Penninis Head but the wind had picked up to force 7-8 and Peregrine was the only bird of note we encountered on the way home. During the course of the afternoon we also encountered our first Clouded Yellow butterflies, Hummingbird Hawk Moths and Atlantic Grey Seals.
Day 2 - 22 October
From the breakfast table we enjoyed views of Black Redstart, Common Stonechat and Northern Wheatear. A Common Greenshank was also on the beach. In torrential rain we took the brave decision to continue with our planned journey to Tresco. After a very wet crossing and a rather awful walk from the low tide quay, enlivened by a European Golden Plover, we arrived at our destination. As we arrived we settled in for what was to become rather a long wait. A Marsh Harrier flew over, one of the birds which bred on the islands in 2005 and remain on Tresco terrorising the waterfowl on the Great Pool. Harry picked up a late Yellow Wagtail flying over and we scrutinised the Blackcap and Goldcrest in the hope of finding something a little scarcer. A male Golden Pheasant, one of the supplemented population on the island, distracted our attention for a while and a couple of Merlin were seen briefly, but in the end we moved off. Terry, Mo and Mike headed for the pub whilst Paul, Harry and Jane tried the hide on the Great Pool. We had hardly settled in at the hide when we received a call. Racing back to our original location we were quickly scoping the American Robin and Terry and company soon joined us to admire this beautiful bird. Once returned to its favoured area the robin remained on view allowing us to watch for as long as we liked. Terry, Mo and Mike then resumed their search for the New Inn whilst the rest of the team returned to the hide on the Great Pool. Single Little Grebe and Eurasian Wigeon were located among the numerous Eurasian Coot and Gadwall. Several Little Egret were also seen here along with 14 Common Greenshank and several Common Redshank. At the bottom of the pool the Eurasian Spoonbill was loafing at the edge but there was little on the Abbey Pool besides numerous Common Teal and several Common Snipe. Walking back towards Old Grimsby the Marsh Harrier floated over the Great Pool putting all the egrets and the spoonbill up in the air, which was quite a show. We just had time before the boat arrived to run up a nearby hill and watch the two Pink-footed Goose across the valley through our scopes. A nice end to a great days birding on Tresco. On arrival back at Saint Mary’s, Paul, Harry and Jane tried Penninis Head again. Nice views of a lovely male Ring Ouzel were obtained and several Common Skylark were seen but by 18.15 the light was fading. However Paul and Harry stuck it out and were rewarded by views of the Short-toed Lark down to a couple of metres.
Day 3 - 23 October
After breakfast we took a taxi to Green Lane Farm at the north end of Saint Mary’s. We had soon seen the juvenile Rose-coloured Starling among the Common Starling flock at the farm. A Merlin was seen briefly plus a pair of Blackcap and a Mistle Thrush, a scarce bird on Scilly. We moved on down to Porthhellick Beach where the Short-toed Lark was busily feeding on the beach whilst birders searched for it in the nearby fields! A new bird for Terry, Mo and Mike and a very obliging individual. Moving up through Carn Friars the heavens opened and everyone except Paul took shelter in the café at Longstones. When it was fit to move we drifted back towards Hugh Town finding two Mediterranean Gulls on Porthloo Beach. After a brief stop to admire a Stick Insect (one of two species introduced on to the islands) we headed through the dump again to the sallow thickets. A Yellow-browed Warbler was soon heard and a fairly dismal imitation of the call seemed to do the trick, with one of the two birds observed coming in right over the heads of the assembled group. Although they were close it was still awkward to get good views of these birds as they were not still for an instant. Meanwhile Paul was rewarded for his dedication in staying out in the rain being the third person to see a European Serin, super close and several times, at Carn Friars.
Day 4 - 24 October
Paul and Harry went to the dump super early and managed brief views of the Yellow-browed Warblers, the rest of the group had a sedate breakfast. We took a taxi to Porthhellick and again had good views of the Short-toed Lark on the beach. A nice close Clouded Yellow butterfly provided a good opportunity for photographs but there was little action otherwise and we continued our walk around the north end of the island. Newly arrived migrants included 2 Fieldfare and a Barn Swallow, otherwise the usual Common Chiffchaff, Goldcrest and Redwing were in evidence. Harry and Jane joined Paul in search of rarer fare. Then we received news and cut short our planned afternoons walk in favour of taking a taxi to Old Town. Walking up on to the end of the airstrip our luck was in and the Blyth’s Pipit, which had just flushed, returned to strut about right in front of us. This individual had caused much controversy and was perhaps not a ‘classic’ Blyth’s Pipit in appearance. The bird appeared not to have moulted through any of the diagnostic adult-like first winter median coverts, was fairly pale (typical for a bird this late in the season) and did not appear particularly small or short-billed. However it did appear marginally shorter tailed than Richard’s Pipit, had a neatly, heavily streaked mantle, a buffish wash to the flank sides and frequently gave a distinctive low ‘chup’ call in flight. Also present on the airstrip was a female Merlin which flew along the runway and dispatched a Common Skylark which it then ‘mantled’ and ate right in front of us. A Common House Martin flying over was a late record for this species, though not unusual in Cornwall. A well earned late lunch was enjoyed at Tolamn’s Café in Old Town and we wandered slowly back to our guesthouse seeing little else of note. The rest of the group all saw the Blyth’s Pipit and Paul finally got to grips with the Aquatic Warbler at Carn Friars, all the more satisfying for the hours of effort expended on it and the fact that he found it for himself.
Day 5 - 25 October
A walk over Penninis Head yielded little in appalling weather, though Harry and Paul found 6 Black-legged Kittiwake whilst seawatching. Pushing on through wind and rain showers we again tried the Porthhellick/ Carn Friars area seeing the Short-toed Lark again and 2-3 Ring Ouzel which unfortunately turned up just after Terry and Mo had left for the café. Several European Reed Warbler and a Willow Warbler were found on the loop trail and a Jack Snipe was seen from the hide. However the weather remained poor and we were all glad to get a good bird late in the day in the form of a Red-backed Shrike at Deep Point. Terry and Mo had lost contact with the rest of the group due to poor mobile reception and had carried on through Telegraph Hill to Porthloo Beach where they saw Sanderling, Mediterranean Gull and Black Redstart.
Day 6 - 26 October
Paul headed for Saint Martins whilst the rest of the group went to Bryher. In glorious sunshine we took a slow walk around the centre of the island seeing Willow Warbler, Whinchat, Eurasian Siskin (which, unusually, was almost absent from Scilly this week) and Northern Wheatear. A slow but steady trickle of Common Skylark passed overhead. After rather pricey refreshments at Hell Bay hotel we continued, finding an adult Common Tern on the beach along with a Common Greenshank and a Little Egret. Over on Saint Martins Paul had fared rather better with 3 Barnacle Geese, Short-eared Owl, Common Redstart and a Ring Ouzel. Back on Saint Mary’s we raced over to Giants Castle and were treated to good views of another Blyth’s Pipit. This individual appeared small, short-billed and short-tailed. Again the bird showed a well marked mantle and buffish wash to the flanks but was not heard to call during the 30 minutes or so we spent watching it. Unlike the pattern on the previous bird, one, pale edged, juvenile type median covert was obvious, the rest could not be discerned at the range we were observing from. Whilst we were watching the pipit an Arctic Tern flew past, another useful addition to the holiday list.
Day 7 - 27 October
Most of the group set off for a walk around the north east coast of Saint Mary’s. At Jacobar the feeding station was fairly quiet, probably because of the Eurasian Sparrowhawk which was frequenting the area. Down on Bar Point a female Common Scoter and a Black-legged Kittiwake remained distant but two Peregrines put up quite a performance, screeching and tallon grappling over the water in front of us. In the meantime the pager had been beeping away and we decided to modify our plans again. After finishing our walk we hailed a taxi back to town and caught the 2.00 boat to Saint Agnes. After a brisk 10 minute walk from the quay we were enjoying marvelous views of the first winter female Desert Wheatear on the boulder strewn beach. Harry took great delight in listening to the leaders repeated ‘blighters’ and the progressively ruder exclamations of the two people standing next to him as they tried to get photos of this super attractive, but highly mobile, bird. Meanwhile Mo had discovered a Yellow-browed Warbler. Reunited with Paul we enjoyed a celebratory drink at the Turks Head before returning to Saint Mary’s. The days birding was not complete however and those keen enough shot up to the Garrison where a Firecrest was found and showed well, though the light was poor. The final evening meal at The Galley was superb, with everyone in particularly high spirits after such good birding.
Day 8 - 28 October
Poor weather hampered our attempts to find Firecrest at the previous evenings location, though Harry and Paul the ‘early birds’ were successful, finding one near the Football Pitch. Taking a taxi to Newford Duck Pond a Yellow-browed Warbler was soon found but remained elusive whilst a Water Rail was rather easier to see. Moving on down Watermill Cove fairly large numbers of Goldcrest and Redwing lent an air of anticipation to the morning but nothing unusual could be found. The Rose-coloured Starling was again at Green Farm and a huge flock of House Sparrow and Common Chaffinch were here also. Shortly after we said goodbye to Paul, who was on an early flight, we noticed the deterioration in the weather and called the airport to check on the situation. All flights were cancelled so we got a taxi back to town, changed our tickets, got something to eat and boarded the boat. This last minute opportunity for some extra birding was quiet but did produce a Great Skua, 8+ Common Guillemot and numerous Black-legged Kittiwake and Northern Gannet. Also two pods of Common Dolphin were seen briefly. Back on dry land we found our way through the chaos of the luggage pick up and caught the coach back to the heliport and our waiting cars.
Although the migration this year was rather unusual, with poor numbers of many ‘northern migrants’ we saw a large number of very good birds and I would like to thank everyone who participated for making the tour such a success.
Tim Marlow