4th January 2021
I managed to see up to 6 Black Redstart including thos beauty at Porthloo
I spent most of the day out around Lower Moors/Porthloo area and first thing at Sunnyside, the redpool sp was still present. It’s thought to be a Mealy or a Lesser Redpoll. Myself, I have no idea but it’s a cracking bird, whatever it is. Although the first bird I saw was a Firecrest, when I entered the Rose Hill end of Lower Moors, otherwise it proved to be very quiet. Everything it appears has cleared out. this includesthe little Bunting and both the Dusky and Yellow-browed Warbler and it wasn’t until I got to the Old Town end of the moor that I had my first Chiffchaff out of the two that I saw altogether at the moor compared to the 10-15 before last week. Returning back towards the Rose Hill end of the moor, I heard Carrion Crows goin crazy and observed two birds mobbing the Hen Harrier, heading east, straight through in the direction of Longstones. I did also saw 17 Redwing and kicked up to 4 woodcock.
There were only 2 Chiffchaff at Lower Moors
And only 4 Goldcrest including this showy individual
Up to 17 Redwing were feeding in the fields
There were more Chiffchaff feeding in the weedy field at Rose Hill and at Porthloo there was another 3 Chiffchaff on the rocks enjoying the sun with 3 Black Redstart. As always, the 2 juvenile Iceland Gull were on the beach and the adult Glaucous Gull was getting stuck into the seal carcass. At three different sights, I saw another 3 Black Redstart including the only male that was at Porth Mellon.
The adult Glaucous Gull was guarding it’s prized possessions
The pale-heasded juvenile Iceland Gull has made Porthloo it’s home.
Two of the 3 Black Redstart showed superbly in the bright sunlight at Porthloo
An equal number of Chiffchaff were also feeding in the same area on the beach as the Black Redstart
If only this male black Redstart at Porth Mellon showed like those at Porthloo
Or this Pied Wagtail which was part of the four also at Porth Mellon
Yesterday, Richie Asten and I nade a visit to Porth Hellick and we saw 4 Goldcrest but not a single Chiffchaff from Higher Moors to the beach. However, there was a Reed Bunting and the Cetti’s Warbler near to the Sussex Hide. I didn’t take one single photo while we were at the moors. Later on, a scan out towards Samson from Star Castle and we picked out one of the 3 Spoonbill and from Pendrathen, there was the female Eider was still off Pentle Bay, Tresco
SCILLYSPIDER 2 