Sora Today, Sore Tomorrow

My legs will be in bits tomorrow. A long, mad dash to the quay followed by a long, mad dash on Tresco. Got initial distant scope views of the Sora and then super close views as it fed just 15 feet in front of the hide.

Sora

 

The day started with a successful before breakfast trip for the Spotted Crake at Shooter's Pool. A Grey Wagtail dropped in here, followed by 3 more at Old Town Bay. A look for the Bluethroat at the Project Pool gave nothing but wet feet again.

 

After breakfast a yomp around the Garrison gave a 1st winter Med Gull and a Peregrine. Also here were a Hummingbird Hawkmoth, Comma and 3 Black Rabbits.

 

Med Gull

 

Comma

 

Rabbit (with friends)

 

Other birds on Tresco were Garganey, Shoveler and Red-legged Partridge.



A Hard Slog

Walked around Lower Moors and Old Town Church Yard before breakfast. Sedge Warbler, Reed Warbler and 3 Water Rail was all that I had.

Jumped on the boat to Bryher and had several Sandwich Tern and 17 Little Egret on the way across. 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Little Stint and 2 Common Sandpiper were on the shore.

Curlew Sandpiper

 

Little Stint

 

Other birds were Hooded Crow, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Spotted Flycatcher. Stonechat and Wheatear were dotted around the island.

 

Red-breasted Flycatcher

 

Stonechat

 

The boat back gave 3 Common Scoter.

 

Hoping for better tomorrow.

 





Scilly

After yesterday's marathon train journey I got the Scillonian across this morning. Kingfisher at Penzance harbour was a nice starter. Not many birds on the crossing, but had single Balearic and Manx Shearwater, plus Kittiwake with plenty of Gannets. The stars were 100-150 Common Dolphin breaching close to the boat. A couple of Porpoise were seen shortly out of the harbour.

Common Dolphin

 

Gannet

 

Dumped the bags and headed for Newford Duck Pond. After a 20 min wait the Arctic Warbler showed pretty well flitting around the willows. No chance of a photo, but pleased with the first tick of the holiday.

 

Dropped down through Holy Vale and Higher Moors, but had nothing other than a couple of calling Chiffchaff and 3 Greenshank on Porthellick Pool.

 

The airfield had 20+ Wheatear, 2 Lapland Bunting and 1 Skylark feeding at fairly short range.

 

Lapland Bunting

 

Wandered through Lower Moors seeing Water Rail and Sedge Warbler, but a 45 min wait at Shooter's Pool for the Spotted Crake was fruitless.

 

Knackered and with a bit of sun burn, I retired for a pint.





Subalpine

A dawn start at Druridge gave Sparrowhawk and Marsh Harrier in the half-light as several thousand Pink-footed Geese passed over south. The target was Subalpine Warbler and after a ten minute wait the bird started calling and gave good views in the blackthorn bushes. As it was still pretty dark I had to wait to get the camera out. The bird reappeared after an hour and I was able to get some record shots.

Subalpine Warbler

 

Skulking

 

Budle Bay was the next stop, but despite having a good wander there was no sign of the Hoopoe. I did have a flyover Tree Pipit, 3 Common Tern and some close Bar-tailed Godwit.

 

Bar-tailed Godwit

 

Tried a few more spots on the way south, but had little of note.

 

 

Marsden Lime Kilns in the afternoon gave a Firecrest feeding with 2 Goldcrest. The light was awful, but I was pleased with this shot.

 



Firecrest





Godwits

Another quick look at Shibdon after work. The flock of 11 Black-tailed Godwits is the most I've ever seen in Gateshead and continues a cracking year for this species. Also on show were 1 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 4 Dunlin and over 50 Snipe. The pond is looking great and we must be due a rare wader.

Water Rail

A quick trip to Shibdon after work. 1 Greenshank, 2 Black-tailed Godwit and 2 Dunlin were the waders of note. Gull numbers building up with 200+  Black-headed, 1 Common, 20+ Great Black-backed and only 2 Lesser Black-backed.

The best bird was a Water Rail sitting preening just in front of the hide. Sadly camera bag left at home.

Garden Tick

The afternoon started well as an adult Mediterranean Gull drifted low over the house. I presume that this is the bird that has been showing off and on at Shibdon. A welcome garden tick.

The day went downhill as there was no sign of the Richard's Pipit at Whitburn. A couple of flyover Redwing were pretty much all I saw.

A good thrash around Marsden Quarry was better and gave a Jack Snipe flushed from the gorse, a single Brambling, Wheatear and frequent passes from a Sparrowhawk.

It will get better!