The sightings officer was away from Tuesday 12/04 to Wednesday 20/04. The highlights during this period were: Scilly’s first CRAG MARTIN on Bryher, where there was also a Hoopoe, a Spanish Wagtail on St. Mary’s, a brief Red-rumped Swallow & a Woodchat Shrike on Tresco, where the Glossy Ibis & Cattle Egret were still present and a female Garganey on St. Agnes.
Thursday (21/04)
Crag Martin – The bird though elusive was seen on 4 occasions
on Bryher.
Surf Scoter – The first-winter female was still in Pentle Bay, Tresco.
Glossy Ibis – 1 was still on Simpson’s Field by the Great Pool, Tresco.
Cattle Egret – 1 with cattle behind St. Nicholas’s Church, Old Grimsby and 1 on Simpson’s Field, Tresco.
Wryneck – 1 in the Parsonage Garden, Tresco.
Eider – 1 was sat on the west end of the Mare off Carn Near, Tresco.
Shoveler – A pair on the Great Pool, Tresco.
Pintail – A pair on the Great Pool, Tresco.
W0igeon – A female on the Great Pool, Tresco.
Tufted Duck – A female on the Great Pool, Tresco.
Great Northern Diver – 3 of the southeast side of Tresco.
Common Sandpiper – 1 was at the South end of Pentle Beach, Tresco.
Whimbrel – 5 Appletree Bay, Tresco.
Friday (22/04)
Glossy Ibis – 1 was still on Simpson’s Field by the Great Pool, Tresco.
Cattle Egret – 3 flew towards Old Grimsby. Tresco.
Little Egret – 2 on Tresco.
Garganey – The female was still on the Big Pool, St. Agnes.
Wigeon – 1 Bryher and a female on the Great Pool, Tresco.
Pintail – A pair on the Great Pool, Tresco.
Shoveler – A pair on the Great Pool, Tresco.
Tufted Duck – A female on the Great Pool, Tresco and a drake on the Big Pool, St. Agnes.
Eider – The immature male was still on the Mare off Carn Near, Tresco.
Golden Plover – 1 Bryher.
Manx Shearwater – 79 seen between Wolf Rock and St. Mary’s (i.e. in Scillonian waters) from the Scillonian III on the morning crossing from Penzance to St. Mary’s.
Common Sandpiper – 1 Porth Cressa and 1 at New Grimsby, Tresco.
Whimbrel – 19 flew north over Porth Cressa.
Cuckoo – 1 in St. Martin’s Vineyard.
Cetti’s Warbler – 2 at Porth Hellick, 1 singing by the road and 1 singing by the Stephen Sussex hide.
Whitethroat – 1 Buzza Hill and 1 on Watch Hill, Bryher.
Ring Ousel – A female near Steval Point on the Garrison, 4 on Shipman Head Down, 3 over the Campsite, Bryher and 1 in afield on Abbey Drive, Tresco.
Wheatear – An obvious arrival late afternoon/early evening with 45 on Peniinis and 25 + on Bryher.-
White Wagtail – 2 Bryher.
Saturday (23/04)
Purple Heron – An immature flew in off the sea and was seen several times around the Porth Hellick area. Later flew over the centre od the island and landed in the reeds behind the “Dump Clump” (photo).
Glossy Ibis – 1 was still on Simpson’s Field by the Great Pool, Tresco.
Eider – The immature male was still on the Mare off Carn Near, Tresco.
Golden Plover – 1 on the Golf Course.
Common Sandpiper – 2 on Porth Hellick Beach and 1 Porth Cressa.
Whimbrel – 1 on rocks below the Steval, on the Garrison.
Iceland Gull – 1 flew over the Great Pool, Tresco.
Merlin – 1 over the airfield.
Cuckoo – 1 singing on St. Agnes.
Tree Pipit – 1 Higher Moors and 2 Bryher.
Skylark – 1 Bryher.
Siberian Chiffchaff – 1 still at Little Porth.
Lesser Whitethroat – The first reports of the year were 1 at Rose Hill and 1 by Shooters’ Pool, Lower Moors.
Grasshopper Warbler – 1 on the coastal path by Porth Mellon and 1 along the coastal path between the 2nd & 3rd gates past Juliet’s Garden.
Fieldfare –4 at Pelistry Riding Stables, 3 over Carn Friars and 1 by Bryher Pool
Ring Ousel – 2 on the Golf Course (photo), 1 on Peninnis, 1 on Heathy Hill, Bryher and 1 at Bryher Campsite.
Whinchat – 1 Porth Hellick Beach.
Black Redstart – 1 at the airport.
Wheatear – Still plenty around, i.e. 150 on the Golf Course, , 30 between Old Town Bay and the Airfield turning circle, another 20 on the turning circle itself and 10+ at many other sites. Also 40+ Bryher.
Sunday (24/04)
Woodchat Shrike – 1 on the Golf Course.
Purple Heron – The immature bird dropped inti Lower Moors and then flew over Higher Moors/Porth Hellick towards the airfield.
Glossy Ibis – 1 was still on Simpson’s Field by the Great Pool, Tresco.
Tufted Duck – 1 Porth Hellick Pool.
Golden Plover – 1 on the Golf Course.
Common Sandpiper – 1 on Tresco and 1 St. Martin’s.
Whimbrel – 8 flew past Blue Carn, 1 flew over Hugh Town, 2 at Porthloo and 5 St. Martin’s.
Great Northern Diver – 1 off Watermill, 1 off St.Martin’s, 2 off St. Agnes and 3 off Tresco.
Merlin – 1 over Rose Hill and 1 St. Martin’s.
Cuckoo – 1 at Porth Hellick.
Cetti’s Warbler – 3 Lower Moors
Grasshopper Warbler – 1 reeling at Higher Moors and 1 at the junction of Porthloo Lane & Telegraph Road.
Whitethroat – 4 on St. Mary’s
Garden Warbler – 1 on Content Lane and 1 Newford Duck Pond,.
Yellow Wagtail – 2 at Pelistry Riding Stables, 1 on the Golf Course and 1 on Tresco.
Ring Ouzel – 1 on the Golf Course and 2 in fields east of the Golf Course.
Wheatear – Still lots on the islands e.g. 100+ on the airfield, 150+ on the Golf Course, 45 on St.Agnes and 30 on St. Martin’s
Black Redstart – 1 on Porth Hellick Beach.
Lesser Redpoll – 1 at Porth Hellick.