St Agnes at it's best!

This Marsh Warbler at Browarth, St Agnes, was only my forth for Scilly 

  With ESE breeze and overnight rain, it felt promising this morning with the clear blue skies. As arranged a few days ago, I was having the afternoon off to stay over at Graham's on St Agnes and did I pick the right day. I was watching a Yellow-browed Warbler and 2 Firecrest in the campsite garden when Ritchie called to tell me that Jim had trapped the 12th CETTI'S WARBLER for Scilly at Porth Hellick. I took some guest to the airport, where I saw 39 skylark and a single Black Redstart, and then shot down road with Richard Thewlis to join the small gathered crowed at Porth Hellick. Just as Jim released the warbler, a look across the pool and there was the juvenile Osprey. I had it earlier over work and that's when I got info from Graham that andy carol had found a Marsh Warbler on St Agnes and the Palla's and Dusky Warbler were still present. This was followed a short time later with now a Little Bunting over there and by the cricket pitch Graham found a Barred Warbler. Not to worry, I'll be there in half an hour.

  

CETTI'S WARBLER trapped and ringed at Porth Hellick

Osprey top of tree at Porth Hellick

Yellow-browed Warbler at the campsite garden, Garrison

  Within 15 minutes of being on St Agnes I had connected with the Marsh warbler in the bracken at Browarth. It showed superbly at close range. However, the Barred Warbler was just a two minute walk away from Browarth, and proved, although I did see it well but briefly. Troy Town was next to hopefully see the Palla's Warbler in the turnip field. I only been there for ten minutes and seen lots of Chiffchaff and Goldcrest when the Palla's zipped passed in front of me and showed off in a hedge just to my left. It made it ways down to the end of the field and disappeared to be replaced by a Siberian Chiffchaff. Great stuff! Moving onto Old lane, I took a turning off into a weedy field to be immediately put onto the Dusky Warbler. Like everything else that I've seen in the last hour, it also showed very well. No sign of the Little Bunting in the same area, but a Woodcock and male Merlin flew through.
  In the fading light, I had brief views of the Barred Warbler again and a Siberian Chiffchaff was flycatching with some 20 Chiffchaff at Lower Town. Bob Dawson reckoned that there were at least 6 Siberian Chiffchaff on the island and between us maybe 100+Chiffchaff with 50+ at Periglis. as night fell, all you could hear was the sound of Redwing moving out and with them no doubt, the Chiffchaff. With the same winds continuing overnight, but clear skies, I think it might prove to be another good day tomorrow.

  Elsewhere the only other bird of note was the 6th Palla's Warbler of the autumn at Church quay, Bryher, found by Ren and Higgo.

Marsh Warbler and 2 Firecrest were at browarth

Record shot of the Palla's Warbler at Troy Town

Could we have two different Dusky Warblers?? The two top pics were taken in the weedy field off Old Lane and the other one was taken very close by just off Barnaby Lane. Note the broad super on the lower pic compared to the narrow and tappering off super on the above pics. However, this could be to do with light and angle as this can present the bird looking different in photographs. While observing the Old Lane individual, Renten and I thought we heard very briefly 2 birds calling! 

Siberian Chiffchaff at Lower Town farm, ended an amazing day on St Agnes!

Osprey at Porth Hellick

How often do you see an Osprey like this on scilly?

  Not much goin on today with more or less the same birds around as yesterday. However, at Holy Vale I heard 2 Yellow-browed Warbler with the singles still at Higher Moors and Porth Hellick. Up to 5 Firecrest were also in the area with 40+Chiffchaff. On Porth Hellick Beach there 2 White and 8 Pied Wagtail and a single swallow. Just before 11.00, I was walking the Porth Hellick loop trail when Mark Haliday called to say that the juvenile Osprey is over Porth Hellick pool now! I came from beneath the trees and saw the raptor flying away only to return again and hover over the pool. For the next five minutes the Osprey showed superbly and on one occasion it dived with talons out towards the pool. I had to get back to work and drove off around the corner to see the damn thing on the road side telegraph pole! Unfortunately with in seconds a car drove past it was back in the air.

while observing it the resident crows were always giving it some jip. The Osprey throughout showed very well but unfortunly the light was crap! 

With 5 Firecrest I got 4 Yellow-browed Warbler between Holy Vale and Porth Hellick

Lots of Goldcrest around This individual picked out from deep in the lichen a tasty morsel. 

On the beach nearby there were 2 White and 8 Pied Wagtail

  Later at Green Farm, again I only saw one of the 2 Hawfinch. In the fields nearby there were over 150 Chaffinch with only 3 Brambling, although I'm sure there were more. This was the case at Standing Stones field where there 6 Brambling with only 20 Chaffinch!

3 Brambling were with over 150+Chaffinch at Green Farm...

with 6 Brambling at Standing Stones field and only 20 Chaffinch

Meadow Pipit and Dunnock

   Both the Dusky Warbler and Palla's Warbler were still on St Agnes and on St Mary's, a possible HUDSONION WHIMBREL was observed late this afternoon flying off from Porthloo towards Bar Point with a Whimbrel, This morning a juvenile Red-throated Diver was seen off Bar Point and the Pink-footed Goose was briefly back on the airfield with the 2 Pink-foots still on Tresco Great Pool.


Samantha Crain (born August 15, 1986) is an American songwriter, musician, producer, and singer from Shawnee, Oklahoma, signed with Ramseur Records (North America) and Full Time Hobby Records (UK/Europe). Crain's first recording was the self-released EP The Confiscation. It was produced by Joey Lemon of the Chicago-based Berry and later reissued by Ramseur Records in 2007. It is based on five short stories by Crain.

Pink-footed Goose

This Pink-footed Goose stayed very briefly at the airfield

  First thing this morning I was at pelistry and observed over 40 Redwing fly NW. 5 Brambling with 70-80 Chaffinch at Watermill, were my my first of the autumn and nearby there was a vocal Yellow-browed Warbler in the Cove. I managed to see just one of the 2 Hawfinch at green Lane and there was a Black Redstart at the farm . At Newford both the Siberian Chiffchaff and Yellow-browed Warbler were still present with the Great-spotted Woodpecker. Just up road at Trenowth there were 5 Firecrest, 2 woodcock and 40+siskin. 

5 Brambling were at watermill with 70-80 Chaffinch

Siberian Chiffchaff at Newford

Up to 5 Firecrest were at Trenowth

Over 40 Siskin were at Trenowth

  After visiting the airport throughout the rest of day running taxis, mid-afternoon I was talking to Martin Goodey about the Pink-footed Goose that he saw yesterday over the island, when I said 'Hold on, I think I've got it' Sure enough the goose was front on heading my way and came down at the NW end of the airfield close the me wagon that I was sitting in. I quickly took some pics, as I could see that it was edgy with all the activity goin on. After a few minutes it was back up in the air and flew out east. also on the airfield were a single Wheatear, the 2 Black Redstart and a mobile flock of 40-45 Skylark.

Flying over town

This Pink-footed Goose spent a few minutes on the airfield before being flushed

  The last hour of the day I found myself at Higher Moors and immediately got the Northern Willow Warbler that I had here over a week ago. There was also the Siberian Chiffchaff and Yellow-browed Warbler, 3 Firecrest, 25+Chiffchaff and 15+Goldcrest. 
  Across the road at the entrance of Porth Hellick, I could hear another Yellow-browed Warbler and saw another 3 Firecrest, but only 15 Chiffchaff. There were also 2 swallow and the Lapwing  overhead.

The Northern Willow Warbler and Siberian Chiffchaff were still at Higher Moors and taken in the fading light, Yellow-browed Warbler.

I saw over 50 Chiffchaff including this individual that appeared to have an eye missing

Altogether I saw 11 Firecrest today

False Black Widow Spiders can be found anywhere on St Mary's. This female was at Porthcressa Petrol Station.

  Two days ago there were up to 4 Palla's Warbler on Scilly with singles on Bryher and Trenowth, St Mary's. On St Agnes there were 2 other birds with a Dusky Warbler discovered. The following day, Agnes produced a Radda's Warbler at Troy Town. Today, the Radda's, Dusky and only 1 Palla's Warbler were still present with the Bryher individual still at South Hill Cottage. On Gugh, there was a flyover Serin and Chesney had a Woodlark NE over The Garrison, St Mary's.  


Another amazing artist under the radar. Hoping to go and see him live real soon.