“IoS Bird & Natural History Review 2010″ has now been delivered and is available in the Scillonian Club from 8 pm each night throughout October.

The report has over 200 pages and 44 colour plates – more than ever before.We think that for a ‘county’ group with about 15 members it’s a remarkable achievement to get the previous year’s report out in 9 months. Many much larger counties will not yet have produced 2009, let alone 2010.
The usual stunning photos and comprehensive species accounts, a ringing report from Jim Askins (who recently added a certain Waterthrush to his ringing list), a report on seabird monitoring and those first-hand accounts from the finders of last years’ rarities. Plus plants, moths, cetacea etc.
So for just £12 come to the Log and pick up a copy. For those who are not a Friend of IoS Bird Group, please send £14 to Danni Hudson, Carn Ithen, Trench lane, St Marys, IoS TR21 0PA and we will post it to you. Alternatively, JOIN the Friends of the ISBG and get your report annually! See membership page above.

St. Mary’s – The Northern Waterthrush was seen on the Project Poll for the first hour of daylight bur was not seen thereafter. The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen in Lower Moors and on Porth Mellon Beach and a Pectoral Sandpiper was at Porth Hellick. 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, a Little Bunting and a Short-toed Lark were on the airfield. Wrynecks were seen at High Lanes, Telegraph, Newford Duck Pond, Porth Minnick, Porthloo and Buzza Quarry. The Black Kite was still touring the island a Common Rosefinch & 4 Mediterranean Gulls were at Porthloo and a Black Redstart was on rocks near the Woolpack, Garrison.

Bryher – The Pallid Harrier was on the island before flying to Tresco.

St. Agnes – A late Common Swift and a Lapland Bunting.

Tresco – The Pallid Harrier, a Honey Buzzard, a Common Buzzard, 2 Pectoral Sandpipers and a Little Stint. 2 Red-throated Divers were between St. Helens and Round Island.

St. Mary’s – After going missing for a day the Northern Waterthrush was trapped and ringed at Porth Hellick, before re-appearing at its favoured spot – the Project Pool behind the Municipal Dump. The Lesser Yellowlegs was also seen on the Project Pool and spent some time on Porth Mellon Beach. The Pallid Harrier after being relocated on Tresco moved to St. Mary’s and was seen at various sites, pleasing a lot of newly arrived birders. The Black Kite performed equally as well, touring the island all day. The 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still on the airfield, where there were also a Short-toed Lark and the American Golden Plover made a brief visit from St. Martin’s. A Firecrest, a Pied Flycatcher & a Spotted Flycatcher were in the Dead Pine Walk on the Garrison, a Firecrest & Wryneck were at Porth Minnick and a Short-eared Owl was roosting in a pine tree near Bant’s Carn.

Tresco – The Pallid Harrier was seen flying over the Abbey Pool towards the Heliport and the Honey buzzard was with a Common Buzzard over the Great Pool. also on the island were a Wigeon, a Wryneck and a Pectoral Sandpiper.

St. Agnes – 2 Firecrests at Porth Killier.

Gugh – A Common Rosefinch and a Wryneck.

St. Martin’s – The American Golden Plover spent most of the day, apart from a brief trip to St. Mary’s Airfield, near the Daymark. Elsewhere on the island were 5 Wrynecks, a Spotted Flycatcher and 4 Lapland Buntings.

St. Mary’s – A Short-toed Lark, 4 Buff- breasted Sandpiper and an American Golden Plover were on the airfield. Single Wrynecks were seen at Porth Minnick. the Garrison campsite, on Peninnis & on Porthloo Lane and single Common Redstarts were on Porthloo Lane and Halangy Down. The Black Kite was seen at various locations around the island, the Lesser Yellowlegs was on the Project Pool. A Pectoral Sandpiper was at Lower Moors and a Firecrest was in Carreg Dhu Garden.

Tresco – 6 Pectoral Sandpipers on Simpson’s Field, Great Pool.

St. Agnes – A Pied Flycatcher, a Wryneck, a Firecrest, 3 Whinchat and a Whimbrel.

St. Mary’s – The Northern Waterthrush was on the Project Pool at dawn and dusk and was seen on the main pool at Lower Moors in the afternoon. The Lesser Yellowlegs was on the Project Pool and spent some time on Porth Mellon beach. 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were still on the airfield, the Black Kite was in the Holy Vale area and a Marsh Harrier flew over Mount Todden. A Pectoral Sandpiper was on Lower Moors and a Firecrest, a Great Spotted Woodpecker & a Common Buzzard were on the Garrison. The Pallid Harrier that earlier been seen on St. Agnes flew over the Garrison, then Parting Carn, then Maypole and was seen well over Pungie’s Lane before flying to Bryher and Tresco.

Tresco – A Short-toed Lark, 4 Pectoral Sandpipers, 6 Pied Flycatchers, 4 Whinchats, 2 Common Redstarts and a Wryneck. The Pallid Harrier from St. Mary’s was seen late afternoon.

St. Agnes – The Pallid Harrier started it’s tour of the islands. Also on the island were 2 Firecrests, a Short-toed Lark, a Red-backed Shrike, 4 Wrynecks, a Pied flycatcher and a Barred Warbler.

St. Martin’s – The American Golden Plover was still near the Daymark.

At sea – A daytime short-range pelagic trip produced 2 Sabine’s Gulls, 2 Balearic & 5 Sooty Shearwaters, 2 adult Pomarine & 15 Great Skuas, 4 Black Terns, 5 European Storm-petrels, 14 Knots, 10 Grey Phalaropes and a 100+ Common Dolphins.

St. Mary’s – The Northern Waterthrush was on the Project Pool briefly at dawn and on the main Lower Moors pool briefly at dusk. The Solitary Sandpiper, a Pectoral Sandpiper and the Lesser Yellowlegs were all on the Project Pool, the later making a brief trip to Lower Moors pool. A Great Spotted Woodpecker was in Holy Vale, the Ortolan bunting was still in Higher Lanes, 3 Spotted flycatchers were in the Garrison Pines and single Wrynecks were at Peninnis Allotments, Pelistry & Borough Farm. The 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were on the airfield and the Woodchat Shrike was still on the northern perimeter fence of the airport. A Honey Buzzard was in the Garrison Pines and 9 Mediterranean Gulls were at Porthloo.

Bryher – A Black Kite flew over the island.

Tresco – 4 Pectoral Sandpipers were on the Great Pool and the Black Kite was seen in the air with a Honey Buzzard & a Marsh Harrier. Also seen on the island were a Merlin and a whinchat.

St. Agnes – An Aquatic Warbler was on the Big Pool and elsewhere on the island were a Common Rosefinch, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Pectoral Sandpiper, a Wryneck, a Whinchat, a Pied Flycatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher.

St. Martin’s – An American Golden Plover, a Wryneck and 4 Lapland Buntings.

St. Mary’s – The Northern Waterthrush was at the Project Pool but only early in the morning, the Lesser Yellowlegs and the Solitary Sandpiper were also seen there, the latter also being seen at Newford Duck Pond. A Pectoral Sandpiper was on Porth Hellick Pool and the Ortolan Bunting & a Wryneck were in fields at High Lanes, 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, an American Golden Plover & a Yellow Wagtail were on the airfield and nearby the Woodchat Shrike was still on the northern perimeter fence of the airport. The Red-eyed Vireo was in the Dump Clump, a female Crossbill & 2 Spotted Flycatchers were in the Garrison pines, a Firecrest was in Carreg Dhu Gardens and a Black Redstart was at Morning Point.

Tresco – The Honey Buzzard, the Red-backed Shrike, the Spotted Crake and 5 Pectoral Sandpipers were still present, also on the island were 3 Jackdaws, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Common Buzzard.

St. Agnes – A Wryneck, a Rose-coloured Starling, a Pectoral Sandpiper, 2 Spotted Flycatchers and a Pied Flycatcher.

At sea – 5 Great Skuas, 4 Sabine’s Gulls, a Sooty Shearwater and a Grey Phalarope were seen on a shark fishing trip.
A Great Skua, a Sooty Shearwater and a European Storm-petrel were seen from the Penzance to St. Mary’s crossing.

St. Mary’s - The Red-eyed Vireo was in trees between the Dump Clump & the school and the Northern Waterthrush was on the Project Pool early morning and early evening. The Lesser Yellowlegs was seen on Lower Moors Pool & the Project Pool and a Pectoral Sandpiper was at Porth Hellick Pool and Lower Moors. 4 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were on the airfield and the Woodchat Shrike was still on the northern perimeter of the airport. An Ortolan Bunting was in fields on High Lanes, a Pied Flycatcher was at Content and a Wryneck was at Telegraph. An Icterine Warbler showed briefly near the Hilda Quick hide in Lower Moors. The Solitary Sandpiper was also seen on the Project Pool.

Tresco – 7 Pectoral Sandpipers were seen together on the Great Pool an amazing count! Also on the Great Pool were the first Spotted Crake of the year, a Black-tailed Godwit and a Curlew Sandpiper. A Honey Buzzard flew over the island.

St. Martin’s – The American Golden Plover was still near the Daymark also on the island were a Marsh Harrier and a Lapland Bunting.

St. Agnes – A Pectoral Sandpiper, a Marsh Harrier and 5 Spotted Flycatchers.

Gugh – A Wryneck, a Whinchat and a Spotted Flycatcher.

St. Mary’s – The Northern Waterthrush & the Solitary Sandpiper were both on the “Project Pool” early morning. A Red-eyed Vireo was found in the trees behind Old Town Church, from where it disappeared soon after been seen, but was relocated in the afternoon in the Dump Clump alongside the Waterthrush! The Woodchat Shrike was still on the northern perimeter fence of the airport and 3 Buff-breasted Sandpipers were on the airfield. 3 Pectoral Sandpipers & 2 Whinchats were at Porth Hellick and nearby a Melodious Warbler was on Carn Friars Farm. A Wryneck and a Firecrest were in Carreg Dhu Gardens. 3 Mediterranean Gulls were at Porthloo and just along the road a very tame Lesser Yellowlegs was on Porthloo Duck Pond. In the evening the Project Pool was like a little bit of America, with the Lesser Yellowlegs, the Northern Waterthrush & the Solitary Sandpiper all there together!

St. Martin’s – The American Golden Plover was still near the Daymark.

Tresco – 5 Pectoral Sandpipers, 3 Curlew Sandpipers and a Red-backed Shrike.

St. Agnes – A Pectoral Sandpiper, 3 Brent Geese and a Whinchat

St Mary’s – The Northern Waterthrush again showed in Lower Moors on the ‘project’ pool along with the Solitary Sandpiper. The long staying Bee-eater showed late in the day at Watermill. The Woodchat Shrike was on the northern edge of the Airport and a Wryneck was in the Dump Clump with another in Old Town Church. A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was on the Airport along with a Ruff and an Ortolan Bunting was nearby in afternoon.

Tresco – Two Pectoral Sandpipers were on the Great Pool along with two Curlew Sandpipers. Also on the Great Pool was a Ruff and a Black-tailed Godwit.

St Agnes – The very tame Pectoral Sandpiper was on Periglis beach and a Common Rosefinch was at Lower Town and a Red-backed Shrike was near the pool.