26th September A mega twitch to Blakeney Point in Norfolk with Paul Baker for an Alder / Willow Flycatcher, I think it's an Alder myself. It was horrendous weather with a three mile trudge out on shingle in driving rain and gale force conditions, all the way to the plantation. The bird showed well but after just 15 minutes and being completely soaked to the skin and freezing cold despite wearing waterproof gear headed back on the return three mile slog in even worse conditions. Only other birds of note were a Redstart, Purple Sandpiper and an adult Little Gull.
Now had time to recover, warm up and relax it was worth the effort, didn't feel it at the time though, exhausted.
25th September Final morning on the islands of the trip and spent it at the end of Peninnis Head where I did find initially four but increased to six Lapland Buntings but were soon lost whilst having a disagreement with yet another inconsiderate dog owner, they are even here on Scilly. The only other birds seen were the first Skylark of the trip, a few Wheatears and a Yellow Wagtail.
The journey home was eventful with Sheryl's car's clutch going just outside of Penzance, still we managed to get home at a reasonable hour
24th September A harder days birding today in windy conditions and often heavy showers. Apart from the juvenile Spotted Sandpiper again at Porth Hellick little was found today despite a lot of hard work. At Porth Hellick there was a well marked juvenile Black-tailed Godwit whilst Higher Moors had a nice Whinchat other than that a big tour of St. Mary's produced very little else.
23rd September Following heavy overnight rain the day out to St. Agnes was both hot and hard work. Apart from Wheatears there were very few migrants around with a tally of 12+ Wheatears and three Whinchats whilst the were barely noticeably numbers of Willow/Chiffs and a Blackcap. Five Lapland Buntings were finally dug out of Wingletang Down on our second try but it was altogether rather tough.
22nd September A little later out today as felt a little rough again, well if you count 8.30 as late. Walked round to Giants Castle stopping to look for Buff-breasted Sandpipers at the Airfield turning circle on the way but there was no sign.
Then spent a couple of hours photographing the Spotted Sandpiper again at Porth Hellick, there was little else here other than a Snipe, Grey Wagtail and a fly over Peregrine.
Was joined by Sheryl so we headed back round to the Airfields Windsock as the Buff-breasts were seen again, seeing Whinchat on the way. The sandpipers were seen towards the terminal building and were always distant so it was off to Tolman for tea and something to eat.
This all took us to around 4pm so headed back to town stopping to look for Stick Insects, and failing, in Old Town Churchyard. Managed to get back to the flat before the rain came down.
21st September Following on from yesterdays addition to my finders list of Buff-breasted Sandpiper, I found an Ortolan Bunting near the Star Castle which was only on show for a short time though I managed acceptable records shots of it.
We went over to Tresco to look for the Pectoral Sandpiper and a reported Great Grey Shrike however the PecSand was seen well on Abbey Pool, on the very same patch of mud as the Long-billed Dowitcher last year, but no sign of the shrike.
The rest of the day was hard work with little seen across the island though there was a couple of Sparrowhawks and a Mediterranean Gull on the Abbey Pool. There was a good gathering of Yellow Wagtails and Meadow Pipits were at Old Grimsby in a cattle field but I couldn't turn any into a Citrine Wagtail.
A beautiful day that at times was very warm, stunning.
20th September Now feeling a lot better, still not 100% though, ventured out to Porthlow where there were four Sandwich Terns and an adult Mediterranean Gull. There was a male White Wagtail with Pieds on the beach and a few Ringed Plovers were present. Searched the Golf Course in the vain hope of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper but no luck with only a few Wheatears and Stonechats present. Distantly scoped the Spoonbill on Samson.
Walkthrough through Telegraph and then along Content Lane and then High Lanes but didn't come across anything of note which is what can be said of Holy Vale. Had a little flurry of birding activity at the end of Holy Vale at the Higher Moors end where there eight Chiffchaffs, a Willow Warbler and a Reed Warbler but no sign of the Greenish Warbler from a day or so ago.
The Spotted Sandpiper was still present at Porth Hellick showing well but there was no sign of any of Greenshanks or Kingfisher but there was a Whinchat at the seaward end.
Checked the beach but there was only a Wheatear whilst the walk to Carn Vean Tea Rooms produced only a small flock of Pied Wagtails.
After refreshments at the tea rooms headed round to Watermill where there was a Sparrowhawk. There was a message of a Buff-breasted Sandpiper on St. Martin's briefly before flying off so we headed back across the Golf Course but no sign.
We were back at the flat just relaxing when the pager resulted in me running up to the airfield for the Buff-breasted Sandpiper. It took a little finding as it had moved from the turning circle to central airfield when it was visible distantly. It eventually showed much better back along the runway but it got flushed by a Helicopter and a Kestrel quick succession and it ended up being much further away for the rest of the evening. However I went one better when I picked up two new Buff-breasted Sandpipers flying in which landed in roughly the same place as the original bird but I couldn't find the original bird so assumed that it was the original joined by a second bird. However as a post script to this three Buff-breasts visited St. Agnes and then back on the Airfield the next day so my original count was correct.
19th September Woke up feeling really awful and for the first time ever on Scilly I was not able to get myself out of bed and out birding. This cold couldn't have come at a worse time, at least I was missing any really good birds today.
18th September Felt a little better this morning which was good news and after arriving on the islands was straight off to Porth Hellick in beautiful weather. On the way saw Peregrine near Parting Carn.
The juvenile Spotted Sandpiper performed really well in front of the Seaward Hide whilst a few other birds were seen, Sheryl finding a Kingfisher here and a very well marked juvenile Swift made me make a double take. There were a couple of Sedge Warblers and eight Greenshank.
Headed from here round the coastal footpath below the airfield where counted eight Wheatear and a couple of Stonechat whilst a gathering flock of about 40 Swallows got my hopes up of something amongst them. A Lapland Bunting was picked up in flight being chased by a Swallow, which was strange, but was soon lost behind rocks and not seen again.
Stopped at Tolman Café for refreshments before heading back to the flat via Lower Moors. As work has now started on building the new school Standing Stones field is now covered in huge mountains of rubble, hopefully this will be cleared up once work has been completed. A couple of Grey Wagtails were in a puddle here. Little else of real not was seen so headed back for an early dinner and recoup as I was now flagging.
17th September Late afternoon drive down to Cornwall saw three Ring-necked Parakeets fly over the motorway en-route. As I was full of cold the drive got harder and harder as I fought the urge to want to sleep and the mega sore throat and streaming eyes and nose, not good. On arriving at the Wellington went straight to bed.
11th September Got Don his Caspian Gull for the SOG area year list with four seen at Pitsea. Also there were seven Yellow-legged Gulls, adult MedGull, the usual leucistic Herring Gull, plus another partial leucistic, and an adult MedGull. Not a bad days work.
7th September Another good local after work bird in the form of a brief Wryneck in the Pine trees behind the old tennis courts by the Garrison. This is my first local Wryneck since 2002
5th September Most of the morning and early afternoon spent photographing a very close Red-necked Grebe over at Paglag today along with two excellent juvenile Black Terns, pics of these fella's will be posted soon.
It was a good day which started with a Blue-headed Wagtail amongst a Yellow Wagtail flock on fields, the flock numbered over 60, two fly over Lapland Buntings, two fly over, together, Hobbies, my first local Yellowhammers of the year, a late Swift and five MedGulls made for another fine day.
4th September A good day today. Had three Caspian Gulls for my gulling efforts in the morning along with 10 Yellow-legged Gulls and an adult MedGull.
A very fine juvenile Temminck's Stint was showing well at West Canvey Marshes RSPB reserve from the middle hide and a couple of Whinchat were on wires close by.