Cream Tea Birding: St Martin's, Isles of Scilly Take 1

Well after a busy Summer of work, I thought it was about time to re-instate the blog!
Below are some of the highlights of another wonderful stay on our favourite island of St Martin's, Isles of Scilly. We clocked up the miles on foot, absorbed the fabulous scenery, consumed some great food and enjoyed a good run of rarity finding too!
Dates: 25 September - 14 October 2021

Miles Walked: 195 miles

Rarities/Scarcities:

Red-backed Shrike: An adult female frequented the camp site from 25 Sep - 5 Oct. Initially seen by Viv Jackson (without bins) as a Shrike sp on 24th.

Western Bonelli's Warbler: First heard calling on the morning of 26 Sep and then seen well.

Bird stayed for at least 3-4 days.

Glossy Ibis: Picked up in flight over Middle Town on the morning of 27 Sep and seen by St Mary's birders later in the day.

Common Rosefinch: Found in finch flock near Cricket Pitch late pm on 27 Sep.

Red-breasted Flycatcher: Found in the Middle Town Pines on the morning of 3 October.

Woodchat Shrike: Found late afternoon on 4 October at Little Arthur Farm. Bird was very mobile & elusive and considered to be a new arrival and was not seen subsequently.

Radde's Warbler: First heard calling late afternoon on 9 October, otherwise I would have walked past it! A visiting birder managed to "hear" it with me just after I found it but he had to make a dash for the boat so didn't see it! The bird finally showed well for me and Viv during the early evening but it was sadly not seen the next day. The bird I found in 2020 on 14 Oct at Little Arthur Farm was similar in that I found it late afternoon and it disappeared overnight. However, there is so much suitable habitat on St Martin's for a Radde's Warbler that a bird only has to move a short distance and it is likely to never be seen again!

Little Bunting: Seen 11 Oct after being found by visiting birders on 10 Oct.

Western Bonelli's Warbler, Middle Town Pines St Martin's - Picked up on call on the morning of Sep 26th

Western Bonelli's Warbler, Middle Town Pines St Martin's

Western Bonelli's Warbler, luminous retrices! Middle Town Pines St Martin's

No debate as to whether the bird was an Eastern or Western Bonelli's Warbler

as it was calling frequently the morning we found it

Glossy Ibis, Middle Town St Martin's with St Mary's Mast in the background - Found flying west on the morning of the 27th Sep
and later seen by birders on St Mary's