32 Black Redstart!!

  The strong ESE winds played there part and it was estimated that over 40 Black Redstart arrived on St Mary's! They were all over the shop and I observed a total of 32 Black Redstart! The largest count was 13 on the Garrison with 5 of each at Porthcressa, Carn Moval and Deep Point, and ones and twos dotted elsewhere. Higgo also had 21 birds on Bryher! What we both noted was that there were a lot of stunning males. Other birds caught up in this influx that I managed to see were, continental Song Thrushes, winter thrushes, Robins, Chiffchaffs and Wheatears.
  Mid-afternoon and I was up Mcfarland's Down, watching a male Black Redstart at close range in one of the gardens, when Robin called. He told me that a visiting birder had just told him about a male Red-backed Shrike at Watermill!! I'm sure this would be the first UK March record of a R B Shrike! We were both soon at the orchard, where the shrike had been seen, but after a good hour of looking in the area, there was no sign of it. Instead we saw a single Redwing, a large flock of 19 Fieldfare and a female Merlin at Green Farm.   Earlier this morning the male Merlin zoomed past the airport, 6 Stock Dove were at Carn Vean, a single Lapwing was at Telegraph and an adult Common Gull was at Little Porth.
  After work, I had a walk around the Garrison and on the football field, 4 continental Song Thrush flew off high NE. I had already had 4 with 5 Redwing at Porthloo. There was also single Wheatear, Black Redstart, White and Pied Wagtail on the football field. Visiting various sights on the island, I noticed the slight increase of Robins, but here on the Garrison they were everywhere! From the campsite along the coastal path to the pottery, I saw over 45 birds. Up to 13 Black Redstart, 5 Wheatear were also seen on the same walk with a single Fieldfare.
 
   Lots of Butterflies were on the wing enjoying the sun and included my first Large White of the year at Telegraph and at Star Castle, moths included, 2 Double-lined Pug and 1 Early Thorn.
  Also, Robin had a the first Willow Warbler of the year singing at Porth Hellick.

TOTALS FOR TODAY

32 BLACK REDSTART
60+ROBIN
8 CONTINENTAL SONG THRUSH 
20 FIELDFARE
8 WHEATEAR
6 REDWING
10+CHIFFCHAFF 


 On Bryher, Higgo totals included, 20+ continental Song Thrush, 30 Wheatear, 12 Blackcap, 10 Chiffchaff, 21 Black Redstart, 20+Robin, and a single Mistle Thrush.  

Small Tortoiseshell at Bants Carn 

Greenshank at Porth Hellick 

Yestarday morning, while driving to Porth Hellick, I noticed a cracking male Black Redstart on a post next to the road at the stables, Pelistry. At Porth Hellick there was nothing of note. However, a visit in the evening turned up 6 Wheatear on the beach and 2 Sand Martin went straight through. The single Redwing was feeding with the 2 Fieldfare in the nearby fields. Also, 5 Fieldfare flew SW over Star Castle in the afternoon.  

 

Male Black Redstart at Pelistry 

Male Pied Wagtail at Porthloo

Adult Herring Gull at Little Porth. All photos Martin Goodey