From 27th October, the Mrs and I spent 5 nights on one of my favourite islands, Bryher on the Isles of Scilly. I first visited Scilly in 1989 and have visited almost annually since. Regardless of birds, the islands are simply stunning and I really love visiting them and from a birding perspective, Bryher is a really workable island.
Nothing outrageous from our visit but finding a Vagrant Emperor was exciting, though sadly I found it dead the following day. A Richard's Pipit over Popplestones on the 28th was nice, daily Merlins, a Woodcock on the 31st, Yellow-browed Warblers (more on a future post) and the regular movement of thrushes and Brambling. I have no doubt we will return again next year! If you have never been, hopefully the following pics give you a feel for the place. It is certainly a place that is close to my birding heart.
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| The view from our place on Bryher looking across to Tresco |
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| This Juvenile Surf Scoter was the first bird we saw when arriving on Bryher - We even saw it from the flat! |
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| Surf Scoter |
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| Vagrant Emperor - A surprise find in the garden of where we were staying on Bryher. It is an erratic migrant species to the UK from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. I often seen them in Morocco. |
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| Fieldfare movements were obvious most mornings |
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| Redwings were less in number than Fieldfare |
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| Brambling - During the last couple of days Brambling were regularly flying over and calling |
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| Common Chiffchaff |
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| Presumed Siberian Chiffchaff though not heard to call |
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| The view across Popplestones looking towards the Great Pool and Gweal Hill. Gweal Hill is the only place I have seen Yellow-breasted Bunting, in Sep 2003 |
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| It would have been rude not to have met up with good friend John Higginson. Higgo has found many great birds on Scilly and Bryher is his regular patch |
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| Adult Mediterranean Gull seen from the flat |
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| Female/Juv Merlin - A few birds were seen on most days |
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| Shaggy Parasol ? |
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| Three of the four Whooper Swans that were seen daily on the Great Pool, Bryher |
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| The view looking towards the Fraggle Rock Pub and Cromwell's Castle on Tresco |
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| The Mrs as we travelled to Tresco for the day |
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| Castle Down, Tresco |
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| A novel use of the old style phonebox on Bryher |
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| Yellow-browed Warbler, Bryher |
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| Firecrest in the Maize |
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| Green Bay, Bryher |
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| Jerry - One of the local pigs |
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| Golden Plover, Green Bay |
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| Bishop Rock Lighthouse at dusk |
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| View from Samson Hill, Bryher |
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| Song Thrush - I always think Scilly is synonymous with this sadly declining species. Great to see so many and often so tame! |
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| The view looking towards our accommodation |
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