8th October 2019
I know that Blue-winged Teal is a lot more rarer than Red-eyed Vireo but the latter species is a much better looker for a headline image
Yesterday afternoon, a BLUE-WINGED TEAL turned up on the Big Pool, St Agnes and this morning an early boat was organised from St Mary’s to go and see the duck. However, before the boat left for St Agnes, news came out that there was no sign of the teal. So at the first opportunity I had from work, I made my ways down to Porth Hellick and wasn’t surprised to see the BWT feeding with the 16 Teal. It was still present when the first few birders arrived moving from one hide to the other. At the same time I heard 2 Yellow-browed and the Cetti’s Warbler nearby and then I had to return to work. Now, those that were on the early boat to St Agnes were now trying to get back to St Mary’s to see the BWT. Before all this happened, the BLUE ROCK THRUSH was below the Peninnis lighthouse.
Well at least this yank teal at Porth Hellick is a lot easier to identify than the other yank teal on Newford Duckpond, possible juvenile Green-winged Teal, which is still present today.
Those looking for the Blue Rock Thrush on Peninnis, relocated both the Wryneck and south of Old Town Church, the Red-backed Shrike and at 11.00, Johnathan Nasir came across a Red-eyed Vireo, with a photo on the Scilly Bird New WhatsApp Group shortly afterwards, on the lower coastal path towards the east of Peninnis just after Carn Leh. I dropped my breakfast of local poached eggs, mushrooms, beans, COOP of cause, and got in me wagon picking other birders en route. I ran like the devil, had a breather to have a look at the shrike, and then continued to find that there were already some 30-40 birders already there. The vireo was showing at very close range and it seems like it had just arrived in off feeding actively. It moved on out of sight and also did the same. At Rose Hill, I had the Pied Flycatcher from yesterday and at Carreg Dhu Gardens, 2 Firecrest.
I did see the Red-backed Shrike in full view but this is best I could do with a record shot at Old Town Church while running for the Red-eyed Vireo.
Although we get Red-eyed Vireo almost every year on Scilly, there still a beauty of a cracker to see!
The Dotterel, presumably the same individual from St Martins, turned up on the airfield later in the afternoon. Jo and I made our ways up to the latter site when the airport was closed and got a single Whinchat and Skylark, 9 Wheatear, 1 Yellow and 15+White Wagtail and crippling views of the Dotterel.
When we arrived on the airfield this evening, the Dotterel was tucked away in the grass from the strong winds and the sun was out. Shortly afterwards, the sun had almost disappeared and the plover was now walking towards us!
SCILLYSPIDER 2 