Introduction
Lying 28 miles off Lands End, this beautiful archipelago of 150 islands (only five of which – St Marys, Tresco, St Martins, St Agnes and Bryher are inhabited) have for many years been viewed as the “mecca” for British birding. Since the 1960s the islands have produced a remarkable list of birds from both the East and particularly the West, including many UK firsts. Species such as Short-toed Eagle; Wood, Hermit, Siberian, Eyebrowed, White’s and Swainson’s Thrushes; Scarlet Tanager; Philadelphia Vireo; Northern Parula; Rock and Blue Rock Thrushes; Ovenbird; Masked and Brown Shrikes; Buff-bellied Pipit; Great Blue Heron; Blue-cheeked Bee-eater; Northern Waterthrush; Purple Gallinule; Myrtle, Magnolia and Hooded Warblers; Yellow-bellied Sapsucker; Semipalmated Plover; Nighthawk; Yellowthroat; Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos; Eastern Bonelli’s, Spectacled and Orphean Warblers; Rose-breasted Grosbeak; Baltimore Oriole; Cliff and Tree Swallows; Calandra Lark; Chimney Swift etc only scratch the surface of the extensive and varied list for these islands. In recent years the number of truly mega birds has reduced and numbers of visiting birders in the peak “Scilly season” of mid September through to the end of October have dropped accordingly from 1,000 a week experienced in the 1980s to a maximum of approximately 200 a week, with many birders now prepared to twitch the islands on the breaking news of a British First.
Habitats
There is a variety of habitats offered by the five main islands which can be broadly summarised as follows:
Open Water:- This is limited to the Great Pool on Tresco (the most productive site for wildfowl) and the nearby Abbey Pool, together with Lower Moors and Porth Hellick Pool on St Marys and the inappropriately titled Big Pool on St Agnes. Rare ducks may include Black and Ring-necked Ducks whilst the reed-beds may hold Spotted Crake, Little Crake, Sora Rail and Jack Snipe.
Woodland:- There is limited cover on the Isles of Scilly, the best being offered by the Abbey Gardens on Tresco, The Parsonage on St Agnes and Lower Moors, Dump Clump, Holy Vale and Higher Moors on St Marys. In addition many of the lanes are lined with trees (especially elm). Such habitats attract Yellow-browed and Pallas’s Warblers, Firecrests and Red-breasted Flycatchers.
Farmland:- The agricultural land on Scilly is either grazed by cattle or small bulb-growing fields, protected by thick pittisporum hedges. The former may produce pipits and larks with shrikes on the hedgerows; the latter are often more productive for rarer warblers, larks, buntings and thrushes. Sometimes certain fields are specifically planted with seed crops to assist passerines – those along King Edwards Road on Peninnis Head or around Carn Friars Farm on St Marys have been the most consistent in recent years.
Moorland:- All the islands offer some degree of moorland, whether it is Shipman Head Down on Bryher, Castella and Wingletang Downs on St Agnes, Castle Down on Tresco or Porth Hellick Down on St Marys. In addition there are large grassed areas on St Marys at the airfield and golf course. These attract upland waders such as Dotterel, Buff-breasted and Upland Sandpipers and American Golden Plovers, the larger pipit species, Ortolan and Lapland Buntings, Wrynecks and Short-toed Larks.
Coast:- The coast varies from the rocky shores around Peninnis Head and The Garrison to sandy beaches around Tresco. The most productive areas for waders are Porthloo and Porth Hellick beaches on St Marys and Periglis and Porth Killier on St Agnes. American waders usually occur in September rather than October and in recent years have included Spotted, Solitary and White-rumped Sandpipers and Lesser Yellowlegs.
Transport
Many birders choose to use the helicopter service operated by British International from Penzance. This flies daily (except Sundays) with a regular schedule, although this is reduced between November and March and some have commented that even the standard schedule has been somewhat curtailed this year. The flight only takes 20 minutes but there is a 45 minute checking-in time at Penzance and an hour at St Marys. Flights cost £170 for a weeks’ return; a cheaper rate (£96) is available for day trips. Parking is provided on site at a cost of £7 per day. Secure parking is available elsewhere in Penzance but may be some distance away from the heliport. A fixed wing service is offered by the Isles of Scilly Skybus which flies predominately from Lands End aerodrome (15 minute journey time) and Newquay, but also has flights from Southampton, Bournemouth, Bristol and Exeter. Again there are no flights on a Sunday. A week’s return from Lands End currently costs £140, some £30 cheaper than the helicopter, whilst a day trip is £86, although flights are slightly more vulnerable to cancellation through inclement weather. Both operators have a baggage allowance of 15 kgs.
Alternatively, the Scillonian III sails daily up until the end of October, departing Penzance at 9:15am and arriving at St Marys at approx 12:00am. The return sailing is usually 4:30pm from St Marys, arriving in Penzance at just gone 7:00pm. Sailings may vary from these times due to tides and poor weather and are more prone to cancellation through adverse weather conditions that flying, although it does have the benefit to being able to undertake a sea-watch at the same time; this is usually more productive in late September and early October with such interesting birds as the large shearwater, petrels, skuas and Sabine’s Gull as well as cetaceans, sunfish and sharks. A weeks’ return journey costs £90.
The islands are connected by a series of regular boats which usually leave St Marys at 10:15am, 12:15pm and 2:15pm and returning at regular intervals (usually the last off-island boats return at 4:30pm). These crossings can take between 15 and 20 minutes with the boat to St Agnes usually being the most prone to poor weather (being furthest west). The boatmen are extremely knowledgeable and capable. It should be noted that these sailings are very much weather and tide dependant and may vary from those stated above. In the event of a “mega” additional boats are usually laid on. This year the boats cost £7.60 for a return trip, up from £7.20 in 2008.
In addition, special pelagic trips are sometimes organised (especially in August and September) from Hugh Town, with targets including Wilson’s and Fea’s Petrel. Birders are also occasionally invited to join the shark fishing trips that venture outside the archipelago well into October.
On the islands the easiest way to get around is by foot. There is an extensive network of lanes and paths, although visitors should be careful not to stray off the designated routes and upset the goodwill enjoyed with the islanders. A number of special trails (such as the Garrison, Sunnyside Farm, Tremelethen and Peninnis Head trails on St Marys) may be opened up in the autumn. There are a few taxi firms on St Marys and there appears to be an unwritten rule that journeys are £1.50 per person to anywhere on the island. The exception is journeys to the airport, where the charge is generally £3.00 per person (this is slightly cheaper than the airport shuttle bus which charge £3.50 per person).
Accommodation
There is a variety of accommodation offered on the islands. Most birders choose to stay on St Marys where there is the widest choice, although there is a hardcore that returns annually to St Agnes. Accommodation (lists of which can be supplied by the Tourist Information Centre) varies from plush hotels through to guest houses, B&B and self catering apartments / houses. For those hardy enough there are even campsites on The Garrison, St Marys and on Bryher and St Agnes. We had a very well appointed apartment in the centre of Hugh Town with two twin bedrooms at £350 for the week. Unlike previous years there were several “vacancies” signs in the windows of B&Bs but pre-booking would be very advisable.
Facilities
There is a well stocked Co-op store in Hugh Town, St Marys, together with a Lloyds bank (with cash machine) and a large wholesale general stores at Porthmellon. There are small general stores also on Tresco and St Agnes. Many of the other shops are tourist orientated.
There are several pubs in Hugh Town and one in Old Town in St Marys whilst there is generally just one pub on each of the “off-islands”. We alternated between the Bishop & Wolf, Mermaid and the Atlantic in Hugh Town throughout the week and enjoyed the food (starters £4 - £5; mains £8 - £11); we slightly favoured the Mermaid by the week’s end. All the pubs offer a variety of local and Cornish beers. There is a range of restaurants in Hugh Town although there does appear to have been a “gentrification” of these facilities in recent years, putting many of the meals outside of the range of normal visitors.
There are several cafes and tearooms around the islands, including Covean on St Agnes and the Old Town Café, Tollmans, Longstones and Carn Vean on St Marys. These offer a range of breakfasts, simple hot meals and cakes. It should be noted that many of these facilities start closing down from late September and appear to be shutting earlier each year.
Information
Despite the relatively short distances to travel, access to information is key on Scilly. Many visiting birds carry CB radios whilst access to instant messaging services (pager, mobile phone or internet) is a great advantage. However most birders will readily exchange information and update each other on sightings in the field. A daily log is held from 9:00pm at the Porthcressa Club, Hugh Town during October during which all bird sightings and numbers are reported. A list of recent sightings is also available at Longstones Heritage Centre and outside the Pilot’s Gig restaurant near the quay in Hugh Town on St Marys.
The birding week
We decided to “shake things up” this year, choosing an earlier week than normal and also going by sea, partly to make a few economies but also give us an opportunity for a bit of sea-watching. The birds noted during the week were as follows (please note that not all the birds listed below were seen by the entire party as we split up to ensure better coverage of the islands).
MUTE SWAN Cygnus olor
Only encountered (in good numbers) on the Great Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th.
WHOOPER SWAN Cygnus cygnus
A flock of ten calling adults swooping low over Porth Hellick House and landing on Porth Hellick Pool where they remained on Friday 9th was a surprising and magnificent sight; they remained until the 10th at least. Whilst the group had observed a Whooper Swan on Great Pool, Tresco in 2008, a flock of this size is a rare event for the Isles of Scilly.
CANADA GOOSE Branta canadensis
The island’s small resident flock of just five birds was noted at the Great Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th. If only the species was this scarce on the mainland!
WIGEON Anas penelope
Two were on the Great Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th.
GADWALL Anas strepera
Present in good numbers (probably as common as Mallard) on the Great Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th.
TEAL Anas crecca
Present in good numbers on the Great Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th and also encountered on several days in small numbers (no more than two or three) at both Lower Moors and Porth Hellick Pool, St Marys.
MALLARD Anas platyrhynchos
Common on Great Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th with small numbers (never exceeding three) also noted at Lower Moors, Shooter’s Pool and Porth Hellick Pool on St Marys. Those at Porthloo Duckpond, St Marys showed a variety of plumages, no doubt the result of several unfortunate hybridisations.
PINTAIL Anas acuta
An elusive drake was at the west end of the Great Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th, although it spent much of its time in the reeds.
COMMON SCOTER Melenitta nigra
A female was off Porth Mellon, St Marys on Sunday 4th whilst possibly the same bird was seen later than day on the return boat from Tresco off Carn Near. Another (or the same) female was in Covean, St Agnes on the morning of Thursday 8th.
RED-LEGGED PARTRIDGE Alectoris rufa
Tresco is the strong-hold of this introduced species and it was no surprise that several were encountered during our day on the island on Sunday 4th. Four were also noted in the Carn Friars / Kitty Down area of St Marys on Tuesday 6th.
PHEASANT Phasianus colchicus
As with the above species, Tresco also has a good population of Pheasant with a number noted on Sunday 4th. One was at Content Farm, St Marys on Tuesday 6th.
GREAT CRESTED GREBE Podiceps cristatus
Still very much a Scillies’ rarity with just over twenty records (although increasing in recent years), a juvenile was off the quay at St Agnes on the morning of Thursday 8th.
BLACK-NECKED GREBE Podiceps nigricollis
A juvenile was on Abbey Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th.
SOOTY SHEARWATER Puffinus griseus
One was seen well from the pelagic on Sapphire on Monday 4th. Another was seen feeding with Gannets from the Scillonian III off Lands End during the return journey on Saturday 10th.
MANX SHEARWATER Puffinus puffinus
A bird with a damaged wing was seen from the pelagic on Monday 5th. Another was seen from the Scillonian III close to Gwennap Head, Cornwall during the return journey on Saturday 10th.
GANNET Morus bassanus
Seen daily in good numbers off-shore from all the islands visited.
CORMORANT Phalacrocorax carbo
Noted in small numbers off St Marys.
SHAG Phalacrocorax aristotelis
Very common off-shore, particularly around St Agnes where feeding rafts of 500+ were seen on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th.
LITTLE EGRET Egretta garzetta
Numbers seemed considerably reduced compared with previous visits. Although singles were seen in Porthcressa, Porth Hellick and Old Town Bay on St Marys, Tresco remains the most populated island with one on the Great Pool and five roosting on a rocky island in Tresco Channel on Sunday 4th.
GREY HERON Ardea cinerea
Single birds were seen on Porthcressa, Porth Hellick (Pools and Bay) and Lower Moors on St Marys.
SPARROWHAWK Accipter nisus
Seen on a near daily basis on all the visited islands.
KESTREL Falco tinnunculus
Seen every day, especially around Peninis Head and Porth Hellick Down on St Marys.
MERLIN Falco columbarius
A female was briefly seen at Covean, St Agnes on Thursday 8th whilst one flew over Peninis Head, St Marys the same day and another was over The Garrison, St Marys on Friday 9th. The species is usually far more common on the Scillies at this time of year, chasing small passerines.
PEREGRINE FALCON Falco peregrinus
Regularly noted, especially around The Garrison and Peninis Head, St Marys. One was noted from the Scillonian III during its outward crossing on Saturday 3rd miles from the land.
WATER RAIL Rallus aquaticus
Frequently heard calling from wet habitats in Lower Moors, Port Hellick, Higher Moors and Holy Vale on St Marys and around both Abbey and Great Pool on Tresco; sightings were limited to Abbey Pool, Lower Moors and Porth Hellick Pool. More unusual was one seen in the allotments at the base of Peninis Head on Thursday 8th, a significant distance from freshwater or reed-beds.
MOORHEN Gallinula chloropus
Seen on all suitable damp locations including Porthloo Duckpond, Lower Moors, Shooter’s Pool and Porth Hellick Pool, together with Abbey and Great Pools on Tresco, although never numerous. A maximum count of five was seen at Porth Hellick Pool on Saturday 3rd.
COOT Fulica atra
Other than the Great Pool on Tresco, Coot were seen only at Big Pool on St Agnes on Thursday 8th.
OYSTERCATCHER Haematopus ostralegus
Found on most rocky shores, with notable flock of 30+ birds on St Marys at Porthloo / Taylor’s Island, Porthcressa, Old Town Bay and Porth Hellick Bay.
RINGED PLOVER Charadrius hiaticula
The commonest small wader on the islands, with flocks of 20+ seen on Porth Hellick and Porthloo beaches.
DOTTEREL Charadrius morinellus
A juvenile was present on the golf course on St Marys in the early afternoon of Saturday 3rd where is seemed unaffected by the four-ball that it shared the same fairway with.
LITTLE STINT Calidris minuta
A juvenile was seen on the Abbey Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th.
PECTORAL SANDPIPER Calidris melanotos
A juvenile was at the Abbey Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th, often sharing the same telescope field as the Long-billed Dowitcher.
DUNLIN Calidris alpina
Notably scarce this year, two were on Porthloo beach, St Marys on Wednesday 7th and three on Periglis, St Agnes on Thursday 8th.
SNIPE Gallinago gallinago
As with Dunlin, Snipe were present in much smaller numbers than usual (with no records of its smaller relative, Jack Snipe). Birds were noted at Lower Moors and Porth Hellick, St Marys and at Abbey and Great Pools, Tresco. The maximum count was a mere five at Lower Moor on Friday 9th.
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER Limnodromus scolopaceus
A juvenile was seen at the Abbey Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th, giving good views at a reasonable distance. Surprisingly this bird was the islands’ first record since 1985.
BLACK-TAILED GODWIT Limosa limosa
By far the rarer of the two common godwit species on Scilly, a juvenile roosted with ‘shanks at the western end of the Great Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th.
BAR-TAILED GODWIT Limosa lapponica
A party of up to six regularly fed along the shoreline at Porthloo beach, St Marys.
WHIMBREL Numenius phaeopus
Far more easily see than on previous visits (probably because of the earlier date) birds were seen in a variety of locations around the coast of St Marys including Porthcressa, Porthloo, Porth Hellick, Old Town Bay and Carn Leh. The largest group encountered was five roosting with Curlew near Bar Point, St Marys on Monday 5th.
CURLEW Numenius arquata
Regularly encountered on most shorelines, with up to 20 birds roosting on Taylor’s Island, St Marys.
REDSHANK Tringa totanus
Other than one in Porth Hellick Bay, the only other sighting was a roosting flock of up to 30 birds on the Great Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th.
GREENSHANK Tringa nebularia
Noted at several locations on St Marys including Porth Hellick Pool (up to five birds) and Bay, Old Town Bay, Porthcressa and Porthloo. However as with Redshank the largest flock (approximately 13 birds) was at Great Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th.
GREEN SANDPIPER Tringa ochropus
One was at Porth Hellick Pool on Friday 9th.
COMMON SANDPIPER Actitis hypoleucos
One frequented rocks at the western end of Porthcressa beach, St Marys, early in the week. Another was seen on the Abbey Pool, Tresco on Sunday 4th.
TURNSTONE Arenaria interpres
Common along the rocky coast, with flocks of 20+ not uncommon at Porth Hellick and Porthloo, St Marys.
ARCTIC SKUA Stercorarius parasiticus
One was seen from the pelagic on Monday 5th.
GREAT SKUA Catharacta skua
One was seen from the Scillonian III on its outbound journey on Saturday 3rd. Up to six were seen on the pelagic from Sapphire on Monday 5th.
MEDITERRANEAN GULL Larus melanocephalus
At least three individuals (first winter, second winter and adult winter) were noted on St Marys during the course of the week at either Porthloo or Porthcressa.
BLACK-HEADED GULL Larus ridibundus
Present in small numbers around the coast with the biggest flocks being noted off Morning Point or Porthloo (both St Marys).
LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus fuscus
Odd birds were sighting during the week but were heavily out-numbered by the following two large gull species.
HERRING GULL Larus argentatus
Very common around the coast.
GREAT BLACK-BACKED GULL Larus marinus
Very common around the coast.
KITTIWAKE Rissa tridactyla
Two birds, an adults and a first winter, were seen from the Scillonian III on its outwards journey on Saturday 3rd. An adult was seen on the crossing to St Agnes on Friday 9th.
SANDWICH TERN Sterna sandvicensis
Up to three birds in winter plumage were seen either in Porthcressa Bay or in Hugh Town Harbour, St Marys on several dates whilst up to five birds were present in The Roads viewed from The Garrison, St Marys on Sunday 4th.
GUILLEMOT Cepphus grylle
Along with several unidentified auks, at least two positively identified Guillemots were seen the Scillonian III during its return journey on Saturday 10th.
RAZORBILL Alca torda
Along with several unidentified auks, at least two positively identified Razorbills were seen the Scillonian III during its return journey on Saturday 10th.
PUFFIN Fratercula arctica
One was seen from the pelagic out of Hugh Town on Monday 4th. Another two were seen from the Scillonian III on the sea during its return journey on Saturday 10th.
FERAL PIGEON Columba livia
Several small flocks were noted around the islands, including several birds closely resembling pure Rock Doves on Peninis Head, St Marys.
WOOD PIGEON Columba palumbus
Common across the islands, although not in any huge flocks that one may encounter on the mainland in the autumn.
COLLARED DOVE Streptopelia decaocto
Common across the islands, particularly around the dump and incinerator on St Marys.
SHORT-EARED OWL Asio flammeus
One was found by PMA and DAJ on Tuesday 10th on the east coast of St Marys. It was initially seen over Watermill Cove being mobbed by a Carrion Crow before being flushed further up the coast path where it flew to Toll’s Island before flying over the sea towards the Eastern Islands, gaining close attention from the resident Herring Gulls.
KINGFISHER Alcedo atthis
Relatively scarce on Scilly, one was at Lower Moors on Saturday 10th.
WRYNECK Jynx torquilla
A very obliging individual fed on the edge of a bulb field at Covean, St Agnes on the morning of Thursday 8th.
SKYLARK Alauda arvensis
Surprisingly scarce, sightings were limited to single birds on St Marys (usually over-flying) in such locations as Peninis Head, the airport and the Garrison.
SWALLOW Hirundo rustica
Still present in reasonable numbers, birds were noted on all the visited islands, with congregations building up in the evening. At least 75 were present around Lower Moors, St Marys late afternoon on Thursday 8th.
HOUSE MARTIN Delichon urbica
Seen on most days but never in the same concentrations as Swallow. At least 30 were in the Rosehill area of St Marys late afternoon on Thursday 8th.
TAWNY PIPIT Anthus campestris
Originally identified as a Richard’s Pipit (and briefly as a Blyth’s Pipit), one fed close to the shore-line of Beady Pool at the southern end of Wingletang Down, St Agnes on the afternoon of Friday 9th and morning of Saturday 10th.
TREE PIPIT Anthus trivialis
All pipits are worth a close look at on Scilly in the autumn. Unfortunately the bird in marigold fields at Carn Friars Farm, St Marys on Thursday 8th was just a Tree Pipit.
MEADOW PIPIT Anthus pratensis
Very common on farmland, headlands and heaths on all three visited islands. The largest flock was up to 100 birds, encountered in fields between Kitty Down and Maypole riding stables on Tuesday 6th.
RED-THROATED PIPIT Anthus cervinus
One flew calling over Wingletang Down, St Agnes on the morning of Saturday 10th.
ROCK PIPIT Anthus petrosus
Plentiful around the coast, with notably large numbers on Peninis, St Marys and on Castle Down, Tresco.
GREY WAGTAIL Motacilla cinerea
Encountered around most freshwater bodies of water, Porth Hellick, Shooter’s Pool and Lower Moors on St Marys were the most regular sites although no more than two birds were seen at one time.
PIED WAGTAIL Motacilla alba
As with Meadow and Rock Pipit, very common in all habitats. The best numbers were seen on St Marys’ golf course. Despite several claims by others, no birds were definitively identified as White Wagtails.
WREN Troglodytes troglodytes
Very common in all areas with sufficient cover.
DUNNOCK Prunella modularis
Widespread but not as frequently encountered as Robin or Wren.
ROBIN Erithacus rubecula
Very common, particularly on St Marys.
BLACK REDSTART Phoenicurus ochruros
It was not until the last day (Saturday 10th) that this Scilly autumn regular was noted, with two on the roof of the Isles of Scilly Guesthouse on High Lane, St Marys, just around the corner from an abortive twitch for an Eastern Bonelli’s Warbler. Another bird was looked for but not found on Thomas Porth beach, St Marys the same day.
REDSTART Phoenicurus phoenicurus
A juvenile male (found by PMA) was in pines on the west side of the Garrison, St Marys on Friday 8th.
WHINCHAT Saxicola rubetra
A notable fall on the afternoon of Tuesday 6th following misty conditions produced four birds in the Giant’s Castle / Salakee Down area of St Marys found by DREW, with others encountered in this area later in the week. One was on Wingletang Down on St Agnes on Friday 9th.
STONECHAT Saxicola torquata
Locally common, with notable concentrations on The Garrison and Peninis Head, St Marys.
WHEATEAR Oenanthe oenanthe
Following one at Porth Minnick, St Marys on Saturday 3rd, as with Whinchat (see above) conditions on Tuesday 6th resulted in a fall of up to twelve birds in the Giants Castle / Salakee Down area of St Marys and this area proved popular for the rest of the week, although not in the same numbers. Others were encountered on Peninis Head.
BLACKBIRD Turdus merula
Very confiding, especially along the Upper and Lower Broome Platforms at The Garrison, St Marys. A very striking bird with a black head but almost completely white body was again present at Morning Point, The Garrison.
FIELDFARE Turdus pilaris
One flew over Peninis Head on Tuesday 6th found by DW, the first for the autumn on the islands.
SONG THRUSH Turdus philomelos
Ridiculously common and tame, particularly on St Marys.
GRASSHOPPER WARBLER Locustella naevia
One was flushed from long grass along Porth Hellick beach on Tuesday 6th, perching just long enough for MIW to clinch identification before diving into cover, not to re-emerge. Any Locustella species encountered during October is well worth a closer inspection.
SEDGE WARBLER Acrocephalus schoenobaenus
One was seen in reeds at Porth Hellick Pool, St Marys on Tuesday 6th.
BLACKCAP Sylvia atricapilla
After Chiffchaff the most regularly encountered warbler on the Scillies and the only Sylvia warbler. Multiple sightings included three at Shooter’s Pool, St Marys and two at the old quarry along Carn Friars Road below Porth Hellick House.
YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER Phylloscopus inornatus
One was found by PMA on the west side of The Garrison, St Marys on Friday 9th; another was seen later the same morning near the Woolpack Battery a the southern end of The Garrison. The morning of Saturday 10th brought a further two birds – one at Morning Point, The Garrison and another at Shooter’s Pool, Lower Moors.
CHIFFCHAFF Phylloscopus collybita
The commonest warbler on the islands, although not in quite the same numbers as previous autumns with birds often concentrated in a few favourable locations such as Higher Moors, Holy Vale and Lower Moors (all on St Marys) and along Pool Road on Tresco. Up to 15 were at Shooter’s Pool, St Marys on Saturday 10th.
WILLOW WARBLER Phylloscopus trochilus
One was in the same field along Pool Road as the Common Rosefinch on Sunday 4th. Another was in Higher Moors on Tuesday 6th.
GOLDCREST Regulus regulus
Numbers were markedly reduced for what is usually a very common sight in the autumn and no large roaming flocks were encountered.
FIRECREST Regulus ignicapilla
There were several sightings of this Scilly speciality. One was found by DW on Morning Point, The Garrison, St Marys on Sunday 4th. Following one at the Jac-o-Bar feeding station at Trenowath, St Marys on Tuesday 6th another was found by MIW on the west side of The Garrison, St Marys on Wednesday 7th. One was found by DREW in elms at John Bordeaux Pottery, Old Town, St Marys on Friday 9th with two found by PMA and MIW at the southern end of Lower Moors on Saturday 10th.
RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHER Ficedula parva
The only flycatcher species encountered, a first-winter bird was in the lighthouse garden on St Agnes on Thursday 8th. Another first-winter was at Parting Carn Farm, viewed from Old Town Lane, St Marys on Friday 9th.
BLUE TIT Cyanistes caeruleus
Very common in all suitable habitats.
GREAT TIT Parus major
As with Blue Tit, very common in all suitable habitat.
CARRION CROW Corvus corone
The only corvid encountered on the islands following the departure of Ravens from Peninis Head, St Marys and the presumed death of the long-staying Magpie on St Martins.
STARLING Sturnus vulgaris
Frequently encountered although never in truly sizeable flocks.
ROSE-COLOURED STARLING Sturnus roseus
A juvenile was in pittisporum on St Agnes between the church the coastguard cottages on Thursday 8th, keeping its distance from the main Starling flock on the island.
HOUSE SPARROW Passer domesticus
Still very common across all the islands, with flocks of 50+ birds not being unusual.
CHAFFINCH Fringilla coelebs
The marked lack of suitable crop fields this year along Peninis Head and at Carn Friars Farm this year meant that finch numbers were relatively low and Chaffinch was not exception.
GREENFINCH Carduelis chloris
Noted on a daily basis in small numbers.
GOLDFINCH Carduelis carduelis
Noted on a daily basis.
LINNET Carduelis cannabia
Regularly encountered, although as with other finch species not in large numbers. Up to 12 regularly drank and bathed in Shooter’s Pool, St Marys.
COMMON ROSEFINCH Carpodacus erythrinus
A juvenile was seen for approximately three minutes in a pittisporum hedge adjoining a quinoa field along Pool Road, Tresco on Sunday 4th following several abortive calls of House Sparrows etc.
SNOW BUNTING Plectrophenax nivalis
At least two birds were with Rock Pipits at the north end of Tresco on the far end of Castle Down near Kettle Point on Sunday 4th.
Other birds noted on the islands during the week but not seen by any member of the party included Richard’s Pipit, Red-backed Shrike, Spotted Crake, Paddyfield Warbler, Little Bunting, Storm Petrel, Pomarine and Long-tailed Skua, Sooty and Balearic Shearwater and a Bonelli’s Warbler species (possibly Eastern).
Other interesting wildlife encountered during the week included three Basking Sharks (one on each of the sailings of the Scillonian III together with one on a special pelagic out of Hugh Town, St Marys on Monday 5th), a Minke Whale from the aforementioned pelagic, Common Dolphins (up to 150 from the pelagic and several small pods totalling 25+ on the return ferry crossing), Harbour Porpoise (20 from the pelagic and several pods on the return ferry crossing), Atlantic Grey Seals seen in Old Town and Porthcressa Bays, a Clouded Yellow on Peninis Head (together with many other species – Comma, Speckled Wood, Painted Lady, Peacock, Red Admiral, Small Cooper), a Common Darter near Big Pool on St Agnes and two or three Migrant Hawkers at Porth Hellick Pool, St Marys.
In addition, Friday 2nd October was spent travelling down to Cornwall to include a night’s stay in Bed & Breakfast in Penzance (£26.00 per person for two twin rooms). Sites visited included Meare Nature Reserve in Somerset (part of the Ham Wall / Shapwick Heath complex) whether we encountered a first winter Glossy Ibis, Great White Egret, two juvenile Pectoral Sandpipers, two Ruff, eight Black-tailed Godwits, Ringed Plover, Dunlin and Cetti’s Warbler; Nanquidno Valley in west Cornwall where we saw a juvenile Woodchat Shrike, two Choughs, two Ravens and a Merlin; and finally Porthgwarra where sea-watching from Gwennap Head produced a Sooty Shearwater, a dark phase Arctic Skua, a female Common Scoter, Fulmar, at least six Kittiwakes and a number of auks including positively-identified Razorbills and Guillemots as well as at least 12 Harbour Porpoises.
In summary
In total we managed 103 species for the week on the islands (including ferry crossings) - not spectacular and easily capable of being beaten on a day out in Norfolk in say May or September. Several common species normally encountered during our visits were not seen this year, including Reed Warbler, Common and Lesser Whitethroat, Jack Snipe and Pied and Spotted Flycatcher.
Other birds seen in the previous ten years by one or more of this party have included Black Duck; Short-toed Eagle; Cory’s Shearwater; Sora Rail; Quail; Cream-coloured Courser; White-rumped Sandpiper; Sociable and American Golden Plovers; Wilson’s Snipe; Grey Phalarope; Hoopoe; Red-rumped Swallow; Red-backed, Woodchat and Isabelline Shrikes; Olive-backed, Buff-bellied, Richards’s and Blyth’s Pipits; Citrine Wagtail; Short-toed Lark; Pied Wheatear; Bluethroat; Siberian Stonechat; Red-flanked Bluetail; White’s and Blue Rock Thrush; Blyth’s Reed, Barred, Paddyfield, Icterine, Aquatic, Radde’s, Booted, Western Bonelli’s, Yellow-browed and Pallas’s Warblers; Red-breasted Flycatcher; Serin; Common Rosefinch; Rose-coloured Starling; Red-eyed Vireo; Blackpoll Warbler; Grey-cheeked Thrush; American Robin; Bobolink; Lapland, Little, Ortolan and Rustic Buntings.
Whilst the number of rare birds being discovered may be down on previous years and the number of visiting birders has markedly reduced, the islands offer an ideal opportunity for anyone to find their own birds. Birds found by one or more of the party during the last five years have included White-rumped Sandpiper, Barred Warbler, Little Bunting, Red-breasted Flycatcher and a re-find of Blackpoll Warbler, together with several Firecrests and Yellow-browed Warblers.
In addition to the rare birds, very close views can be obtained of many of Britain’s commoner birds (the thrushes are particularly tame). This, combined with the scenery, slower pace of life, generally warmer weather and general ambience, still make Scilly a magical place to visit and I would strongly recommend anyone who has yet to discover their beauty and birding potential to make the journey.