Scilly stuff

Can you name the location of these Scilly specialities?

Owl be seeing you...

'Out of your league, love'...

Only a matter of time...

Scilly bits and bobs

Supporting cast to Scilly rarities featured in other posts this week included:

Chiffchaff - Lower Moors

Gannet - Scillonian III crossing

Pied Flycatcher - The Parsonage, St Agnes

Ravens - St Mary's

Willow Warbler - Old Town, St Mary's

Last day on St Mary's

Determined to end the week's holiday on a high I headed off to Higgo's Pool at dawn this morning in the hope of seeing the Northern Waterthrush one last time. Although it was barely light, I enjoyed my best views yet of the bird. The ring on its right leg, applied several weeks ago during one of its forays to Porth Hellick, can be seen clearly.

Red-eyed Vireo on St Mary's

As we were getting off the afternoon boat from St Agnes news came through of a Red-eyed Vireo at Salakee, a 15 minute yomp from the Quay. A stream of birders hastily disembarked, and one or two who waited for taxis arrived shortly after those who left on foot. The Vireo showed fairly well in a Pittosporum hedge catching the last few rays of the day's sunshine. A good adrenalin shot as the week approaches its' end.

Duckpond Warblers

Newford Duckpond is one of many good spots for Yellow-browed Warblers on St Mary's. I spent a happy half hour there taking these pictures today. I'm told they are a doddle to photograph when hopping around the grass and fences of Fair Isles in the autumn - a bit trickier to get a clear shot in the Sallows and Willows of Scilly, but great views of this energetic Sibe.

Aggie. Without Kim.

We enjoyed getting soaked on the way to Tresco so much yesterday we did it again today to get to St Agnes. Seahorse bore us safely across and - in a now familiar pattern - Claire and the boys headed for the beach while I headed off for the birds. Fortunately on this occasion, they were in the same place, Periglis, where a possible eastern race Lesser Whitethroat was hanging out on the rocks and sand. Pining for the desert, perhaps? Or just knackered and staying out of the wind? The bird, carrying a large tick, was sitting still when I arrived looking a bit unwell, but was soon hopping around (and eventually towards) me within a few feet. At times it looked quite spritely, but it is difficult to say whether its apparent fearlessless was a result of tiredness, or could be taken as evidence that it wasn't one of 'our' normally shy Lesser Whitethroats.

My field guide identifies a paler, sandier brown mantle and more white in the tail as differentiating features of halimodendri - or Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat to give it its catchy name. Judge for yourself from these pictures, but to my untrained eyes in the field, the relative lack of contrast between the brown upperparts and grey head was the most notable feature of this bird. What do I know, but it was certainly easier to photograph than any other Lesser Whitethroat I've ever seen!

Dusky indeed...

Dusky Warbler. At dusk, appropriately.

Returning on the afternoon boat from Tresco left just enough time this evening to twitch a Dusky Warbler at Lower Moors - I had heard this bird yesterday giving its tutting call but had yet to see it. This time it was more showy and still reasonably vocal. The light was poor, however, so I was pushing my luck to get this record shot with a high ISO rating.