Lower Moors, St Mary's - Yellow-billed Cuckoo!!

Another mega!! A probable Yellow-billed Cuckoo was seen flying inland off Portmellon beach on the 2nd and apart from another tantalising report on the 3rd, it hadn't been pinned down. That all changed yesterday when it was found in sallows at Lower Moors and gave glimpses and reasonable views for many! I managed to get a couple of great 'views' amongst the scrum on the narrow path by the 'Tin Hut' and then from the roadside through a scope but desperately needed some kind of record shot!!

Knowing it had been seen at least twice from the viewing screen at Shooters Pool, I gave this a stake out. I Must have stood there fort a couple of hours when unbelievably, it flew in from the left and briefly landed in the trees directly opposite. Great but distant views were followed by flight and the camera was ready so a few record shots (most were out of focus) were possible. The 100-400mm lens was in use so a bit too distant for anything decent but... this will do!!

Clearly carrying food, I'm still not sure whether this is a stick insect (my first thoughts) or Hawkmoth caterpillar?  Whatever, the yellow bill and plumage features are distantly there to remember the moment!!

Yessssss, second lifer of the trip! Scope views of a Red-throated Pipit still in summer plumage, completed another classic Scilly day!

Lower Moors, St Mary's - Spotted Crake

I'd seen the Spotted Crake at Lower Moors in rain and near darkness the previous evening not a chance of recording the event! Today however, talk about giving itself up, you were more likely to tread on it than photograph it as it was soooooo close!

Eventually by backing along the boardwalk, a few pics became possible! Perched up after a wash...

Then back under everyone's feet again!

Wandering about the shallow ditch without a care in the world!

Always nice to have the bird walking towards you!

Almost monotonous after a while!

My first tickable views of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo were achieved too, to be written up in the next post... A flyover Honey Buzzard late afternoon completed a brilliant day!

St. Mary's - Lower Moors - Jack Snipe

One thing you can say about Jack Snipe is that they are small, cryptically marked and 'disappear' within their normal habitat. So, it's fair to say these are 'showing well' eh? Try as I might, there was always some vegetation in front of the little blighter!

Even when feeding seemingly in the open!!

The biggest surprise of the evening was when it disappeared and then scuttled across the grass (briefly stopping) below the hide!

It was sooo close but still managed to get grass in the way!

It was even close enough to record it with my phone, whilst merrily bob.. bob.. bobbing along....

Lower Moors - Citrine Wagtail take 2

A quick return call at Lower Moors turned up trumps the Citrine Wagtail putting in an appearance in front of the ISBG hide...

I was hoping for the hitting the bottle shot? It didn't happen sadly!

But ever so brief pauses...

Whilst in search of food!

And there's plenty of Bloodworm in the thick gloopy mud!

Shooters Pool - Water Rail

Not a lot happening on St. Mary's at the moment and with Lowers Moors pool quiet, I checked the nearby Shooters pool - a quite confiding juv Water Rail made it worthwhile...

 As it criss-crossed the small patch of mud...

Lower Moors - Spotted Crake

I mus have rattled off 30 odd shots in the 15 secs this little blighter was visible... And on show for about 1/50 of a second?

And despite a couple more vigils, the best I was destined to come away withg!