43 Great Northern Divers!

      

        

 A call from Higgo this morning asking me if I wanted to scan The Roads? A quick look at the quay wall found the WATER PIPIT on the beach. At 10.30 we were both scanning from Star Castle. The conditions were perfect with not a ripple on the water. You could identify Great Northern Divers from miles out and as result we got 20 between Annet and Samson. Also between these two islands were lots of cetaceans feeding. We couldn't be sure what they were, because they were too far out, except for yesterdays 6 Harbour Porpoises still off Samson. The 7 fem Common Scoter were just off Carn Near, Tresco and the BLACK-NECKED GREBE was swimming from Nut Rock towards Annet. Over 30 Shelducks were in Samson Bay and a single Siskin and Linnet flew overhead. We made our way to Bar Point, picking up Big Al on the way and he offered us ham and lettuce sandwich with hot English mustard, made by his good lady. I got stuck in straight away and all the time Higgo was making sure I didn't take his sandwiches! As if I would? We scanned towards St Martins and Tresco. A Black Throated Diver was spotted and up to 3 Slavonian Grebes were between St Martins and the Eastern Isles. At Innisidgen, Paul joined us and again there were lots of cetaceans including, 15+Harbour Porpoises and further out, 20+Common Dolphins. All together we had a total of 43 Great Northern Divers! Three short of the Scilly record.

 Except for Higgo, we all went and had a look at Lower Moors. No sign of the Yellow-browed Warbler, but the 3 SIBERIAN CHIFFS were still present along with 15+ each of Goldcrests and Chiffchaffs. Also in the area there was the Great Spotted Woodpecker, a Stock Dove, fem Blackcap and a Redpoll flew over.


  The Higgo Monster feeding the ducks and something else at Newford Duck Pond