Snowy Owl, Tresco, 19.04.16, IOSWT

Wednesday’s birds were:

St. Mary’s – A Great Northern Diver was off Woolpack Point on the Garrison, the 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls & 6 Whimbrels were on the Golf Course, with another 10 Whimbrels at Bar Point. A Ring Ouzel flew from Porth Hellick Down to Salakee Down and another was on the west side of Peninnis. A Hoopoe & a Common Sandpiper were at Porth Hellick and single Common Swifts were over Peninnis and Lower Moors. A female Common Redstart was on the Garrison and a Garden Warbler was in Hugh Town.

Thursday’s birds were:

St. Mary’s – 11 Whimbrels were on Taylor’s Island, 4 were on Normandy Down, 3 were on Porthloo Beach, 3 were on the golf course and 1 was on Porth Hellick Beach. The 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls, 3 Rooks (a scarce species on Scilly), a Ring Ouzel, a Common Redstart, a Black Redstart and the first Cuckoo of the year were all on the Golf Course. A Skylark, a Common Redstart and 2 Garden Warblers were on the Garrison. A Hobby flew over Deep Point, this year’s first Turtle Dove was on Porthloo Lane and 2 Ring Ouzels were at Salakee Farm.

Hoopoe, Bryher, 23.0416, Alan HanningtonFriday’s birds were:

Inter- island waters – What was probably the Snowy Owl was seen from the harbour masters boat going out to meet a visiting cruise ship. It was flying west past Steeple Buoy just south of the Northern Rocks

St. Mary’s – With early light rain and fog and overcast conditions with a light south–easterly wind there was a fall of migrants. There were lots of Wheatears, Blackcaps, Chiffchaffs and Willow Warblers, many feeding on the ground. Amongst them were a smattering of Common Whitethroats and Garden Warblers. 2 Lesser Whitethroats, a Whinchat and a Lesser Redpoll were in the Porth Hellick area and nearby a Hoopoe was in fields at Tremelethen Farm. A Grasshopper Warbler was at Mount Todden and another was in fields behind Old Town where there was also a Tree Pipit. A Nightingale was singing at Rosehill, where there was also a Spotted Flycatcher. A Hobby was over Higher Moors, a Black Redstart was on the Garrison, single Common Redstarts were on Salakee Farm & in Holy Vale and a Ring Ouzel was at Giants’ Castle. The 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls, 2 Rooks, a Cuckoo, 2 Ring Ouzels and a Common Redstart were all on the Golf Course.

St. Agnes – A Hoopoe, a Yellow Wagtail, a Ring Ouzel, a Common Redstart and a Lesser Whitethroat.

At sea – A Common Redstart landed on the Scillonian III on the return trip to Penzance.

Saturday’s birds were:

Bryher – The Snowy Owl finally stayed long enough in one place (Shipmanhead Down) for most local birders to catch up with it. Also on the island were 4 Common Redstarts, 3 Tree Pipits, a Nightingale and a Hoopoe.

St. Mary’s – A Nightingale was at Mount Todden early morning and another was at Buzza Hill early evening. A Hobby was over Higher Moors, a Cuckoo was in Holy Vale, a Ring Ouzel was in Salakee fields and also on the island was a Common Redstart.

St. Agnes – A Hoopoe, A Cuckoo, 2 Ring Ouzels, a Common Redstart and a Common Sandpiper.

St. Martin’s – 4 Little Terns, 2 Whimbrels, a Common Redstart and a Pied Flycatcher.

Sunday’s birds were:

Bryher – The Snowy Owl was still on Shipmanhead Down and there were 4 Whimbrels on the island.

St. Mary’s – A Nightingale was on the boardwalk at Porth Hellick, this is the 5th of the spring, which is unprecedented on Scilly. Also at Porth Hellick was a Grasshopper Warbler and a Lesser Whitethroat was trapped and ringed. A male Montagu’s Harrier flew over Pelistry and a Garden Warbler was in a field near Old Town Church. An Iceland Gull & 2 Whimbrels were on the Golf Course and a Hobby flew over. A Common Redstart was on Peninnis and a Great Northern Diver was off Bar Point. A Wryneck and a Garden Warbler were on the Garrison.

Tresco – A Ring Ouzel was in the Chaplaincy garden

Monday’s birds were:

Bryher – The Snowy Owl was still on Shipmanhead Down until late morning when it was flushed by a dog walker and flew to Tresco.

Tresco – The Snowy Owl was on Castle Down, where a male Montagu’s Harrier was also seen. The Iberian Chiffchaff was still present, singing in Well cover near the Abbey. Also seen on Tresco were 2 Common Buzzards, a Marsh Harrier, 20 Whimbrels and a Great Northern Diver was offshore.

St. Mary’s – The 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls & a Garden Warbler were on the Golf Course, a Merlin was at Normandy and a Common Redstart was at Trewince.

Inter-island waters – A Great Northern Diver was in Crow Sound (between St. Mary’s & St. Martin’s).

Tuesday’s birds were:

Bryher – The Snowy Owl was again on Shipmanhead Down.

Tresco – The Iberian Chiffchaff was singing near the Abbey and a male Montagu’s Harrier flew over Carn Near.

St. Mary’s – A male Marsh Harrier was at Porth Hellick.

St. Martin’s – 2 Great Northern Divers, 18 Golden Plover, a Common Redstart and a Common Whitethroat.

Wednesday’s birds were:

St. Mary’s – The male Montagu’s Harrier was over Pelistry early morning and then mid-morning over Porth Hellick Bay. Also at Porth Hellick was a Whimbrel, a Marsh Harrier and 23 Golden Plover flew over.

Tresco – The Iberian Chiffchaff was still on Pool Road, the Montagu’s Harrier was over Abbey Pool and 10 Whimbrels were in Pentle Bay