Scilly day 6 - Black Redstart

With nothing of note on St Mary's to dash for, I settled for a short session with the Black Redstart at Little Porth. Whilst it was apt to disappear at times it does seem faithful to the rocks at the East end. Where there just happens to be a comfy bench to sit and wait!

Catching insects and constantly on the move!

With patience a few images of the rear view were forthcoming, including the colourful tail....

I couldn't decide which to delete so here's a few of them!

Saving my favourites until last

Nice end to a very productive day!

Scilly day 5 - Pec Sand under my feet

Having ticked the Porthellick juv Pectoral Sandpiper the previous day (some 60m away on the far bank!) I figured a little bit of lady luck was due? So first stop today was the same venue and (wearing my lucky hat) surprise surprise, the little blighter was virtually underneath the hide!

I usually hate 'aerial' views but this angle shows the pale edge to the scapulars nicely

More of this and I'd be suffering from a stiff neck! Thankfully, it took to the water, feeding phalarope style :-)

Showing off that distinctive breast pattern.....

Another insect about to bite the dust!

Most of the time spent wandering around the mud, never far from the hide....

There must be something tasty in here?

And after the hour long deluge - the sun came out! Only for the Pec to wander off out of range after taking this pic!

Never mind, great whilst it lasted and the hour had included some useful trip ticks: Kingfisher, Grey Wagtail, Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and Water Rail....

Scilly day 5 - Lower Moors

Lower Moors is always worth a look and whilst nothing seems to change much (the Greenshank) was ever present.....

A Little Egret had dropped in.....

And (never guaranteed) a Jack Snipe was out in the open!

If this is never guaranteed, then showing in the open in front of the hide is most certainly not the norm!

The rain was falling and light falling

Why do these moments happen in rain and twilight!?

Scilly day 4 - St Mary's YBWs and not much else!

A bit of a slog with the Shrops/Staffs lads today which didn't throw up much of note! The dump clump, Old Town bay and churchyard were followed by Penninis with low mist raising hope of 'something' falling in? It didn't! But a couple of Northern Wheatear were trip ticks

With hopes of Jack Snipe, Lower Moors at least produced a snipe - not a Jack sadly but this Common Snipe stopped me from snoozing!

We hadn't travelled all this way for either of the above and  2 Yellow-browed Warbler ended up as birds of the day - both a lower moors....

Three raptors in the area too - Sparrowhawk at Old Town, Merlin over lower moors and a Peregrine preening on the rocks at Porthloo, BUT....

We need better than this!!

Scilly day 3 - windsock and rocks

At last! A bit of birding to report although with my back playing up, I was travelling light with the 100-400mm lens.... Don't expect any feather detail here but record shots are always worth keeping :-)

After the day and a half Vireo vigil on Aggie, there were trip ticks galore on the walk via Lower Moors to Porthellick, which I wont bore you with! No doubt about the star birds however at the airfield windsock - including 3 Lapland Bunting - here's a couple of dire records....

Just before midday, interest levels stepped up a gear with the call of a Red-throated Pipit! It took a while to locate but eventually it skulked into a vague full view in the longish grass - and too far away for my little lens! I managed to cover rear and side on angles....

Streaky contrasting plumage, and despite the distance - a little beauty!

Two Golden Plover briefly dropped in - OY, get off the runway and they did! A Merlin bombed through, it was a pretty productive 40 minutes!

More was to come although the Pec Sand had moved to the far bank of Porthellick pool on arrival plus a Jack Snipe from the Seaward hide. The Red-throated Diver was seeking shelter in the bay!

The final act was a devilishly scarce gull in these parts - adult Yellow-legged Gull on the rocks from Porthcressa

And despite attempts to lure it off with bread - 'twas having none of that

Heavy rain from late afternoon and strong easterly winds veering south overnight - could this bring something in??

Scilly day 2 - St Agnes Butterflies!

I'm meant to be here for the birds but with a 'no show' Red-eyed Vireo looming on St Agnes, it was a bit of a drag. In fact the highlights were at each end of the day in the form of Butterflies!

First up was a Small Copper,but not just any small copper - the very striking aberrant form 'schmidtii'. The ground color is silver white, probably the most extreme form of this quite variable butterfly.

Super form with quite striking iridescence at the base of the wings....

First Clouded Yellow of the trip as the last boat beckoned......

The only bird image of the day! The Vireo was meant to pop out (as it had done the previous day) after this Wren strutted it's stuff!

Oh well, tomorrow is another day and with heavy rain looming, St Mary's the likely island.

Scilly day 1 - St Agnes

A fairly uneventful crossing on the Scillonian with Dave Blakeman was followed by a bag drop and 2.00 boat to St Agnes. There was only one potential lifer waiting for us on the islands and the Aggie Red-throated Vireo had to be our target......

Problem was, it had evolved from hedgetop  poser to wide ranging skulker and whilst we worked the area from Parsonage to the church ad nauseum, to cut a long stake out short, it was no show!

In fact the only birds of note were a couple of Firecrests in the Fruitcage. Some record shots.....

With the late boat an option, a meal in the Turks head was the only other highlight after the light began to fall. We will need to go back.....