5th COMMON CRANE for Scilly

This sub-adult COMMON CRANE at Porth Hellick  was my third Scilly tick in a month! I'm lucky if I get one or two new birds on Scilly in a year.

   An sub-adult COMMON CRANE turned up at Porth Hellick as dense fog rolled in stopping planes from flying. As a result this gave me time to go and have a look at it, but I was too late, as Tony told me that it flew off north and was lost in the fog. However, I was lucky enough to see it fly over Newford being mobbed by 2 crows heading south some 35 minutes later. It proved very mobile and was seen all over the shop by other observers. Mid-afternoon and I thought the Tewince fields might be worth a look. I had only got to the first field and there it was flying away NW from me only to turn around and head straight my way! It slowly drifted low overhead and called quietly as it was just above me. It carried on towards Lower Moors until I lost it in the fog. At the latter site there was no sign of it, but the female Garganey was showing well on Shooters Pool.

Got cracking flight views as it flew low directly overhead. Shame about the poor light 

While looking for the crane, I got a single Whitethroat, 3 tree Pipit, 2 Golden Plover and my first 3 Spotted Flycatcher of the year. Also seen on St Mary's were over 25 Spotted and 1 Pied Flycatcher and up to 4 Night Heron at Lower Moors. While on St Martins Dave Rosair got a Short-toed Lark, Wryneck and a flock of 5 Golden Oriole!

2nd summer Lesser-black backed Gull

Yesterday and today I saw this female Garganey on both Porth Hellick and Shooters Pool

Robin Mawer

Throughout the day the sub-adult COMMON CRANE was very mobile. However, in the late afternoon it was finally pinned down at Porth Hellick in an iris field bordering the road where we all observed it from. I returned to work and while I was away, it made the short hop over to the pool and then flew off E towards Normandy.

The third Wood Sandpiper of the year was at Porth Hellick yesterday

These 2 male Moorhen confronted each other before going their separate ways 

This very rare Yellow Crane I suppressed at Holy Vale

We work to expose and end the cruelty inflicted on animals in the name of sport

RESPONSE TO ELECTION OUTCOME  Dear kris, As you will know the election results are in and it is a victory for the Conservative Party.  Despite this election being fought on issues such as the economy and jobs YOU helped put animal welfare on the agenda.  So first of all we would like to thank you from the bottom of our hearts for the amazing response to our election action which resulted in almost 30,000 emails sent to candidates urging them to sign up to our animal welfare pledges. Over 800 candidates responded! Take a look at what your local candidates had to say here. There is no doubt that, because of you, candidates from all parties felt the strength of feeling towards protecting animals from the cruelty they are forced to endure in the name of sport.  However, as you may also know, the Conservative Party have pledged to offer a free vote on repealing the Hunting Act.  Let us be very clear – If such a vote goes ahead the League Against Cruel Sports will be front and centre in the campaign to defend our wildlife from a return to the barbaric practices of animal cruelty outlawed over ten years ago! Legalising activities such as fox hunting and hare coursing would be a massive step backwards for animal welfare. No Government, regardless of the party they represent, should ignore the wishes of the majority of the people. The Hunting Act is supported by 80 percent of the British public and almost 70 percent of Conservative supporters.  Upholding – or even better, strengthening - the law is the right thing to do and we must make sure the government knows this.  We will continue to work as hard as we can to demonstrate the cruelty of hunting.  And we will be working with all the parties, including Conservative MPs who are anti-hunting, to ensure this vital legislation stays on the statute books. Now more than ever we will need your support to Keep Cruelty History. We will be in touch to tell you ways that you can support our efforts in defending the Hunting Act and ways in which you can support our other campaigns to eliminate cruelty to animals in the name of sport. kris, please again let us thank you for your amazing and continued support. Together we will make a difference for animals.  Kind regards, Mark McCormick Senior Communications Officer REPORT A WILDLIFE CRIME We need you to be our eyes and ears in the countryside. Report online or call us on 01483 361 108 GET INVOLVED Campaign Become a Member Fundraise Join a Local Group JOIN US

Gurf Morlix is an American multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, songwriter and record producer residing for many years in Austin, Texas. He has worked with many of the best known performers of Americana, roots rock and alternative country music. His most notable works include albums by Lucinda Williams, Robert Earl Keen, Mary Gauthier, Ian McLagan, Ray Wylie Hubbard, and Slaid Cleaves. The instruments that he plays include guitar, bass, mandolin, mandocello, dobro, pedal teel, Weissenborn, banjo, harmonica, anddrums. Morlix is a member of the Austin Music Awards Hall of Fame (2004) and the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame (2005), and is theAmericana Music Association Instrumentalist of the Year for 2009.