23rd November 2020
One of the 2 Dusky Warbler that were feeding together at Lower Moors
‘Billy’ the Iceland Gull was already in front of the window this morning when I opened the curtains with the Grey Wagtail. For the first time in nearly three weeks, it was still and sunny. It was 10.00 when I got out after work and within being at the Rose Hill end of Lower Moors, I had heard firecrest, Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed and Cetti’s Warbler, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Dusky Warbler. It was the latter species that continued to be vocal in front of Graham and I, as we stood on the side of the road trying to work out where it was goin to appear next so we could see it. Ten minutes later, it gave itself up but we were looking directly into the sun when it took to the higher branches. Graham moved on while I stayed on the Dusky Warbler and it wasn’t too long until I realised that there were the 2 Dusky Warbler feeding together in the same Sallow. The two warblers were discovered together three days ago in the same area. I observed them both at close range before one returned to the wood and the other flew off towards the Black and White Wood. At the Old Town end of Lower Moors there were a single Firecrest, Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow-browef Warbler, Siskin and Kingfisher and om the pool, 3 Teal.
‘Billy’ the Iceland Gull was already in the garden when I opened the curtains this morning first thing it was just getting light when I took this pic from my window.
Note that the supercilliam is broken towards the the base of the bill on this Dusky Warbler
While on this individual, the supercillium is not broken and touches the base of the bill
Although the 2 Dusky Warbler performed well, getting a pic was hard work with so many branches obscure in the field of view making it also differicult to auto-focus. Later in the day, other birders observed the two birds feeding back together near the Shooters Pool.
There were 2 Yellow-browed Warbler at each end of Lower Moors
The area also held some 15 Goldcrest
and up to 20 Chiffchaff
Nearby to Lower Moors at Rose Hill there were a single Siberian CHiffchaff and while goin through a flock of 60 Chaffinch, the Jackdaw flew over south towards Porth Mellon. Ten minutes later I was watching 4 Black Redstart and 4 Pied Wagtail in the warm sun at Porthloo where there were also 46 Sanderling and a single Little Egret on the shore. Returning home Ihad a quick look at Little Porth and next to the bench there was a single Siberian Chiffchaff showing very well. On the beach there were also 2 Black Redstart
There were 4 Black Redstart at Porthloo including this male
also 6 Rock Pipit on the beach
This Carrion Crow was taking a casual walk on the veach
This Siberian Chiffchaff at Little Porth was my forth of the day
It was almost dark when I returned home and this Starling was deciding whether to come inside or not
Yesterday morning, I kayaked over to Tresco and covered both the Abbey and Great Pool and Pool Road before returning back to St Mary’s. Dull and drizzle thoughout the day and it turned out as not productive as my last few visits but I did get a fly over Great white Egret while I had just got into my kayak at Pettle Beach to set off back home. Presumbly the individual that was on St Martins last week. The highlights were all on Pool road included a single Firecrest, Willow Warbler, 3 Yellow-browed Warbler and Siberian Chiffchaff and the female Great Spotted Woodpecker. Although I did possibly hear two birds at the same time on one occasion. Both the Goldcrest and Chiffchaff were down in numbers from five days ago with a total of thirty of eachI caught sight of a Cattle Egret fling over when a shoot began. As I was under Sallows on Pool Road at the time when the egret was overhead, it’s possible that the other 3 Cattle Egrets were also flying with it. On the pools of note there were a pair of Pintail, 5 Pochard, the female Tufted Duck, 42 Teal and now 5 Wigeon. The ducks were also flushed by the gunshoot and later I found the Pintail and Wigeon with Mallard at Pentle Bay as I returned to my kayak. There were also the Hooded Crow, 2 Common Gull and 8 Bar-tailed Godwit feeding on the shore. Just out of the bay, I got very close to 4 Great Northern Diver .
On Pool Road there were 3 Yellow-browed Warbler
With an equal number of Siberian Chiffchaff
There were a pair of Pintail on the Great Pool but only the male showed well
returning to my kayak in heavy drizzle at Pentle Bay, there were 2 Common Gull, 8 Bar-tailed Godwit and the Hooded Crow
The light was so bad, as I pulled away from Pentle Bay, making it difficult to focus on this close up Great Northern Diver as I passed by in the kayak
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