Homeward Bound

Manx Shearwater - Draycote water

Manx Shearwater

Manx Shearwater

Black tern - Shustoke Res.

Black tern

Spotted Flycatcher - Sutton Park

Spotted Flycatcher

Redstart - Sutton Park

Monday 31st August 2009

We had decided that rather than spend our money on a B and B in Penzance we would come back on Sky bus and save ourselves several hours so that the drive back would not be so tiring. We also took up the option of breaking the journey in Somerset and staying over night with friends Gail and Ciaran. It would mean of course that the American Black tern would have to hang on for a further day but it would be great to take the opportunity of seeing our friends.

On our last full day on the Scillies the transfer to Sky bus was in doubt as the whole of St Marys was shrouded in sea fog, but thankfully we awoke to clear skies on the Monday and the showers held off while we helped Gill and Nick pack up the camping gear. They were old hands at the camping lark and their organisation was impressive. It would have been nice to see the Citrine wagtail and Spotted Crake at Marazion but we were eager to press on. At Exeter I fell out with my Sat Nav. Ciaran had given me some directions, I thought Honiton was west and not east, the Sat Nav was telling me something else and my pre motorway Road Atlas had the first few pages missing. So after familiarising ourselves with most of Exeter we continued on of journey. After a very pleasant evening we were on our way again next morning. With no wind and clear blue skies I was convinced the Black Tern would have left Farmoor but as we passed Stonehenge a pager message reassured me it was still there.

There were 10 birders at Farmoor when we got there. The 3 terns had just flown on to the Southern part of the Res. so were distant and difficult to watch into the sun from the causeway. I was scopeless so it was very difficult to make out the differences in the 3 small terns. Fortunately they returned to rest on the more sheltered northern portion of the reservoir. They stood close together on small sacks giving excellent views making comparison easy between all 3 'species' - American Black Tern, Black Tern and White winged Black tern.

With birds clearly starting to move it was good to get back and get ready for the Autumn. Plenty of domestic chores to sort out but managed a few hours in Sutton Park (Redstart and Spotted Flycatcher), a dash to Draycote Water (Manx Shearwater and Swift) and a visit to Shustoke (Black Tern) over the following days.

The Pelagic

Storm Petrel - 5 miles SE of St Mary's

Grey Phalarope

Wilson's Petrel

Wilson's Petrel

Wilson's Petrel

Wilson's Petrel

Wilson's Petrel

Saturday 29th August 2009

Although I hadn't expected to see many birds in August I was aware that there might be a possibility of some good seabirds, even a Wilson's Petrel, on one of the short evening 'pelagics' out of St Marys. I hate feeling seasick and was resigned to the fact that I would never have Wilsons on my list. Even the thought of wallowing about in a relatively small swell was enough to make me feel quite nauseus. So as the week went by and the strong South westerlies continued to batter the islands the prospect became more remote. However, a message on the pager saying there would be a pelagic on the Sapphire that evening and a distinct improvement in sea conditions raised the shall I shan't I issue again. If Iwas ever going to see Wilsons this was the chance. I took my pills at 3.30 and the die was cast.

The Sapphire left the quay at St Marys at 5.00 pm with Joe Pender at the helm. There were 7 other birders, one lad Shark fishing and a couple of crew. It was a pleasant evening, the wind had thankfully dropped off and a hazey sun was starting to sink. I was starting to feel confident as we passed the Spanish shelf. Apart from a couple of Fulmars the first bird of interest was a Grey Phalarope which flew past us and promptly sat on the sea. After about an hour the crew started to fish for Mackerel and the three rods were soon reeling them in 3 or 4 at a time. After another 30 minutes or so we started to chum, a foul smelling concoction of rotten fish, bread and oil was tipped over the side or hung in sacks from the boat to form a slick. The engines were cut and we drifted leaving the slick trailing behind us. A few large gulls were first to appear and then one or two Storm petrels appeared from nowhere. The boat was now wallowing in the swell and the sea sick pills were being tested but with things starting to happen I felt OK, just. More Stormies appeared a few Manx Shearwater and an occassional Bonxie but no big Shearwaters and no sign of the bird I really wanted to see. Perhaps conditions were too good. 'Wilson's' - the shout went up. I needed have worried. I soon had the Wilson's petrel in my bins as it flew round the boat, heading for the slick. Fantastic, well worth all the anxiety etc. The bird stayed with us for some time with at least one other Wilsons joining it at one stage. The difference in size with the Storm petrels was obvious but the other features were also clear as the Wilson's danced on the water 30 metres away. About 3 of us were clicking away with our cameras but with so much moment of the small boat and the light fading fast I wasn't very hopeful. Maybe a record shot as they say.

We were distracted from the Petrels when Joe suddenly grabbed one of the rods and struck hard, there was clearly something quite big on the other end of line. Joe handed the rod to the single fisherman on board who spent over 25 minutes pumping the rod to get whatever it was to the surface. Finally the Blue Shark appeared at the surface and was lasooed with a wire and dragged on board. It was photographed, measured (about 7 foot) and tagged before being returned to the depths. So a successful trip for everyone and an interesting experience on my first and last Pelagic.

A good find

Whimbrel - Porthloo

Spotted Flycatcher - the Garrison

Spotted Flycatcher

View from Longstones

Mediterranean Gull - Porthmellon

Northern Wheatear - Morning Point

Sandwich Tern with Sand eel

Convolvulus Hawk Moth

Greenshank - Porth Hellick

Greenshank

Morning in the evening

Over the next few days we all did our own thing. Gill showed Jan the island while I continued my quest to find a good bird or two. I usually started with a walk around the Garrison which paid off on Wednesday when I found a Wood warbler at Lower Broom. I stayed on St Marys the whole week but found a different route to explore every day. The trip list increased very slowly adding Turtle dove, Greenshank (seen in virtually every bay), Ruff, Whimbrel, Curlew, Bar tailed Godwit (thanks to the sharp eyes of Will Wagstaff) Blackcap, Peregrine and Mediterranean Gull. I also visited Mick Scott at Longstones cafe( or Tea rooms as they are called on the Scillies). Unfortunately Mick was suffering with the Flu most of the week but he did ring me up when he'd got something interesting. I tried to photogragh a beautiful little Gem on one occasion and helped him with his traps on the last Sunday. The star moth being a Convolvulus Hawk moth but I also saw several other species new to me. Although everyone did their own thing we frequently met up for a coffee or lunch. We found all the cafes good for coffee and home made cakes but were disappointed with our evening meals at a couple of venues namely The Mermaid, in Hugh town and Tolman's in Old town. The Doom-bar ale in the Mermaid was poor whereas the Proper Job ale in the Atlantic was excellent. The unassuming little pub in Old Town also sold a decent pint of local brew.
It was on Friday I saw my first star bird. I was in the seaward hide at Porth Hellick when a small bird shot out of the small clump of reeds in front of the hide into the Sallows to the left. It was a pale almost yellow streaked warbler. I immediately thought of Aquatic but the view was too short to be sure. I moved to the other hide and was lucky to see presumably the same bird again fly from right to left in front of and below me. This time the 'braces' on the back and the ragged ends to the tail were clearly visible. I was 99% certain but couldnt be sure how much streaking there was on the back of a juvenile Sedge warbler and needed to check the books before putting out the news. I did tell several 'locals' what I'd seen but unfortunately I was on my own when I saw the bird. Having looked at the books I now know it was an Aquatic warbler.

Not so Scilly

Manx Shearwaters from the Scillonian

Common Sandpiper - Porth Hellick

Nightingale - the Garrison

Nightingale

Nightingale

Lesser Yellowlegs - Porth Hellick

Lesser Yellowlegs

23rd August-1st Sept.2009

An opportunity to visit the Scilly Isles is not to be missed but I was a little apprehensive when Jan's sister invited us to join them for part of their holiday. Mainly because of the fact we would be camping but also because of the drive and the Scillonian crossing. Getting soft in my old age I think, but I was keen for Jan to visit the islands. In the event I needn't have worried on any account, even though the weather contrived to make life as difficult as possible. The only downside was the B and B we stayed at in Penzance, which was basic to say the least. I wouldn't say the place smelt but the fact that each bed had a towel and a handy sized Gas mask told its own story and the fact that when we checked in we were given a key and a can of air freshner should have alerted us not to expect 4 star facilities.
We stayed on deck the entire crossing and I kept an eye open for the odd Fea's Petrel gliding past the boat. I did see a Cory's Shearwater though, a couple of Balearics and a handful of Manx Shearwaters. The biggest surprise though was a Whimbrel which flew along with us for a while.

Gill and Nick met us off the boat and we walked up to the Garrison camp site to find everything set up. After a bit of lunch I felt Jan and Gill would have loads to talk about so I thought it best to go on a little orientation programme to Porth Hellick. Would you believe it there were some birds there. As my good friend Ciaran would say it would have been rude not to - have a look that is. The hides at Porth Hellick proved to be where most of the bird watching action was during the week with a number of wader species dropping in. Star of the show on the first day though was an adult Lesser Yellowlegs.

The afternoon weather was very pleasant and we all enjoyed a Bar-b que before battening down the hatches at bed time in preparation for the predicted overnight storm. The heavy rain and almost gale force winds persisted into the morning but my birding instinct was to get out and see if any new birds had been brought in. A walk round the Garrison produced some good migrants ; a Nightingale by the Tennis courts, Spotted and Pied Flycatchers in the pines but they had been there awhile. There were a few other birders around but not many and the general concensus was that nothing had been brought in by the storm. There were 20 or so Wheatear at the seaward end of the airfield as my search widened but apart from the odd Whitethroat and Willow warbler not much else was found.

Bird Fair

Greenshank at Brandon Marsh

Friday 21st August 2009
Visited the Great British Birdfair extravaganza at Rutland Water on Friday. Quite an enjoyable and relaxed day despite the crowds. Didn't have to queue for anything, although it was a bit disconcerting going to the toilet with loads of telescopes pointing at you from a big tent. Luckily they were at least 50 metres away.
You can always guarantee to meet meeting of few old friends and a couple of younger ones and then of course theres always Bernard. Bernard was inquiring about far away places with strange sounding names. Me? I was more interested in trips closer to home. I was quite impressed with the new lagoons complete with a pair of Ospreys. There's no half measures at Rutland water if they do a job they do it properly. Or so it seems to me, the hides and screening are excellent. -
and a brief mention to the lady who wound her car window down to say thankyou when I pulled over to let her through on the way out. Class!

Saturday 22nd August
Brandon Marsh - had a stroll around Brandon Marsh. The recent strong winds had eased so it felt quite warm in the sun. Teal pool had a Greenshank, East Marsh had a Dunlin although I didnt see it and from Carlton hide there were 2 Green Sanpipers, 1 Heron, 7 Photographers, 1 Hobby briefly, and 1 Common Snipe.

The Phantom Moth Knicker strikes again

Ruff

Red Underwing

Oak Bush Cricket

Brown Argus

Turnstone

Ruff

Ruff

Tuesday 18th August 2009

A visit to Draycote was long overdue, so with camera loaded and bins at the ready I travelled over with John Smart a long time birder and short time moth-er. Our first scan of the cafe produced a Lime speck Pug but as John got his eye in he quickly found a cluster of Flounced Rustics and a Red Underwing plus an as yet unidentified Pug. There were also a couple of Oak Bush Crickets which were new to me. They were having a bit of a Wasp fest at the caterers so we set off to trek to the valve tower to check out the bird life. About 30+ House and Sand Martins were feeding in Rainbow corner and the single Goosander was having a kip near the inlet. There was no sign of a Shag at the Valve tower so we moved on. The meadow next to the treatment works was full of Butterflies including Brown Argus. We refused to use the new boardwalk as a dignified protest against Severn Trent's lack of vision and total disregard for real conservation.

It wasnt until we had almost completed the circuit that we spotted a Turnstone and then a juvenile Ruff but there was no sign of anything else, even Common Sandpipers. John and I enjoyed a coffee back at the ex-cafe and picked up a bit of goss about a mystery moth potter,

actually there was no mystery about it. You see I know ! Could I ask people not to remove moths from the cafe walls. Leave them for everyone to enjoy.Thanks.

Local walk 2

Sunday 16th August 2009
What do Yellow wagtails, Little Owls and Cattle Egret have in common? Answer: they all follow cows. Yes, the most, ney only point of interest on a walk from Burton Hastings to the Lime Kilns on the A5 near Hinckley on Friday was the sight of a Little Owl apparently tracking a herd of cows along a row of fence posts. I have to admit I didnt see the Owl drop down on a worm kicked up by the cattle but then again most of the cows were lying down or standing still but I can think of no other reason the Little Owl would be in such close proximity to the cows. A couple of Linnets and Bullfinch a few Common Buzzard and a thousand Woodpigeon were the only other birds seen although a friend of mine had reported hearing a Turtle Dove along the route a few days earlier.