A Fairly quiet week by Scilly standards but still enough scarce migrants across the islands to keep birders hopes alive! On Saturday 11th SHORT-TOED LARKS were on the airfield and on St Agnes, two RICHARDS PIPITS were on the islands and a ROSE COLOURED STARLING was seen at Green Lane and Normandy. A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was on Bryher and a WRYNECK was on St Martins. Tresco had a fly-over WHOOPER SWAN and a DOTTEREL on Castle Down. There were 11 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLERS across the Islands with 7 of those on St Mary’s. Three SNOW BUNTINGS were on St Mary’s with another on Tresco and there were 4 FIRECRESTS across the archipelago. Elsewhere across the islands there were 6 WHINCHATS, singles of LESSER WHITETHROAT, RING OUZEL, PIED FLYCATCHER and SHORT EARED OWL. Birds at sea either from the Scillonian III or from headlands included 4 GREAT SKUAS, 3 BALEARIC SHEARWATERS, 2 GREY PHALAROPE, 2 POMARINE SKUAS and a MANX SHEARWATER.

The SPOONBILL remained on Samson throughout the week and the first GREAT NORTHERN DIVER of the autumn was in The Roads on the 12th. The 12th also produced JACK SNIPES on three of the Islands and a RICHARD’S PIPIT and 2 GOLDEN PLOVER over the golf course. FIRECREST numbers increased with 10 on St Mary’s and singles on St Agnes and St Martin’s.

YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER numbers had doubled by the 13th and JACK SNIPES had reached a total of 8 birds across the islands. RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS were at Rosehill and on St Martin’s. A TREE PIPIT was on Tresco and BLACK REDSTARTS numbered just two. The first FIELDFARE of the autumn was on Bryher and REDWINGS were at Newford Duck Pond, Trenoweth and St Martin’s.

A PENDULINE TIT was heard at Lower Moors on the 14th and a BARRED WARBLER was seen near the Dump then later near the Health Centre on St Mary’s. A late HOBBY was seen over Tresco then St Mary’s and 5 RING OUZELS were on St Mary’s. On Wednesday a LITTLE BUNTING was found on St Agnes and RING OUZEL numbers had increased to 31 birds across the islands. A MISTLE THRUISH was at Trenoweth and a REDSTART was on the Peninnis Farm trail. A very late CUCKOO was on Gugh before moving to St Agnes and 3 SNOW BUNTINGS were on the airfield. There was little change on Thursday but Friday saw a CORNCRAKE fly across the pool in Lower Moors and a LEACH’S STORM PETREL and a POMARINE SKUA flew past Peninnis Head. A WOODLARK flew over Newford Duck Pond and a GREY PHALAROPE passed Old Town Bay.

On the 18th the SHORT-TOED LARK was still present on St Agnes and other long stayers included the BARRED WARBLER on St Mary’s, RICHARD’S PIPIT on Tresco and ROSE-COLOURED STARLING on St Mary’s and Bryher. The four WHOOPER SWANS remained on Tresco and RED-BREASTED FLYCATCHERS were at Rosehill and Lower Broome Platform. The first SISKIN of the autumn was on Bryher.


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