Expeditioniconoclasts:DanChaney,HenryCook,MikeDuckham,ChrisJones,RobSandham.
ArrivingatDan’splaceinFalmouthlateonthe1stofOctoberafteradirejourneydownallowedusallafewhoursqualitykipbeforecatchingtheScillonianIIIferryfromPenzancethefollowingmorning.AfinedrakeSurfScoterwaspresentinMountsBayovertowardsNewlynharbourandwaspickedoutwithscopesbeforeembarkingontheboatonthe2ndOct.Theferryjourneywasturbulentbutthatistobeexpectedontheendearingrust-bucketthatistheScillonianIII.Inamongstthecrestsandtroughsahandfulofbirdswereseen.ThishandfulliterallyconsistedofaSootyShearwater,BalearicShearwater,ArcticSkuaand2GreatSkuas,notbadgoingbutthelackofcommonspecieswaspeculiarlyevident.ThisyearwewerestayingoveratTremelethanFarmonStMary’s,IslesofScilly,fantasticallysituatedforearlymorningraidsonrarityhotspotssuchasPorthHellick,HigherMoors,theAirfieldandHolyValeinthe(vain?!)hopeoffindingsomeunusualbirdsforwhichtheareaisfamousinOctober.Ontheflipside,residingamileawayfromHughTown,andthereforethequay,hamstringedusintwitchingtermswhenalastminuteboatwasputonforararityoffIsle.Stillwewereheretobirdandthatincludedsomeseriouspatchingofthemanybulbfields,elmwoodland,pinebelts,coastalheathlandandgrasslandsaroundStMary’s.IntriguingwasareportofaGreyShrikespeciesoveratMountTodden.“Whyhadn’ttheidentitybeenconfirmedthusfar”,wasthemaintoneofconversationasChris,RobandItoddledoverforalooksoonafterwearrivedontheislands.NewsreachedusalongthewaythattheidentityhadbeenconfirmedinfactasaWoodchatShrike,ey?!WoodchatsandGreyShrikeshadn’tpreviouslyregisteredasconfusionspeciestousbutuponrelocatingthebirdnearPelistryBay,themurkygloomofanovercastskyandalargegreyishpanelinthewingdidhintatinybit(onlyatinybit!)ofthesituationpriortoourarrival.Itcapablydispatchedseveralbutterflieswhichhadnoideaofthethreatthisbutcherbirdposed.MeanwhileMikewaswatchingashowyRed-breastedFlycatcher,bill-snappingsmallfliesjustabovehisheadatLongstonescafe.HeadingbackfromPelistrywefoundatrickleofmigrantsaboutwithafewPiedFlycatchersandaSpottedFlycatcheraroundthefieldedgesoftheeastoftheislandbeforefinishingoffatPorthHellickwherealong-stayingSpottedSandpiperandPectoralSandpipershoweddowntoaridiculous3morsofromtheseawardhide!Crucialplumageandstructuraldetailsoftheformertrickyspecieswereeasilynotedatthisrange,includingthelackofnotchedtertials,strongsupercilium,yellow-tonedlegsandashort-tailedappearance.
PectoralSandpiper,PorthHellick,St.Mary'son2ndOctober.
SpottedSandpiper,PorthHellick,St.Mary'son2ndOctober
Thenextdayweslippedintoatrance-likestateinpursuitoffindingrarities.Well-meanedquestionsfromcurioustouristswererepliedwithahypnoticgruntasall‘acros’,‘sylvias’and‘phylloscs’wereactivelygrilledinsearchofthatrarewaif,inthemidstofmillionsofChiffchaffsandReedWarblers.ItwasalargeraptorthatprovidedmostinterestanddiscussionthatafternoonasI,MikeandBobFlood(aresidentbirder)allindependentlygotontoaHoneyBuzzard.IwasinHolyValeatthetimeandwasalertedtothebirdbyanaltercationwithaCarrionCrowinmid-air.Theraptorglidedonitsway,unperturbed.ViewingconditionswerehamperedbythelushcanopyofmatureEnglishElmtrees,obscuringaclear,uninterruptedobservation.BobwasacoupleofmilesawayontheGarrisonwhereviewingcouldbedescribedas‘distant’soitwaslefttoMiketoelucidatemostdetailandopiniononthebirdwhichconfidentlyaddeduptoidasaHoneyBuzzard.AnelusiveYellow-browedWarbleratthebottomofHolyValewasthefirstofafewpresentduringtheweekwithasupportingcastof1Firecrest,1YellowWagtail,GoldenPlover,3Greenshanks,7WaterRails,1Ravenand2Peregrinesaroundandabout.Acharacteristicfeatureoftheseislandsisthatsomecommonspeciesoveronthemainlandaretotallyabsentoverhere.ThelikesofNuthatch,Treecreeper,CoalTit,Long-tailedTit,MagpieandJackdawallgetthelocalbirdersdroolingandtwitchy.Thesespeciesareallonapar(inalocalcontext)withaGlossyIbisorsomethingequallyasrarebackonthemainland.Soatdusk,backatthecottage,imaginemyelationwhenIhadaJackdawflyingover,goingtoroost,andthentherapiddismaywithlackofback-pattingorevenfakedinterestfromtheothers.Theyare10-a-pennyjust30milesawaybackonthemainland!DansawtheJackdawatdawnonthe4thasitleftitsroostandflewbackoverthecottagebuthisthunderwasquicklystolenbyRobwhostruckgoldwithaself-foundRed-breastedFlycatcherbetweenPorthHellickDownandDeepPointoverintheeastoftheisland.Initiallyfoundinasmallseawardquarrywithgorseandbramblethickets,itflewoutandtowardsanadjacentpinebeltbutsadlywasn’tseenmuchafterthat.Ionlyfoundoutaboutfivehoursafterthefindduetothenear-totallackofphonereceptionontheislands.TwodippedRed-breastedFly’sintwodays;aScilliesCBRadiowassuddenlylookinglikeanattractiveinvestmentifIwasn’tgoingtomissthemegathatwouldhopefullyturnupduringourstay.Itwasgenerallyaquietdaythoughinhindsightwithpersonaltotalsof1JackSnipe,1TreePipit,1LittleEgret,4LaplandBuntings(uponPenninisHead),1CommonScoter,2Whinchats,1SedgeWarbler,1Firecrest,1YellowWagtailandtheSpottedSandpiperstillinresidence.Quiteunexpectedthatevening,whilsttestingthelocaltipples,newscamethroughofaRusticBuntingpresentafewmilesawayonStAgnes.Itwaspitch-blackoutsidesosadlynoboatsuntilthefollowingmorning.ForChris,RobandI,itwouldbealiferandsoplansweremadetowaitfornewsinthemorningbeforetheboatsetsail,andthenheadacrosstoStAgneswhateverthatnewswas!
TheislandofGugh,joinedwithStAgnesatlowtidebytheGughSandbar.TheresidentfemaleMarshHarrierwasseenbriefly
beyondthewhitecottagesonthe5th(Photo:RobSandham)5th-Awhite-knucklerideofaboattriplaterandwejumpedforourlivesontodrylandatStAgnes.ThestrongWestwindroaringinfromtheAtlantichadwhippedthewaterintoquiteaswellsohownoonefellintothewaterIdon’tknow!WequicklybumpedintoNorthWalesbirder,PaulDerbyshire,nearthequaywhodeliveredthenewsthattheRusticBuntinghadbeenseenflyingoverthatmorningtowardsthecoastguardcottagesandintothickcover.Andsobegananexceptionallyfrustratingday.OperationRusticdrewacompleteblankdespitepersonallycircumnavigatingtheislandtwice.
Aflockofabout30LaplandBuntingsviedforattentionandgotitfrommanyofthebirderspresentwho’dlonggivenupontheRustic.Moreover,onmysecondlapoftheisland,ChrisandRobhadbeenwatchingaWryneckfeedingonantsoveratHorsePointandwhilstthereanAmericanGoldenPlover(AGP)flewovertheirheads!Alljaw-droppingstuff,whichStAgneshasapleasanthabitofdoing.ImadedowithbriefviewsoftheresidentfemaleMarshHarrierbackatthequaywiththeassembledday-trippersasitquarteredthecoveronGugh.Fullyreadytodrownmysorrowsthatevening,newsfilteredthroughoftherelocationoftheAGPonStMary’sairfieldduringtheshortboatjourneyback.WalkingtotheairfieldbecamearaceagainstthefadinglightbuttheAGPdidthegoodthingandshowedfairlywell,feedingontheshort-croppedgrass,rescuingagoodendtotheday.
AmericanGoldenPloverattheAirfieldonStMary’sonthe5th(Photo:RobSandham)
WryneckatHorsePointonStAgnesonthe5th(Photo:RobSandham)
Gettingbackintotheroutineofpatchingafteryesterdaysdramawasjustthetonic.SlowlywanderingthepathsaroundPorthHellick,HigherMoors,CarregDhuGardenandHolyValecouldtakehalfthedayifdesiredandthiswasthecaseonthe6thasweallwentourseparatewaystodivideandconquer,tosplitupandseekoutsomegoodbirdsfromdifferentpartsofStMary’s.ThestrongwindwasswingingaroundtotheSWandforecasttoswitchtotheEastwithinacoupleofdayssothiswasconceivablythelastdayanAmericanpasserinemightmakelandfallduringourvisit.OutofallthesitesIvisitedinthemorning,onlyCarregDhuGardenwasconsiderablyprotectedfromthewindandtherewereacoupleofFirecrestspresent.WhispersofseveralRuffupattheairfieldduringthemorningbecameshoutsofBuff-breastedSandpiperastheflightywaderswerepinneddownandidentitiesconfirmed.Thisre-identificationmadesense;RuffsarerareronScilliesthanBuff-breastedSandpipers!Asinglebirdwasstillpresentupontheairfieldwhenwearrived,showingexceptionallywellandhidingintheleeofthelargerAGPwhichwasstillpresent.Americanbirdswereevidentlystillturningupthen.ASpottedCrakewasfoundatPorthHellickpoolthateveningjustbeforedusk,meresecondsbeforeDanandIcreptintothehide,ithadjustdoneavanishingactbackintothePhragmitesthough.AJackSnipeand6WaterRailsshowedwellaswepatientlywaitedforittoreappear.Weremainedinthehidetillwellafterdark,eventuallynotbeingabletoseethereedbedatall,nevermindatinycrakeatthebaseofit.Planswerehatchedtotryagainthenextmorning.
AmericanGoldenPloverjoinedbyaBuff-breastedSandpiperontheAirfield,StMary’s,6th(Photo:RobSandham)
DotterelontheGolfCourse,StMary’s,7th(Photo:RobSandham)
AtimelineofMike’seventsonthe7thinvolvedwakingupmid-morningfeelingalittleworseforwear(Ishouldimagine),eventuallyheadingoutofthecottageandgoingontograbthebestfindoftheweekforthegroupintheformofaLittleBuntingupatGreenFarmnearPelistry.ItflewtowardsMountToddenbutcouldn’tberelocatedduringtheday.ItwaseventuallyrefoundalongwithafurthertwoofitscongenersafewfieldsawayatCarnFriars,justafterourdeparturefromtheislands.Otherspeciesseenonagenerallyquietdayincluded2Yellow-browedWarblers,2Siskins,5StockDoves,6Snipes,1LittleEgret,1Kingfisher,1TurtleDove(foundbyRob)andaPomarineSkua.ADotterelwasreportedintheafternoonupontheGolfCoursewhichrevivedmywaningconcentrationlevels.Itwentontoshowsuperbly,runningupanddownthe8thfairway.Aftertakingfartoomanyphotosandsoakinguptheatmosphereofthisscarcewaderagainstastunningbackdropofcrashingwavesandrockyisletsitwastimetoheadofftothe19thhole.WithadistinctsenseofDéjàvuwegotwindofanotherrarebuntingoveronStAgnesthatafternoon,thistimeaBlack-headedBunting.Aboatloadhadsuccessfullyseenitbeforedarkbutwithoutnewsreceptionandnoradiowemissedtheopportunitysoitwasacaseofwaitingfornewsinthemorningoncemore.Anotherpre-dawnstakeoutinthePorthHellickSussexhideonthe8thandIfinallygotviewsoftheSpottedCrake,beitbriefly.ItwasRobandChris’slastdayontheislandstodayandtherewasjustenoughtimeforthemtohaveafewhoursonStAgnestosearchfortherarebunting.Idon’tlikeDéjàvusodidn’tjointhemonthetrip.Thebuntingdidn’tshowbuttherewasanotherRobspecial;aCommonRosefinchbytheTennisCourtswhichisaveryscarcebirdontheScillies.Thisfindwaspartofagoodfallofmigrantswiththeovernightrainsandeasterlywinds.BetweenthethreeofusremainingbackonMary’swerackedup1Wryneck,15PiedFlycatchers,1SpottedFlycatcher,c20Whinchats,8Skylarks,3Redstarts,1BlackRedstart,1Yellow-browedWarbler,1YellowWagtail,1ReedBunting,1SnowBunting,1CommonSwift,1TurtleDove(asecondbird),1CommonSandpiperandthefemaleMarshHarrierviewedflyingoverAnnet.Ofnote,DansawatinyaccipiterwhichhadbeenseensporadicallyoverseveraloftheislandsandtoutedasapossibleSharp-shinnedHawk.ChrisandRobhadalsoseenthisbirdonthedeckafewdayspreviouslybutviewswereexcruciatinglyinconclusivetoconfirmthispotentialfirstfortheUK.Itiscertainlyavagranttobeonpeople’srarityradarsoverthecomingyears.
HughTownharbouronStMary’swithTrescoandBryherinthebackground.
Ourfinaldayalltoosoonarrivedonthe9thbuttheScillonianIIIdoesn’tleavetillmid-afternoongivingusagoodhalfday’sbirdingtosqueezein.Birdwiseitwasaquietbecauseofthecontinuingwind.AnothercoupleofFirecrestsandaflyoverMistleThrushwereall.Wanderingthecoastalpathatthefar,eastendoftheislandmynewgadgetradio(acquiredfromtheScillonianpub)kickedintogearandthingswentberserkovertheairwaves.CrackledsnippetsofamessageweresoonrelayedaroundtheislandanditbecameclearaBLACK-EAREDWHEATEARhadbeenfoundontheGarrison,theotherendoftheisland.Timetojog!Ionlyhadbinsonmebutevensothiswasaseriousworkout.UponclimbingthesmallsummitontheGarrisontotheStarCastlehotel,Ilocatedthetwitcherswhereatleast70peoplewerestoodbutobviouslynotlookingatthebird.Ithadflownandbeenlosttoviewalthoughnoonenewinwhatdirection.Afterabout15minutesIstumbledonaplain-facedbuffy-orangepetitewheatearrightdownontheboulderbeachneartheDoctorsKeysrocks,thiswasthebird.Withcirca200birdersviewingit,Ibegantakingcopiousfieldnotesintheabsenceofcamera,anddiscussiononsitehintedthatthiswasaWESTERNBLACK-EAREDWHEATEAR.AtthispointMikeandDanhadn’tseenitandIhadnoclueastotheirwhereabouts.ItwasacrazylastcoupleofhourslogisticallyontheislandasIracedtogetallthebagstothequayandattemptedtofindtheguysbutsomehowweallsawthebirdandmadeitonboardtheboatwithafewminutestospare,phew!VisitingafewoldFalmouthhauntsbackinCornwallonthe10thproducedanunexpectedraritywhenaRed-throatedPipitatArgalReservoiremergedoutofthegrey,gloomycloudsflyingsouthoverourheadsandcallingloudly.Evenwiththreeyearsofpatchingthisreservoirbehindme,withoutadoubtthiswasthebestbirdI’vehadthereandwaspartofanoticeableinfluxofthisspeciesintotheSouthWestinsubsequentdays.SeveralKingfishersand2CommonSandpiperswerepresentbutafterthatpieceofactiontheplacereturnedtoitstypicalsereneandsleepyself.LeavingDaninFalmouth,the11thwaslargelyatravellingoneasweheadedbackuptoManchester.Alongthewaywewerethoroughlydistractedbythelureofrarities,detouringtothe‘LostGardensofHeligan’nearMevagisseywherethefirst-winterGREENHERONwasshowingdowninthelostvalley.Asifthiswasn’tenoughactionforoneday,wealsocalledinatBlackHoleMarsh,SeatoninDevontoseeanotherextremelyrarebirdintheformofaSOLITARYSANDPIPER,whichdulyshowedexcellentlyalongsideaGreenSandpiperforclosecomparison.
GreenHeronatLostGardensofHeligan,CornwallandSolitarySandpiper(below)atSeaton,Devononthe11thOct.
Overall,ScillieshadexperiencedamuchbetterstarttoOctoberthantheyearbefore(popularlyderidedastheworstOctoberformanyayearfortheislandgroup).Thefortnightafterweleft1Red-eyedVireo,1Grey-cheekedThrush,1Red-flankedBluetail,2SubalpineWarblers,2Red-throatedPipits,1PiedWheatear,1Radde’sWarblerand1Olive-backedPipitwerealsofound;agoodhaulbyanystandards.ApartfromtheduoofrareBuntingsmovingonbeforewesawthem,ithadbeenaveryenjoyableweek.Moreover,itwasathrillingandenergisingfeelingtohavesomeofthebestsitesofStMary’stoyourselfforthefirstfewhoursofthedaywhilstthosebasedbackinthetowngraduallyfilteredouttobirdwatch.ThankstoalltheguysandparticularlyRobforlendingmelotsofphotosforthisreport.
Afewnotesoncosts:Someofthemaincostsareveryflexibledependingonwhatkindofaccommodation,foodplusextrasonewouldbewillingtospend.Ofthefixedcosts,theboatis£95foranylengthofstayoveraday.Itis£80ifbookedalongwayinadvance.DaytripsfromPenzanceareusually£35buthavecomedownto£25inlateseasonoffersinthepast,makingthisoptionpopularwithquitealotoftwitchersoverthelastfewyears.TheothermethodsofreachingtheislandsincludeHelicopterortheSkybusplanebutbotharereallyexpensiveforwhattheyare;effectivelyjustac30mileflight!Inter-islandboatsforreturnfareday-tripsare£7.50whenboughtfromthequayside.AccommodationonStMary'srangesfromcamping(£7pernight),B+B's(£35-50pernight),Self-catering(£300-1000perweek,usuallyaroundthemiddleforOctoberwhenconsideredpartiallyoutofseason)andHotels(£50-150pernight),soprettymuchthefullrangeofferingawiderangeinpricebutgenerallyatthehigherend.Onthewhole,pricesforfoodandaccommodationaremoreexpensivethanonthemainlandbutthatistobeexpectedonasmallislandwhereeverythinghastobeshippedacross.Youcouldeasilyfindyourselfpaying£20perpersonforagoodmealoutintheeveningincludingdrinks.ForabudgetapproachI’drecommendeithercampingoraself-cateringcottageandtakingsomefoodacrosswithyoufromthemainland,asfromexperience,youareallowed2medium-largebagsintheholdandtheydon'teverweighthem.Whenyouadditallup,withafewluxuriesthrownin,thetotalcostcanapproachthatofashortforeignholidaywhatwithsuchcheapflightsatpresent.ThatseemstobelargelythereasonnotsomanybirdersvisitinOctoberanymore,butit'sfantasticfunandintermsofBritishbirdingitstilloffersoneofthebestchancesforfindingandseeingrareandscarcebirdsasIhopeIgotacrossinmyreport.
Tillnextyear!
HenryCook,October2010
www.manchesterbirding.com
