2 Black-necked Grebes were seen on and off in Town Bay all week and 2 Slavonian Grebes were seen in Crow Sound. Unusually there seemed to be only 2 Black Redstarts on St Mary’s, one each at Porthloo and Porth Cressa.
A Firecrest was photographed in a Holy Vale garden, St Mary’s, on Sunday (18/12).
Early in the week a Glaucous Gull was reported from Gugh and then seen at Morning Point, St Mary’s on Wednesday (21/12).
The first boat to Bryher since early November allowed birders to visit on Thursday (22/12) when 5 Purple Sandpipers were in Stony Porth along with 60+ Curlews and 10+ Sanderlings. A Black Redstart was an unusual record for Bryher in mid-winter and a Kingfisher flew past the Great Pool. Other sightings included ‘the’ Hooded Crow, a Merlin and 2 Ravens.
Also on Thursday (22/12) 5 female Common Scoters were in the Roads and a 1st winter Mediterranean Gull was at New Grimsby, Tresco.