Birding and other distractions

This autumn has already been a good one for shrikes and an Isabelline (Daurian) Shrike present at Woods Mill was further welcome news this morning. The weather was quite good, sunny though breezy. It only took an hour and a quarter to reach the site, then there was a 15 minute walk. The bird was present in a grassy field mostly along a fence line. It was generally not very close but could be seen well through the 'scope. At one point it flew along the fence line in our direction and landed in a leafless bush not far away. In this view the rusty-red tail was very apparent, though on the whole the bird was generally pale in colouration. The shrike was quite active chasing insect prey, mostly bees I suspect. Isabelline Shrike Site where the bird was present.

A chaotic journey to reach this site due to road closure just a few miles away and no obvious diversion signs. N evertheless, well worth the effort to see the Brown Shrike that has been present in the area for several days.  The bird showed well in the sunny conditions though most times was not particularly close. Generally similar to a first-winter Red-backed Shrike, though with more uniform brown upperparts and a heavier bill. I was not expecting the tail to appear quite as rufous as it did on this bird. The shrike was seen to catch and devour bumblebees. We walked the nearby Common, a most beautiful area, and managed good views of Crossbills and a Dartford Warbler. Brown Shrike Common Crossbill Upper Hollesley Common 

Another overcast day with spots of rain in the afternoon. I walked to Carn Friars and then round the top end of the island before heading down towards Telegraph, then Porthloo. There was no sign of the reported Wryneck at Carn Friars so I continued on towards Normandy, seeing a couple of Fieldfare and a Sparrowhawk. Near Telegraph there were three to four Firecrest in a Pittosporum hedge, one of the birds showing well. I think I've seen a Firecrest every day during my stay here on Scilly. There was much activity on Porthloo beach with four Black Redstarts, including an adult male, two Northern Wheatear, a Grey Wagtail and a smart Pied Wagtail that I also considered as a White. No birthday rarity for me today! Fieldfare Firecrest  Black Redstart Northern Wheatear  Pied Wagtail

An overcast day with some brighter intervals. I started at the Garrison where a couple of Ring Ouzel had been reported. I couldn't find the birds though it was clear that many Redwing had arrived. I then walked the coast path towards Penninis admiring on the way a very smart Kingfisher sitting on rocks in Stony Porth. I didn't go as far as Penninis, instead walking down to Old Town bay and then Lower Moors. From the hide at Lower Moors at least four Jack Snipe were on view, with as many as 10 being reported during the day. A Greenshank was also present. Walking back, a large flock of Sanderling had gathered in their favoured bay of Porthloo. I counted 125 birds. At the bird log in the evening an impressive Deaths Head Hawkmoth, which had been found in the afternoon, was shown to the birders. My first sighting of the species and for many others it seemed. Kingfisher  Jack Snipe Jack Snipe and Common Snipe Greenshank  Sanderling  Deaths Head Hawkmoth

Back to St.Agnes this morning in perfect weather for birding. There had been a small arrival of hirundines, with about 10 Swallows and a couple of House Martins. My initial aim was to see the Hoopoe that has been present here for a week or two. As it turned out it couldn't have been easier as the bird was found on the beach at Periglis, oblivious to it's admiring audience of birders. It probed in the sand for grubs, possibly those of sandhoppers. From there I made my way further round the coast to the bay at Porth Warna where another long-staying bird, a Spotted Sandpiper, was similarly easy to find. It fed amongst the seaweed to start with, then moved to rest-u p on nearby rocks. Finally I headed to Wingletang hoping to find a Lapland Bunting that had been reported. There was no sign of the bunting though two smart Wheatears were some compensation. Back on St.Marys I walked a circuit from Rocky Hills to Lower Moors and finally Old Town Bay. My timing on reaching the latter sit...

As expected, a quieter day on Scilly considering the weather is calm and settled just now, thus less likely to bring new birds. I did a circuit of St.Mary's taking in Old Town, Lower Moors, Sunnyside trail, Holy Vale, Porth Hellick, and finally Penninis. Two Jack Snipe were roosting together with a Common Snipe at Lower Moors, viewed from the hide. The Sunnyside trail was quiet so I made my way to Porth Hellick via Holy Vale. On Porth Hellick beach a Common Rosefinch was associating with Chaffinches and Linnets, though was a good 100m away. I regretted not bringing the 'scope, though the bird could be viewed at approx 25x magnification using the camera. From there I walked along the coastal route to Penninis where a Wryneck had been reported. The bird was elusive though eventually seen reasonably well, though too briefly to manage a photograph. Jack Snipe with Common Snipe Common Rosefinch  As above  Porth Hellick bay