Wednesday 28 December 2022

St Martin's, Scilly Oct 2022

Well, finally I have managed to find some time to do a blog post on my annual trip to St Martin's, Isles of Scilly. This year I stayed from 1st - 21st October and Helen joined me for the last week. It was pretty quiet in terms of finding my own rarities, just a few expected Yellow-browed Warblers, a couple of Wrynecks and a very brief Bluethroat flushed from a path was the best I could muster. However, I cannot really complain with my good fortune of the previous years. Nonetheless, as always, I still loved the possibility of what could be.....! 

There were still many great moments involving commoner species, like the Pink-footed Goose flock, a very late Osprey and the arrival of hundreds of thrushes on our last full day was very memorable.

Of course, the big excitement for Scilly this autumn was the fabulous find of a Blackburnian Warbler by John Judge on Bryher. It actually forced me off St Martin's as I felt it would be churlish not to go and see it!🤣

One thing is for sure, I will be back for more..........

Below are a few of the highlights that I hope gives a feel for the islands. Enjoy!

I never tire of the views on Scilly. This is looking towards Tresco from Higher Town

Common Redstart above Bread and Cheese Cove

Pied Flycatcher above Bread and Cheese Cove

Whinchat - One of three birds at Perpitch

Whinchat - One of three birds at Perpitch

Common Reed Warbler, Middle Town Pines

Common Reed Warbler, Middle Town Pines

Lesser Redpoll, Pound Lane

Blackcaps, Seven Stones

Lesser Whitethroat above Middle Town

Sanderlings, Middle Town Beach

Golden Plover, Chapel Down

Grey Plover, Perseil

Higher Town Beach

Great Bay looking to White Island

Common Sandpiper, Perseil

Male Long-tailed Duck, Higher Town Beach

Joe Pender "papping" the LTD

Pink-footed Geese - 4 birds arrived on 8th Oct and then increased to 10 birds on the 15th Oct

Pink-footed Geese above Bread and Cheese Cove

Rainbow from Middle Town Pines looking north

Sunset over Middle Town Beach

Merlin, Chapel Down

Female Sparrowhawk. 1 of 3 birds on the island.

Siskin, Tinklers Hill

European Turtle Dove, Lower Town

European Turtle Dove, Lower Town

Wryneck - One of two birds on the island

Tree Pipit, Perpitch

Willow Warbler, Perpitch

Willow Warbler, Seven Stones

The Mrs and Hannah from the Bakery twitching the Blackburnian Warbler

Blackburnian mini twitch

Immature male Blackburnian Warbler - The star of the trip








Me and my good friend Viv after having seen the Blackburnian Warbler

Hundreds of Fieldfares arrived on our last full day, the 20th October

The Cricket Pitch at Higher Town was covered in Fieldfares



Fieldfares, Middle Town

Fieldfare, Middle Town

Ring Ouzel - One of 5 birds that arrived on the 20th October

Ring Ouzels, Great Bay

A good candidate for Icelandic Redwing in Adam's Fish & Chip Paddocks

The two H's having coffee and Murphy at the Karma Hotel

Lawrance's Bay

Me and the Mrs above Great Bay

Sunset over Middle Town Beach

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