Scilly Autumn Part 1

30th September
The trip over on the Scillonian III was uneventful, with just 2 Bonxie and a few Meadow Pipit resting on the boat. Arrived to negative news on the Blue Rock Thrush, but a fresh-in Rustic Bunting got me jogging up to Longstone. Unpleasant weather and a long wait eventually gave flight views of the Bunting as it flew over calling. A tick, but not very satisfying. A jaunt up to Bants Carn gave views of the Short-toed Lark.

1st October
Up early the next morning got me up to the Garrison for a speculative look for the Blue Rock Thrush. Luckily just a 40 min search got the bird below the Steval. Initially distant brief views and then very close, ultra-brief views.

Blue Rock Thrush

Next was unfinished business with the Rustic Bunting. After a bit of a wait I picked the bird up on call as it dropped into the trees above its favoured feeding area. Fantastic close views in the trees and on the ground.

Rustic Bunting

Along to Carreg Dhu for a Firecrest, then down to Porthellick where a Jack Snipe was bobbing and a Scilly-tick Cetti's Warbler was singing.

On the air field some directions got us on the sleeping Dotterel. Also here were Lapland Bunting, Peregrine and 6 Golden Plover.

Dotterel

The Old Town area held Pied and Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat and a Common Sandpiper.

2nd October
A warm sunny day started badly with no sign of the Blue Rock Thrush, then frustration dipping Yellow-billed Cuckoo.

Improvement with a distant, but obliging Melodious Warbler in the 1st field south of the churchyard at Old Town, feeding in the sun. In the churchyard there was a close Firecrest. A couple of Clouded Yellow and a Holly Blue were out in the sun.

Firecrest

Another look on the air field yielded 2 Lapland Bunting among large numbers of Meadow Pipit. A last look at the churchyard in fading light gave close views of a Wryneck feeding on a wall.

Wryneck

3rd October
A wet and very windy day spent on St Martin's dipping Black and White Warbler, just a Spotted Flycatcher and a Redstart to show for our efforts.

Redstart

4th October
Old Town church held a Firecrest, Spotted Flycatcher, Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaff. The Blue Rock Thrush briefly shoed on top of Carn Leh.

On the way up the island there were Whinchat at the pumping station and a Firecrest at Holyvale.

At Newford duckpond the assumed female Green-winged Teal was on the pond, while a Yellow-browed Warbler, Reed Warbler and 3 Chiffchaff were in the sallows.

Back to Old Town where two Little Egret were in the bay, a Spotted Flycatcher in the churchyard and a Red-backed Shrike in the field just to the south.

Red-backed Shrike

5th October
A dawn start with news of a possible Nighthawk on the Garrison. No joy, but there were Spotted Flycatcher, Whinchat, Blackcap and a Painted Lady.

Over to Tresco, passing 6 Spoonbill on the way. The Short-toed Lark was seen pretty quickly on the heliport, but the Ortolan required a bit of a wait. A woodpecker heard drumming was hopefully just Great Spotted.

Short-toed Lark

Back at Lower Moors I managed brief views of a Spotted Crake as it disappeared into cover.

6th October
The Spotted Crake gave a tremendous performance, feeding just a couple of feet from the path through Lower Moors.

Spotted Crake

All hell broke out with news of the Yellow-billed Cuckoo's reappearance. The next 6 hrs was spent running around Lower Moors in panic, before I eventually picked up the bird high in the canopy. No chance of a photo, but relief! A fly-over Merlin and a Yellow-browed Warbler were seen during the vigil.

To top the day off a Honey-buzzard did two laps of the island.

Honey-buzzard