13th September 2020
I successfully kayaked twitched 3 Buff-breasted Sandpiper on Bryher this afternoon.
An early morning wolk around the Garrison started off with a single Grey Wagtail NE over the garden. Otherwise the only birds of note were 3 Spotted Flycatcher and 6 Siskin. Shortly afterwards, I had a quick look at Porth Hellick and heard the Cetti’s Warbler, 3 Water Rail and watched the Spotted Sandpiper being flushed across Porth Hellick Bay by dog walkers. A stroll up to the airfield and I relocated the Dotterel that was last seen flying off west yesterday morning found by Tony Gilbert two evening ago. Lower Moors was dead with a single Water Rail and Snipe
Up to 6 Siskin showed off near to the Dead Pine Walk, Garrison A few days ago, I had one east over the garden.
Tony Gilbert was chuffed when he came across this Dotterel two evenings ago at the airfield After dipping on the plover, I finally got it this morning.
Snipe in the late morning sun
The calm conditions with the burning sun got me in my kayak. First stop was Samson, followed by Bryher, to twitch the 2 Buff-breasted Sandpiper that Patrick Lanaway found yesterday as well as a juvenile Rose-coloured Starling and then Tresco before returning back to St Mary’s. It was on Samson, while getting awesome views of 100 Sanderling, 40 Dunlin and a single Curlew Sandpiper from the kayak on the east shore, that Chris Mills put the news out on the WhatsApp group that there were now 3 Buff-breasted Sandpiper!! That was enough for me to start power rowing towards Bryher.
The Curlew Sandpiper was still present on Samson with up to 40 Dunlin
The Sanderling were feeding meters away from the kayak
There were also some 20 White Wagtail on the west shore
I had a brief look around Samson and all I saw were flocks of Linnet and a single Wheatear
It wasn’t long before I was on the west side of Shipman’s Down with two other birders and as usual for this yanky wader, the 3 Buff-breasted Sandpiper showed superbly at very close range. We observed them for a good twenty minutes as they actively fed in the heather and when they made a short flight to another area of the down, we left them alone. And I left Bryher, after seeing 2 Pied Flycatcher at Church Quay and made the short crossing to Tresco.
After dipping out on the Western Bonelli’s Warbler three days ago in my kayak at Church Quay, Bryher, I So pleased that I connected with these 3 Buff-breasted Sandpiper
There were 2 Pied Flycatcher at Church Quay
On Tresco, all I saw of note on the Great Pool were the Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Shoveler, 6 Wigeon and Little Egret and a single Grey Wagtail. Walking the South Beach there were no waders but 4 pale-bellied Brent Geese flew west only to return shortly afterwards and park just west of Skirt Island close inshore. The return home in the evening sun allowed me to get close to Mediterranean Gull on rocks off Samson to end another stunning day kayaking.
A distant record shot of 2 Shoveler and 5 Wigeon with a single Mallard
These 4 pale-bellied Brent Geese flew west only to return shortly afterwards
There were up to 10 Mediterranean Gull off Samson
Three days ago, I dipped out on the Western Bonelli’s Warbler found by Leighton Newmanm. However, as I made my ways back to my kayak, I counted a personal Scilly record of 23 pale-bellied Brent Geese flying north up the Tresco Channel. They swung around and headed out south and appeared to disappear. I hopped into my kayak and went looking for them. As a result, I found a single bird that showed well before flying and coming back down nearby. My next aim was to see if I could spot the Spoonbill that was seen earlier in the day on Green Island. I did get it but on the east beach of Samson with 3 Little Egret. It was While on Samson very briefly,I saw two dots high up in the blue sky, east in off the sea and I identified them as 2 Kestrel and watched them continue goin in the same direction.
A Scilly personal record of 23 pale-bellied Brent Geese didn’t hang around in the Tresco Channel
This Spoonbill showed well as I sat in my kayak off Samson before flying off towards nearby Green Island
Two dot in off the sea turned out to be these 2 Kestrel goin straight east
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SCILLYSPIDER 2 