SHORT-TOED LARK on the airfield

Record shot of the SHORT-TOED LARK on St Mary's airfield

  Just before work, I went looking for yesterday's Golden Oriole on the Garrison. No sign, but I did get a male Whinchat, 2 Tree Pipit and my first Spotted Flycatcher and Lesser Whitethroat, including 2 together. Later at Porth Hellick I heard a male Lesser Whitethroat singing. There were also 150+Swallow, 40+House and 5 Sand Martin, 20+Blackcap and a single Cuckoo.  At Lower Moors there was a notable arrival of Sedge Warbler with 20+.

Over 20 Sedge Warbler were at Lower Moors

  Late evening and Graham and I decided to go and look for the SHORT-TOED LARK on the airfield that Tony saw yesterday. 30 minutes of walking up and down and we had seen a male Whinchat, 20+Wheatear and 60+Whimbrel. Then Graham picked it up, but it proved very flighty and just vanished, despite us seaching for another 15 minutes. At Porthloo, with Robin, we observed the 100 Swallow and 15 House Martin hawking low over the seaweed and then I heard the ROOK. It flew overhead and out to sea, only to return.

ROOK at Porthloo just before dark.

House Martins at Porthloo Robin Mawer

  Higgo made a change today and vistited St Agnes. Here he got a male GOLDEN ORIOLE at Barnaby Lane and singles of Whinchat, Garden Warbler and Lesser Whitethroat. A high total of 7 Lesser Whitethroats were also seen today, including 5 on St Mary's. On Tresco, Dave Rosear relocated the 2 RED-RUMPED SWALLOW at Borough Farm where he also had a WRYNECK and a male Black Restart. Robin managed to see yesterday's male GOLDEN ORIOLE in flight at Porthloo.

Iron and Wine with a great song 'Cinder and Smoke'