20th November 2019
This Surf Scoter at Porthloo showed at close range in the late afternoon when it was first found but the light was disappearing fast
Mid-morning and Jo and I made our ways up to the golf course to see the Snow Bunting that Graham had found earlier on. On our ways there we had a single Firecrest at Porthloo Lane and got 2 Black Redstart, single Mediterranean Gull and 120+Sanderling. As usual, the bunting gave crippling views as we both lay down only meters away on the green. At the same time, Graham called to let me know that he had just relocated the HERMIT THRUSH, after goin missing yesterday due to the shite weather, in the same paddocks at the start of the Kittidown Trail. Before we saw the Snow Bunting, when we arrived at the golf course, there were 2 Lapwing near the club house and just before we left, I heard the 2 CHOUGH on the NW end of the golf course that were seen later by Will Wagstaff in the same area.
There were 2 Lapwing at the south end of the golf course
The three images below were taken by Jo
This only my second Snow Bunting of the year. Jo testing out her camera on the bunting with the sun in and out changing the lighting on the bird.
After seeing 2 Whimbrel and our first 3 Bar-tailed Godwit of the year at Bar Point, hunger got the better of us and we decided to go home. While we were getting stuck into our dinner, just before 16.00, Graham called ‘Do you know about the Surf Scoter?’ Will Wagstaff had put the news out on the WhatsApp Group that he had found an individual at Porthloo and I had not looked at my mobile when I heard it go off as I had grub in front of me. when I eat food, nothin gets in my way! I joined the small crowd on the beach and the scoter showed at close range as it was just feeding off shore. However,it don’t matter how close er got to it, the light was poor and fading fast. Never the less, another good en to turn up and hopefully it will be hanging around tomorrow for us all to enjoy in better light.
Nigel Bray getting close up views of the Surf Scoter at Porthloo This is only the 14th Scilly record and in the last four years there have been four sightings. Before that, there was a twelve year gap from 2004.
SCILLYSPIDER 2 