Curlew Sandpiper at Porth Mellon

16th April 2020

This is only my second spring Curlew Sandpiper on Scilly. The other record was in ’98 at Shooters pool. A brick red individual side by side with a stunning summer plumage Spotted Redshank!

While at work this afternoon, a Curlew Sandpiper turned up at Porth Mellon. By the time I got to the beach, 16.30, everyone had seen it and moved moved on. I picked out the wader from the 49 Turnstone that it was loosely feeding with and a single Dunlin. I had a good twenty minutes hanging out in the warm sun with the Curlew Sandpiper before goin home for dinner.

The Curlew Sandpiper spent most of it’s time feeding with a single Dunlin

Dunlin

There were up to 49 Turnstone also on the beach

For the third day this Bar-tailed Godwit has been at Porthloo

Later on, I cycled to the golf course, taking a quick look at the Bar-tailed Godwit at Porthloo on the way, and to the right of the club house was the Jackdaw that’s been around for a few days on the island. There were also the 2 male Ring Ouzel that I had yesterday plus a single Whimbrel, Merlin, Common Gull and 20+Wheatear. Robin successfully twitched the Jackdaw and we both observed the Lapwing that’s been at the airfield in the last two days, circling above us before returning to the latter site.

I finally connected with the Jackdaw at the golf course after arriving on St Mary’s a few days ago

This morning I had this female Merlin on the Garrison and this evening she posed for me on north fairway

This Lapwing that’s been on the airfield in the last two days, it stretched it’s wings over the golf course before returning back to the airfield

The 2 Ring Ouzel from yesterday were still present at the west end of the golf course

Today I only counted 20+Wheatear on the golf course but yesterday I had over 50

In the last few days there have been small numbers of Continental Song Thrush around including this individual at the campsite.

Male Stonechat

This male Wheatear was a garden tick and was taken from the bedroom window yesterday

Herring Gull

Great black-backed Gull