Return to Scilly

Cream-coloured Courser, St. Martin's, 2004

I'm quite excited about a mini-trip to the Isles of Scilly from next Saturday for a few days. My last visit to the islands was in 2005 so it's over 20 years since I've been there. I've been meaning to revisit for a while now but between the Azores and Bulgaria there was never enough time. However this year seems to present a window of opportunity so, with the help of Ian, I have jumped through it, 

My first visit there was in 1991 and then I visited again in 1992, 1996 and 1997 and then annually between 1999 and 2005 with two visits in 2004. 

I've had some great trips out there and below is a concise summary of the highlights from previous trips:

15th to 19th October 1991- Highlights with Johnny Daniel included an Eyed-browed Thrush, Grey-cheeked Thrush, Bobolink, Sora and Spotted Crake together, 2 Rose-coloured Starlings, Golden Oriole,  Richard's and Tawny Pipit together, Siberian Stonechat, Red-breasted Flycatcher and found a Barred Warbler.

23rd to 27th October 1992- Highlights with Johnny Daniel were  Blackpoll Warbler, Swainson's and Grey-cheekd Thrush, Upland Sandpiper, Isabelline Wheatear, 3 Olive-backed Pipit, Bee-eater, Melodious Warbler and Radde's Warbler. 

Blackpoll Warbler, St Mary's, 2005

30th September to 4th October 1996- another trip with Johnny. Highlight was a juv Rock Thrush, Buff-bellied Pipit, Red-eyed Vireo, American Golden Plover and found a Semipalmated Sandpiper 

13th to 17th October 1997- Did a few days in Cornwall before with Kate and had American Wigeon on the Hayle and a few seabirds and then met up with Jaffa, Sam and Lee and we went over to Scilly. A fairly quiet week with highlights including Common Yellowthroat, Blackpoll Warbler, Black Duck, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Wryneck and Yellow-browed Warbler (a good bird at the time).

8th to 15th October 1999- what a year with the Uni gang. Highlights included Siberian, White's and Blue Rock Thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Short-toed Eagle, 2 Upland Sandpiper, 2 Radde's Warblers, Richard's Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Siberian Stonechat and Wryneck. The year of a night at the Kavorna bakery, a story that stays on Scilly.    

Short-toed Eagle, St.Mary's 1999

14th to 17th October 2000- a short trip with Jaffa and Cherry Bakewells to twtich the Solitary Sandpiper and also had Red-eyed Vireo, Swainson's Thrush, Spectacled Warbler, 3 Ring-necked Duck and Yellow-browed Warbler. 

3rd to 9th October 2001-Highlights on this solo trip included Yellow-breasted Bunting, found a Buff-breasted Sandpiper and also had Ring-necked Duck, Dotterels, Yellow-browed Warbler and Red-backed Shrike. 

11th to 16th October 2002- A pretty quiet week with Bluethroat, Yellow-browed Warblers, Lapland Bunting, Barred Warbler, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Corncrake. On the way back home we found a Red-breasted Fly at Kenidjack. 

Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Tresco, 1999

30th September to 5th October 2003- Highlights were Booted Warbler, Lesser Yellowlegs, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Dotterel, Hoopoe, Red-backed Shrike, Ortolan, Lapland Bunting, Wryneck, Yellow-browed Warbler. Also had a Death's Head Hawkmoth, my only one ever. 

29th to 30th September 2004- This was a twitch with Johnny Allan and Sam for the Cream Coloured Courser on St. Martin's. Also had 3 Buff-breasted Sandpiper and Common Rosefinch.

25th to 30th October 2004- The Cream Coloured Courser was still present when I returned for my planned trip with Kate and the gang. Highlights included Ovenbird, Pallid Swift, Red-backed Shrike, Pallas's and Yellow-browed Warblers,  co-found an Olive-backed Pipit, a fall of 100+ Black Redstart was impressive. We also had two Waxwings at Kenidjack on the way back. 

30th September to 3rd October 2005- Highlights included Sora, Blackpoll Warbler, Greenish Warbler, and Corncrake.  This was the same autumn I first visited Corvo and after started spending my autumns there.

Sora, St.Mary's, 2005

Local Yellow-browed

After the moths and a bit of a garden watch HERE I went over to Church Norton via Ferry considering what a calm and pleasant morning it was in the hope of a Yellow-browed Warbler which I was hoping might have made their way down to the south coast by now after arriving to the north and east a week or so ago. 

Within a few minutes indeed one appeared in the St Wifrid's Church yard tit flock, attracted by the tit flock 'tape'. I put the news out and a small crowd soon appeared and most people eventually saw or heard it within the next couple of hours.

Ian, Andrew and myself then walked round to the Severals HERE and had either the same or another Yellow-browed Warbler by the Horse Field conservation area. Other migrants included the first Siskin of the auutmn, a late Yellow Wagtail, 12 Stonechat in the Horse Field, 3 Song Thrush over (also 3 over the garden this morning, the first thrush autumn vis mig here), a few more Blackbirds, good numbers of Linnets, 10 Jay (a personal local record), 27 Skylarks and a few Skylarks and Mipits over, Goldcrest, Whitethroat, handfuls of Chiffs and Blackcaps and about 100 or so mixed Barn Swallows and House Martin. Also had the first two Brents in the harbour for the autumn and there were 6 Snipe on Ferry.

Highights in the moth trap (over 150 individual moths last night) included Silver-spotted Veneer (maybe one of the same ones from yesterday), 5 Vestal, Delicate, Portland Ribbon Wave and another Merveille du Jour. Also a Common Marbled Carpet. We have a couple of birders/mothers staying with us at the airbnb from North Yorkshire this weekend so they've had a good time with a few southern specialities and migrants. 

Yellow-browed Warbler in the church yard (above) and Conservation area (below). One or two birds, Andrew and Ian are strongly in the single bird only camp although if this was a common migrant such as a Blackcap or Chiffchaff we would definitely have counted it as different over the few hundred meters apart.  The 178th species for Pagham Harbour this year HERE and my 191th species for Pagham Harbour HERE. My 184th species for the Peninsula this year. The group Peninsula list is now on 211 for the year. 

Siskin- the first of the local autumn  

Silver-spotted Veneer- looks like the same dark one from yesterday. Only 12 previous records of these in Sussex according to the Sussex Moth Group website HERE and I've had nine here this year so if I keep this up, will double that soon. 

Portland Ribbon Wave- not seen one in a while 

Merveille du Jour

Deep Brown Dart- only the second garden record. 

Some really smart fresh Vestals around at the moment- becoming a very welcome near permanent feature of the catch 

Finally some action of sorts

Having missed out on anything bird wise from the west or east from the respective regional influxes and associated weather systems in the last couple of weeks our main hope down here remains from the deep southerly airflow a few days ago bringing in some decent moth migrants. 

Therefore last night I went all in with the twin actinic and the lepiled here in the garden and the 12W actinic up at St.Wilfrid's Church at Church Norton. Frustrastingly my MV is in for repair at the moment. Maybe luckily Isaac would not allow me to sleep last night so I was up at 3.30am and was able to catch a few migrants in pots too. 

Sadly no moth mega, particularly no Maize Wainscot (the three Large Wainscots gave me a small heart attack each) but a good selection of new migrants in the garden traps with two Silver-spotted Veneer (the 8th and 9th records here and all from this year), a nice Golden Twin-spot, Scarce Bordered Straw, Clancy's Rustic, Silver-Y, 3 L-album Wainscot, 3 Rusty-dots, 4 Rush Veneer, 5 Beet moths and 12 Small Mottled Willows. Additional migrants in the last couple of nights include Pearly Underwing, Dewick's Plusia and Blair's Mocha so it's been a pretty good influx now. 

Meanwhile at St Wilfrid's a Small Marbled was the highlight, with several L-album Waiscots, Rush Veneer, Vestal and heaps of Turnip moths. There was also Red-green Carpet and Common Marbled Carpet which would be unusual here. 

As I had failed to find anything mega myself I jumped at the opportunity to go and twitch Derek's Maize Wainscot from yesterday at Bracklesham. A moth lifer.  

So getting in some action at least! 

Maize Wainscot- the 10th for UK (the 6th to 10th records all from the last week) from Bracklesham caught by Derek Lee. Trapped on the night of the 30th September but retained for breeding as a female. The adults only live a few days and she has already laid eggs. Derek will attempt to rear them but usually the caterpillars eat Maize leaves and then burrow into the cane where they pupate and then emerge as adults later so Derek is considering how to replicate that environment. An interesting example of what insect migration is all about with this female ready to lay eggs after crossing the Channel in new territory which can potentially become a toehold for colonisation. Considering this is a well known pest in Southern Europe, it probably won't be too welcome here on the Peninsula which is a maize/sweetcorn growing area.

Golden Twin-spot. The second this year and only the 6th garden record.

Silver-spotted Veneers (above and below). Only the 7th date recorded in the garden but this is the second time I've had two in one night so these are the 8th and 9th individuals.

Small Marbled from St. Wilfrid's.

A different Scarce Bordered Straw to yesterdays

Chestnut and Dark Chestnut? or two Chestnuts. Every year I have to relearn these.

As I was up at a ridiculous time I got the thermal out and had this presumed Wood Mouse and also a couple of voles and some bats flying round the garden 

Wondering round a graveyard in the early hours. I was more concerned by someone sitting in a parked car in the car park rather than supernatural beings. 

A bit better

The warm southerly airflow from yesterday (now more of a typical south westerly) delivered a bit more last night with 150 moths of 31 species in the trap. Elsewhere on the south coast 3 Maize Wainscots were caught (8th to 10th for the UK with the 6th and 7th recorded in the last week too with two in Sussex) inlcuding one by Derek nearby at Bracklesham but no such lofty heights here with 'migrants' including Dewick's Plusia, Scarce Bordered Straw,  Blair's Mocha, Spindle Knothorn, 10 Small Mottled Willow (rallying again),  6 Rush Veneer, 3 Rusty-dots, 2 Beet moths and a Vestal. A couple of expected NFYs also occurred including Merveille du Jour and Chestnut and there was also an unseasonal Swallow-tail Moth. 

While doing the moths a Redshank flew over the garden calling and there was also a bit of Mipit, Skylark and 'alba' Wagtail vis mig so I decided to bunk off work and have a look at Church Norton and the Severals. The highlight was a Muntjac, a Peninsula mammal tick, which basically says it all about the birding with 9 Stonechat in the horse field (and another 12 in Ferry area) and single Spotted Flycatcher, Firecrest and Lesser Whitethroat the highlights with 16 Chiffchaff and 10 Blackcap. Only 2 Barn Swallow on my circuit. I tallied up 8 Jay including 2 vis-miging high over the fields. Large numbers of Jays have been moving down the east coast and there is an ongoing irruption of Nutcrackers on the continent (apparantely the northern acorn harvest has been affected by the summer droughts) so good to have some signs of that movement here. 

In the afternoon I popped back to Ferry, Long Pool and Church Norton and had Hobby and Marsh Harrier. 19 Barwits roosting at high tide was a noteable late autumn count. Todays Ebird list HERE , 72 species of nearly 800 individuals seen from the bits I covered. 

Now with Siberian Blue Robin, Syke's Warbler, Eastern Bonelli's and stacks of less mega eastern rarities and scarcities on the east coast and northern isles it seems like we are a long way from action down here. Our best hope (as the Maize Wainscots declare) is for a decent moth at the moment. Here's hoping while enduring the grippage. 

Muntjac- the fact that this is the best thing I've seen today while there are Siberian Blue Robin and Syke's Warblers in the country is a sign from the birding heavens to abandon the patch. I've got some free time from next Thursday onwards so hoping to brew up a plan nearer the time. 

Stonechat (above and below). Still the migrant of the moment with 21 between Ferry and Church Norton that I recorded and then 12 along North Wall area and 39 at Medmerry HERE , so 72 in total not including any birds at East Head or anywhere else on the Peninsula. Graphs of recent influx at Pagham Harbour HERE.

Jay- continuing the birds and grave stone theme 

Spotted Flycatcher

A confiding juvenile Barwit. There was a group of 19 roosting at Norton at high tide, a good count for the late autumn. 

Merveillle du Jour- the first of the year deserves a couple of photo angles (above and below). Always stunning to see. 

Chestnut- the late autumn theme is beginning to take shape. 75 Lunar Underwings made up half of the trap yesterday. Now on 552 for the year. Last year I got to 573 in a year so hoping might be on track to beat that record. Still got the July and August dissections to come in yet which should add a few more plus a few late autumn/early winter species and hopefully something decent. 

Another colourful Vestal 

Quite a dark Scarce Bordered Straw 

Dissappointing southerlies

The forecast looked perfect for moth and insect migration last night, with a deep southerly airflow, but it proved to be dissppointing round here, especially considering I was up at 430am in anticipation. All I had was a Pearly Underwing, Box Tree Moth, a couple of Rusty-dots, a few more Small Mottled Willows and 2 Rush Veneer in the way of 'migrants'. 19 species in total with Beaded Chestnut and Carnation Tortrix being NFYs. 

However Derek nearby at Bracklesham had a much better night with a significant influx of migrants. Fingers crossed they move in land a bit tonight, which is a pattern I've noticed before. Derek is closer to the coast and tends to do better on the first night of good winds and it takes a day or two for them to reach here. 

As predicted on Monday HERE the south easterly airflow yesterday produced a significant fall of bird migrants along the East coast and Northern Isles with 2 Eyed-browed Thrush, Red-flanked Bluetail and good numbers of Yellow-browed Warblers reported over a wide area. Our only hope round here now is that a couple of bits trickle down to the south coast as they re-orinetate. Autumn's are tough here as we are too central for both transatlantic and eastern vagrants/scarcities to make primary landfall. Mainly need to rely on something getting caught up with the commoner migrants heading here, a type of vagrancy called abmigration. It's very hit and miss, not very predictable, not concentrated and not associated directly with weather patterns so just about the toughest rarity hunting there is.  A good excuse to head off to a remote island somewhere else.    

I had a quick look at Ferry and Long Pool today in a break from office work. Highlight was 5 Rock Pipit on Ferry which was unusual to see. Presumably high tide birds pushed up. Two or three were feeding on the edges and then they flew up revealing five in total. There was also an Avocet and 2 Snipe and 5 Stonechats and a Yellowhammer were along Long Pool. 

All in all, pretty boring! Planning on getting away but looking for something inexpensive as I'm pretty broke. 

Stonechat- the migrant of the moment

Rock Pipit on Ferry, one of five

Pearly Underwing

Carnation Tortrix- have retained this for confirmation as the underwing wasn't striking orange but Obsidentify says 100 percent Carnation. They are quite numerous out in the field at the moment so maybe just a poorly marked female? 

Beaded Chestnut- a NFY. Almost missed it amongst the highly variable Lunar Underwings- there were 39 of them last night. 

The first Brents

This week's birding Monday started off with a garden watch HERE in a north east breeze and partly cloudy skies, where highlights included a Firecrest, the start of the Chaffinch migration with 11 over, a couple of Chiffs and Blackcap, 2 Egyptian Geese and a Robin flew into the conservatory which we caught and released with the boys.

After the school run I then dropped into Ferry where the juvenile Little Stint was still present, there were 13 Stonechats in the field and 122 Lapwing were on the islands. Also my autumn's first Rock Pipit was flying around calling. The pool has been flooded now and it looks like the predator fence has been completed. Will be interesting how this habitat develops. 

I then headed over to East Side HERE for the rising tide with highlights including 2 Spotted Redshank, 4 Knot, a first-winter Yellow-legged Gull, a late Reed Warbler in the Breach Pool reeds, 12 Chiffchaff in the Sallows, a Marsh Harrier and the usual selection of waders and wildfowl including a couple of Avocet. 

After lunch with Holly at East Wittering I then went over to East Head and had a walk round the Dunes waiting for the tide to fall and then did Snowhill Marsh with Alan. The Dunes were quite interesting with 2 Dartford Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat, 6 Stonechat, 1 Wheatear, 9 Chiffchaff and a few Skylarks and Meadow Pipits. There was also a Yellow Wagtail on Snowhill and a selection of wildfowl and waders which were present yesterday. HERE. Highlight of the afternoon was a flock of 12 Brent Geese which flew up the harbour, my first of the autumn. 

Easterlies are forecast for tomorrow and Yellow-brows are already influxing on the east coast and northern isles so hopefully plenty will arrive tomorrow and maybe one or two might filter down to us. 

There was a slight uptick in the moth trap with 20 species the highlight being a Dusky Lemon Sallow, a NFY. 'Migrants' included Clancy's Rustic, 2 Vestal, L-album Wainscot, 2 Small Mottled Willow, 1 Silver-Y, 2 Rush Veneer and Blair's Mocha. 

Dartford Warblers (above and below) with Stonechat (below). An influx of Stonechat today across the Peninsula, I logged 19 myself but will be more at Medmerry and elsewhere (in fact there were 35 at Medmerry and more on the North Wall and Long Pool  HERE so probably well over 60 birds locally today). These are also my first Dartford Warblers away from the breeding area. 

Lesser Whitethroat

Chiffchaff- good numbers around 

First-winter Yellow-legged Gull 

My first autumn Brents 

Robin and Isaac 

A nicely marked Vestal 

Dusky Lemon Sallow- a NFY, now on 548 

Boring weekend

The high pressure broke down this weekend giving way to an Atlantic airflow drawing up mild air from the south east. Despite the seemingly favourable conditions there hasn't been much in the way of vis-mig or moth migration. 

As usual due to weekend family commitments I've been mainly confined to the garden and lane. A couple of mornings of garden birding produced just a handful of Meadow Pipits and Swallows going over with highlights including 2 Firecrest, 6 Chiffchaff and 3 Blackcap yesterday and 3 Pintail going over this morning. 39 species on Saturday morning HERE.

A family picnic to West Wittering today meant I got a chance to have a quick look at Snowhill HERE the highlight being a Hobby, a Curlew Sandpiper and an increase in Golden Plover. 

There have only been 19 species of moth over the two days combined with Blair's Mocha, Four-spotted Footman, Dock Streak and a late Yellow-tail being the meagre highlights. 

Elsewhere on the Peninsula there also hasn' t been much to sing and dance about HERE with just a few Wheatears and a few more Stonechats on Saturday and a Little Stint and Woodlark today. 

I find autumn quiet spells the most boring and frustrating episodes in the birding cycle as expectations and resulting dissappointments are high. There is some mixed weather in the forecast so hopefully things get kick started again soon. 

The quiet weekend did give me a chance to catch up with a few things including sorting out the latest batch of moths for Mike and updating the last batch of identifications. Highlights from the dissection results in June and July included Acrocercops brongniardrella, Burdock Straw, Aethes rubigana, Striped Sorrel moth, Aroga velocella, a nice selection of Coleophora including coracipennella, alcyonipennella, peribenanderi, albicosata, salicorniae and saxicolella, confirmation on a run of Rosy Straws, Cochylis roseana, Cydia nigricana, Bedellia somnulentella and Aproaerema anthyllidella and larseniella. 

The latest batch going in are from late July to August which was a busy period of moth migration and dispersal so fingers crossed some interesting results in there. 

Sandwich Tern at East Head

Blair's Mocha- one of these at my previous haunts would have made it a great weekend. Shifting baselines work both ways, a weekend of garden Firecrests, Curlew Sandpiper and some good migrant moth species would have been a great weekend back in London and Oxfordshire! Nice to be on the right side of a shifting baseline for a change, even if it is a relative perspective one.