3rd IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF for scilly

I had to make another visit to Bryher to see the male SNOWY OWL 

    

  They gave me half a day off work and at 12.15 I was on my ways to Tresco to see the 3rd IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF for Scilly. In the morning a male Marsh Harrier was present, Passing Well Cover I came across Steve Brayshaw and Adrain Colston who told me that heard it earlier, but no sign for the last hour. We decided to go to Pool Road where it was originally found and within seconds of arriving, we could could hear it in full song. For the next 45 minutes the warbler showed very well and moved around a tight circuit in the Elms.

This IBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF was always in full song and could easily be relocated as it moved around

  As it the tide was to low for boats to cross the channel to from tresco to Bryher, I had arranged to catch a punt to take me across at 14.15. Fifteen minutes later I joined Higgo and Elliot Mudd who were observing the male SNOWY OWL being harassed by a Raven. However, the owl was pushed off by 3 Carrion Crow but as usual it only went a short distance up road. The return boat to St Mary's was picking us up at 16.30. so Elliot and I made the best with the time we had before it was flushed by visitors. As expected all the migrants that were here two days ago had cleared out. The short walk to quay produced only 4 Whimbrel, 4 Blackcap and Willow Warbler.
  The male Montague's Harrier that was observed flying over the owl yesterday on Castle Down, Tresco, was seen again on the same island at Carn Near by steve and adrian.

Snowy Owl looking to the Albatross 

  

Looking like a large cat on the down

 

 

Going for walk abouts

Keeping a watchful eye on bees

No heat haze today and we got cracking views before being flushed by dog walkers. This is the 8th record for Scilly and my second after the female in Oct '08 before moving over to cornwall.

   Back on St Mary's Elliot and I went up to the golf course for the 2 juvenile Iceland Gulls. As usual they both performed superbly at close range sitting close to  each other enjoying the late afternoon sun. We made the short walk to the Trewince fields, where yesterday I saw a male Redstart and Whitethroat, but there was nothing of note when we got there.

 

Both juvenile Iceland Gulls showed very well

Also good numbers of Lesser-black backed and Herring Gulls

The immature male Merlin was still around hanging out at Porth Hellick

Some 50 hirundines also at Porth Hellick

I had my first Cuckoo of the year at Bants Carn followed by a bird singing at Holy Vale, 21st

What a song!! Covered by Calexico and a 16 minutes cover by Acetone.