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 |
No comments:
Post a Comment