BIRD REPORTS

The Glossy Ibis first seen over Tresco on the 27th Dec was seen every day mainly in the Lower Moors, Shooters Pool and Sandy Banks area until Thursday where it was last seen opposite the Riding Stables early afternoon. Dusky Warblers and Yellow Browed Warbler in Lower Moors (1st) and the Blue-winged Teal at Porth Hellick were seen most days and the 1st. winter drake Eider was in St. Mary’s Harbour every day. The three Spoonbill were seen every day roosting on Samson and feeding there at low tide. On the 2nd a Little Grebe was still at New Grimsby Tresco and Two long-tailed Ducks and a Black-throated Diver were seen off Pentle Bay also the 2 (male + female) Scaup were off South Beach. The 2nd saw the arrival of a number of Iceland Gulls, firstly on Tresco and since then up to four or five have been seen regularly in the Porthmellon, Dump and Porthlow areas. Black Redstarts were seen at Little Porth, Old Town and Porthlow Bays and Jack Snipes were seen both at Porth Hellick and Lower Moors as was a Kingfisher. Long-eared Owls were in the Porth Hellick area one on the 1st & two on 6th and a Wigeon was at Porth Hellick on 5th & 6th. On 7th the Northern Waterthrush was seen at Lower Moors by the Tin Hut and again on 8th at Shooters Pool. Also on 7th two Pink footed geese flew from Tolls Island towards Bar Point. On the 8th a BT Diver was in the Roads, 2 Scaup were at Tresco South Beach, a GN Diver was Porthcressa & 4 were in the Roads. Eiders were  in the Harbour and Tresco’s Pentle bay.

Wednesday 28th
St Mary’s – The Dusky Warbler & the Yellow-browed Warbler were still in Lower Moors and Blue-winged Teal & Jack Snipe were still on Porth Hellick Pool. The Glossy Ibis gave local birders the run around most of the day being seen in flight at several locations, before finally settling on Shooters’ Pool, Lower Moors were it was feeding happily until dusk.

Tuesday 27th
St. Mary’s – The Dusky Warbler & the Yellow-browed Warbler were still in Lower Moors, a Great Skua was off Giant’s Castle, the Blue-winged Teal was still on Porth Hellick Pool and the Glossy Ibis seen mid-afternoon on Tresco was seen flying over the pool. A Black Redstart was on Porthloo Beach.
Tresco – A Glossy Ibis, the first on Scilly since 1996, was seen flying past New Grimsby towards the Great Pool

Monday 26th
St. Mary’s – The Dusky Warbler was still in Lower Moors, a Balearic Shearwater was off Giant’s Castle and the Blue-winged Teal was still on Porth Hellick Pool, where there was also a Jack snipe.

Sunday 25th
St Mary’s – The Dusky Warbler & the Yellow-browed Warbler were still in Lower Moors, the Blue-winged Teal was at Porth Hellick, the Eider was in the harbour and a Black Redstart was at Old Town.
Samson – A Spoonbill.

Saturday 24th
St. Mary’s – The Wilson’s Snipe – was still in Lower Moors and the first-winter drake Eider was still in the harbour.
Tresco – Black-throated Diver, Great Northern Diver, 2 Mediterranean Gulls and a Common Buzzard.

Friday 23rd
St. Mary’s – The Wilson’s Snipe was still in Lower Moors and the first-winter drake Eider was still in the harbour. The Blue-winged Teal and Jack Snipe were on Porth Hellick Pool.
Stony Island – 3 Spoonbills

Thursday 22nd
St Mary’s – In Lower Moors 3 species of Snipe – Common, Jack & Wilson’s were seen together in front of the IOSBG hide, also a Dusky Warbler was along the loop trail and a Yellow-browed Warbler was opposite the tin hut. A Jack Snipe & 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs were at Porth Hellick, a Common Buzzard was over Holy Vale and a Black Redstart was on Porthloo Beach.

TUESDAY 13th DECEMBER
St. Mary’s – A Dusky Warbler was still in Lower Moors, a Black Redstart was on Old Town Beach and 2 Kingfishers were in Old Town Bay

THURSDAY 15th DECEMBER
St. Mary’s – A first-winter Glaucous Gull was at Porthloo.

SATURDAY 17th DECEMBER
St. Mary’s – The juvenile male Blue-winged Teal and a Firecrest were at Porth Hellick.

SUNDAY 18th DECEMBER
St. Mary’s – The juvenile male Blue-winged Teal and a female Wigeon were on Porth Hellick Pool. After a week’s absence the Wilson’s Snipe re-appeared in front of the ISBG hide in Lower Moors.

MONDAY 19th DECEMBER
St. Mary’s – A Black Redstart at Little Porth.

TUESDAY 20th DECEMBER
St. Mary’s – The Blue-winged Teal was still on Porth Hellick Pool, the first-winter drake Eider was still in the harbour and a Black Redstart was at Shark’s Pit.
A short boat trip around the off-islands produced 3 Spoonbills on Green Island, 6 Purple Sandpipers on Stony Island, 9 Common Scoters off the Eastern Isles, 2 first-winter drake Eiders off Tresco and a Brent Goose off St. Martin’s.

WEDNESDAY 21st DECEMBER
St. Mary’s – A Dusky Warbler, a Yellow-browed Warbler & a Jack Snipe were in Lower Moors and the first-winter drake Eider was still in the harbour. The juvenile male Blue-winged Teal was still on Porth Hellick Pool.

St. Mary’s – The Wilson’s Snipe, a Jack Snipe and a Dusky Warbler were all in Lower Moors

St. Mary’s – The juvenile drake Blue-winged Teal was still on Porth Hellick Pool

St. Mary’s – 2 Dusky Warblers & 2 Yellow-browed Warblers were still in Lower Moors and the juvenile male Blue-winged Teal was still on Porth Hellick Pool.

St. Mary’s – The juvenile male Blue-winged Teal was again on Porth Hellick Pool and a Yellow-browed Warbler was in Lower Moors.

St. Mary’s – The Dusky Warbler, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers and 2 Siberian Chiffchaffs were all still in Lower Moors. 3 Firecrests, a Siberian Chiffchaff and a Black Redstart were at Porth Hellick. A Black Redstart was on Porthloo Beach and the first-winter drake Eider was till in St. Mary’s Harbour.

St. Mary’s – On a very wet and windy day, the only birds reported were the Dusky Warbler, a Yellow-browed Warbler & a Firecrest in Lower Moors.

St. Mary’s – There was an influx of 20+ Woodcock on the island with 11 in Lower Moors, 8 at Porth Hellick and 2 at Content. A Dusky Warbler, 2 Yellow-browed Warblers and 2 Siberian Chiffchaff were still in Lower Moors. The Dusky Warbler had a ring on its right leg, so was almost certainly the bird ringed at Porth Hellick on 19th November. A Yellow-browed Warbler & 2 Firecrests were in Holy Vale, a Siberian Chiffchaff was at Newford Duck Pond, a Black Redstart was on Porthloo Beach and a Long-eared Owl was at Rosehill.