St Mary’s – A quiet day on the islands with a Wheatear at Old Town beach being the only new bird of note
Monthly Bird Review – February 2009
A relatively quiet month on the Islands with lingering rarities from January including the very obliging Cattle Egret at the dump and the juvenile Kumlien’s Gull that could be found at either the dump or Porth Mellon beach throughout the month. Continue reading
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Saturday 28th February 2009 IoS Bird Reports
Tresco – Sand Martin this morning over Great Pool. Also Pintail (2), Whooper Swan and Barnacle Goose still. Common Scoter (4) off south end and Black-throated Diver.
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Friday 27th February 2009 IoS Bird Reports
St Mary’s – *CATTLE EGRET* still at Lower Moors on Shooter’s Pool and Grey Phalarope off Hugh Town Quay at 12.45hrs.
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**NEW** Scillypelagics.com
After years of successful seabird expeditions off the Islands Scilly Pelagics now have their own website. For all this years trip information and some great photos go to www.scillypelagics.com/.
Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th February 2009 IoS Bird Reports
St Mary’s – *CATTLE EGRET* still at dump and at Shooters Pool. Kumlien’s Gull again on Porthloo Beach and at Dump with Glaucous (2w) and Iceland Gull (2). A Black Redstart of the form Paradoxus was on the beach at Porth Hellick on Thursday morning.
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Tuesday 24th February 2009 IoS Bird Reports
St Mary’s – *CATTLE EGRET* still at dump today with Glaucous Gull (2nd cal) and Iceland Gull (2x 1st cal). Long-tailed Tit (2) at Carn Friars by small pool this morning.
Tresco – Glaucous Gull on Great Pool this afternoon. Also Whooper Swan and Barnacle Goose still present.
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Monday 23rd February 2009 IoS Bird Reports
St Mary’s – *CATTLE EGRET* still showing well at the Dump. Kumlien’s Gull and Iceland Gull on Porth Mellon Beach this morning.
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Friday 20th – Sunday 22nd February 2009 IoS Bird Reports
St Mary’s – **PACIFIC DIVER** (ad) still on Friday afternoon seen off Eastern Isles on organized boat trip. There is a possibility that this bird is in fact a hybrid diver. *CATTLE EGRET* still in allotment by Dump all weekend and Kumlien’s Gull (juv) again on beach at Porthloo and at dump with Glaucous Gull (2w) and three different Iceland Gull (ad and 2 juv). Long-tailed tit (2) by pumping station at higher Moors.
Tresco – The Treecreeper was still at Well Covert on the 21st and Whooper Swan and Barnacle Goose were still on Great Pool. A Common Buzzard flew over Old Grimsby and a Red-breasted Merganser was offshore.
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Flight behaviour of ‘black & white’ storm-petrels of the North Atlantic
Purpose This DVD is a companion to the article ‘Identification of ‘black-and-white’ storm-petrels of the North 
Atlantic’ by Robert L. Flood and Bryan Thomas in British Birds 100 July 2007: 407-442. The DVD concentrates on flight behaviour described in the article. It brings the storm-petrel species of concern into the living room facilitating learning about key features of flight behaviour for each species. It offers instructive viewing and good preparation prior to joining a pelagic trip in the Atlantic region. It also makes for pleasurable viewing to anyone with an interest in storm-petrels. No commentary.
Content This DVD comprises a series of clips of all six storm-petrel species taken at sea in the North and South Atlantic, the Antarctic, and off Australia. The DVD has a menu for choice of species to view. Image size of the storm-petrels in the clips varies from close to more distant with flight behaviour prioritised over and above structure and plumage (that are covered comprehensively in the article). The clips are amateur footage taken by ourselves but the quality overall is quite acceptable. Species covered most thoroughly are European, Wilson’s and Madeiran, with reasonable coverage of Black-bellied and White-bellied, whilst footage of Leach’s is the smallest amount in duration but still conveys a feel for the flight characteristics. Duration About 50 minutes.(only £6.99 inc P&P)
To buy send a cheque made out to ‘RRM Consultants’ and send to 14 Ennor Close, Old Town, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly, TR21 0NL.
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