GREAT BLUE HERON at lower Moors

The 1st winter GREAT BLUE HERON returned to Lower Moors this evening after being on Tresco and Bryher earlier on in the day

  Early this evening I got a call from Martin Goodey to tell me that the GBH was in front of the ISBG hide at Lower Moors. Robin picked me up and I started contacting everyone on our way to the moors. The heron was showing at very close range and was still present when everyone turned up. We all got crippling views when suddenly the bird got up and flew off towards Old Town Bay. However, it turned out that John Headon, from his balcony over looking Lower Moors, observed the heron flying off towards Porth Mellon where he lost it. Shortly afterwards it returned and it seemed to land in the Dump Clump.

Top two pics taken by Loopy Lucy

GBH showing well with 2 Common Sandpiper at Lower Moors

This immature Grey Heron was also present at Lower Moors earlier in the day

Up to 4 Snipe, 1 Jack Snipe and 2 White Wagtail were on the scrape. Also heard my first Reed Warbler of the year and 4 Sedge Warbler

  Leaving Lower Moors, Robin and I made our ways to Porth Hellick where we got a Wood Sandpiper with a single Green and Common Sandpiper. Both Reed and Sedge Warbler were singing and there were over 80 hirundines hawking over the pool, but no sign of the GBH. At dusk we arrived at Porthloo hoping to see a repeat of Robin's 4 Night Heron coming into the bay that he observed last night. At 20.50, 3 vocal Night Heron flew in from the direction of Rose Hill and only 2 landed on the rocks to our right while the other bird returned to Rose Hill. However, it became clear that there were 3 herons present on the rocks (2 adults and a possible immature) and from a height, another adult came in. We were just about to leave when two visiting birders arrived to tell us that they had a Scilly record of 6 maybe 7 Night Heron come out of their roost from Lower Moors and fly towards Porthloo!

Wood Sandpiper with a sleeping Green Sandpiper at Porth Hellick

4 Night Heron came into feed at Porthloo at dusk. However, 6 or 7 Night Heron were seen by other observing flying out from Lower moors

Good numbers of Linnet around at the moment

  On Tresco there were the male Black Duck and a Bee-eater and like the GBH, the Bee-eater made the short flight to Bryher. On the latter island, both Hoopoe and Wryneck were still present, while on St Martins there was a ring-tailed harrier and on St Agnes there was a male Black Redstart, 10 Whimbrel and on the Big pool, a report of an adult Ring-billed Gull.
  Late afternoon, birds were arriving in good numbers on St Mary's and included 200+Wheatear, 120+hirundines and 11 White wagtail.

Mercury just below the moon

A cracking evening for watching Night Herons come in from Porthloo Beach Top three pics taken by Robin Mawer

This was one of Hendrix's favorite songs. Newbury is one of the most recorded artist of our time, from BB King to Bill callahan and Bonnie Prince Billy and 100's more. He is most remembered for his song 'An american Trilogy' that was recorded by many and was the big finish during Elvis Presley's concert in 70's. Many of Newbury's songs, such as "The Thirty-Third Of August", "The Future Is Not What It Used To Be", and "Just Dropped In", delve into the dark recesses of the human psyche.