Alpine Swift over my digs!

30th May 2021

The Alpine Swift was three days ago, SE low overhead while I was working. The Quail above was flushed off a track, English Island Point, St Martins, yesterday where I kayaked dipped out on the Red-rumped Swallow seen earlier on the island.

Today I kayaked to Bryher where I was expecting to turn up somethin reasonably good with the ESE. I had been on the island for nearly two hours and both Nigel Wheatly and Mush let me know that they had seen Black stork and Kite and in the same field, Woodchat and a male Red-backed Shrike! Also good numbers of Red Kite. All I had come across were 10 Whimbrel, 9 Sanderling, single Cuckoo, Spotted Flycatcher and 2 Wheatear. An hour later I was almost at my kayak at Rushy Bay, after giving up, when I saw some movement in the shadow of a Pittosporum and lifted up my bins. Red-backed Shrike! There were folks everywhere and it was just about to be flushed. I quickly fired off three record shots before it was pushed deeper into the bush where I lost it. I looked at the BOC shot and was happy it was a male. Forty minutes of searching for it and I returned back to the spot where I had it earlier and got a very brief view of a female Red-backed Shrike flying away from me. I had to look at the BOC shot again a few times and was still happy that it was a male that I photographed. Later on, the female was seen again by others but I had gone after another hour of unsuccessfully trying to relocate the two shrikes. Returning home proved hard work in the very choppy conditions and the stiff easterly breeze and I hit Sharks Pit, St Mary’s, an hour later after leaving Bryher. I did get close flight views of 3 Manx Shearwater as I struggled back in The Roads.

It’s when I went through the pics of the shrike on the laptop at home that I could clearly see that in fact, it was a female Red-backed Shrike and not a male. From the record shot, although it’s got a grey head, you can just make out barring on the flanks and not the solid black mask like a male.

There were 2 Spotted Flycatcher in the same area as the Red-backed Shrike. The pics above were taken in the pine belt opposite the Castle Obs window two days ago

2 Wheatear were on Shipman’s Down

This Ringed Plover was also on the down

This Blackbird was enjoying the sun

There were up to 4 Goldfinch on the island

Also 3 Painted Lady

Looking from Samson Flats towards St Mary’s.

I had a quick look up at the golf course later when I returned to St Mary’s and there was the pale-headed Iceland Gull. I had Billy in the garden before I left for Bryher this morning. Nearby at Telegraph there were 3 Swift, 9 House Martin and a single Spotted Flycatcher.

The pale-headed Iceland Gull

Two days ago, this Wood Sandpiper spent the day at Porth Hellick

Swallow back home

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3 Iceland Gull in front of Castle obs window!

To see 3 Iceland Gull or more in the winter in one day is expected but to see three in late May and only meters away from your window on Scilly, is kinda of crazy!

Early this morning, as usual, the pigs were being fed and ‘Billy’ the Iceland Gull briefly came in to feed with some 200 Herring Gull as I observed them from the Castle obs window. Twenty minutes Iater, I had another look out from the window and ‘Billy’ had returned and with my naked eye, it appeared blotchy from the muddy conditions, on it’s body. However, through the bins, I didn’t think that it was blotchy from mud but in fact the plumage on it’s body. Also maybe this wasn’t ‘Billy’ and a new Iceland Gull? Then, what I thought was ‘Billy’ on the deck nearby at the same time, turned out to be the pale-headed individual making only it’s third visit to the garden in the six months that it’s been present in the area. A few minutes later, all the gulls got up and most flew off towards Porthcressa, including the 2 Iceland Gull. Just before goin to work, the sun had come out and a final look out and there was an all white pristine ‘Billy’ It was only later on in the afternoon, due to work, that I could go through the photos I took of all the Iceland Gulls earlier, on my laptop and I believe that the patchy individual is a new bird!

This is what ‘Billy’ above, appeared like in the drizzle after ten minutes of arriving. Wet but still all white. Shortly after it flew off.

Twenty minutes later, this individual appeared and in all the daily visits to the garden in nearly seven months that ‘Billy’ has been around, I’ve never observed it appearing like above. No matter how wet and muddy the conditions were. Also, all the Herring Gulls in the pics above, maybe the odd muddy patch on two individuals but the rest, not a mark on them and therefore I reckon this a new Iceland Gull.

At the same time, the pale-headed individual turned up and made it’s third visit to the garden in the six months it’s been present on Scilly. In the last few weeks, It appears as though it’s spending more time at Great Bay on St Martins.

Some ten minutes later, after the 2 Iceland Gull had moved on, the sun came out and ‘Billy’ was in view from the window and looked in good shape with not a mark on it’s body. Except for being wet, this is Just the way it appeared earlier on before flying off. ‘Billy’ was the last bird to leave the garden late this evening, 21.30, after letting me know of it’s arrival by landing briefly on the bird table and me feeding it.

A typical scene of Herring Gulls and battling it out, Great Black-backed Gulls from my window most days

Yesterday, this young Starling was trying to have nap in the rain in the garden. I took the photo from behind the window. Today, you could hear family of Starlings out all over the shop

Four days ago, Mick Scott trapped this stunning Striped Hawkmoth at Longstones making it his 63rd that he has had in his garden.

The Greenfinch are still regular to the feeders

When the House Sparrow get out of the way that is

Can the Collared Doves attract another Turtle Dove into the garden in the next few weeks All pics above were taken from behind the window

And it appears that there are up to 4 pairs of Swallow breeding on the castle ground

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‘It’s Not Fair’

May 15th 2021

You visit Israel then you help fund Palestinian children being bombed, shot, put in cells for the rest of their childhood! I know because I, unfortunately, witnessed a child of nine or ten get shot during clashes on the edge of Ramallah on my second visit to Palestine. I know because I spoke to so many Palestinian adults who have been shot and wounded when they were a child as well as talking to other adults that have spent their childhood in prison because they threw a rock or were thought to have thrown a rock at Israeli forces. Also, in many cases, their fathers have been in Israeli prisons and tortured. Apartheid Israel is the eighth most powerful nation in the world and is funded 3.8 billion annually by the US and supported by the UK as well as arms deals. Israel could crush Gaza in a single night with their weapons and technology. They could wipe out the population of 2 million living in Gaza and still, Israel would make out that they are the victim. Most of the world would make out that Israel is the victim. This is no war or conflict. This is a massacre by a terrorist state. But, it could be a war or conflict if other countries get involved in support of Palestine.

I took this photo on my first visit to Palestine of an Israeli holding high the Palestinian flag directly in front of IOF soldiers during a protest in Bili’n. On two separate occasions, the Israeli’s fired rubber bullets out at both the Palestinians and Israeli’s as we all ran down the road to escape.

Lesser Yellowlegs at Porth Hellick

10th May 2021

This Lesser Yellowlegs was discovered late yesterday evening at Porth Hellick Beach and I connected with it this morning before work on the nearby pool

I was the only one present at Porth Hellick when I arrived at Porth Hellick just before 07.00 this morning. I was hoping that the Lesser Yellowlegs found yesterday on the beach, would be still present. And it was but it had made the short hop onto the pool and showed very well in front of the Sussex hide. There were also 3 House Martin and 2 Swift with a handful of Swallow. A quick scan at Porthloo on the way home found 2 Whimbrel and the 2 Iceland Gull on the beach.

This is only my second spring Lesser Yellowlegs after the individual two years ago, 11th May, at the Big Pool, Bryher

At Porthloo, the pale-headed Iceland Gull was enjoying the morning sun while ‘Billy’ was flying overhead.

Later in the afternoon, while on my dinner-break, I was chatting to Martin Goodey on the mobile. While at the same time, I was watching the 30 House Sparrow feeding on the bird table, when a Lesser Redpoll landed on the feeders very briefly before flying off towards the pine belt. Later in the evening, as usual ‘Billy’ the Iceland Gull got my attention by landing on the bird table and then flew to the ground when I opened the window to throw some scraps out for it.

‘Billy’ the Iceland Gull is now getting my attention by landing on the bird table almost every evening and giving me the stare to let me know that’s he’s arrived. You knew when ‘Ralf’ the Glaucous Gull had landed on the bird table a few months ago. He was a brute in size and as he came in, it went dark indoors as he blocked out all the sun light.

‘Billy’ only meters in front of the Castle obs window trying his best to look like an Ivory Gull!

This evening, this family of Song Thrush were out in the castle gardens. With all the cats around, I don’t think they will survive. Last year on three occasions, I observed cats with baby Song Thrush and Blackbird in their jaws in the gardens. How many were killed that I did not see?

For only the second time in it’s lengthy stay of six months, the pale-headed Iceland Gull visited the garden with ‘Billy’ yesterday before both settling in the horse paddock.

This Great Black-backed Gull has become a resident in the garden for the last week

Just as rare as the Iceland Gull, on the feeders, with only the second sighting this year, was this Blue Tit that I took from behind the obs window

And the regular 4 Goldfinch and Greenfinch still visiting the bird table All pics taken from behind the obs window

Last week, 3 Pochard spend a day at Porth Hellick

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Pallid Harrier on Samson

1st May 2021

Yesterday I connect with Scott Reid’s Palled Harrier and I only had a very brief views of this Red-throated Pipit that was found at Porth Hellick Pool. This morning it was still present and I managed to get some pics including the one above.

After spending an hour with the Red-throated Pipit. first thing as the sun was rising at Porth Hellick, I was keen to get in the kayak and get to Bryher. Although I saw the Pallid Harrier on Samson yesterday, distantly viewed from Star Castle in very good light, It was a long shot, but I was hoping that the harrier might return to Bryher where Scot first sighted it. In the six hours that I was on the island, no sign of the harrier and really nothin else of note except for hirundines, 800 Swallow, 120 House and 20 Sand Martin, moving straight through out north. Otherwise it was 9 Blackcap, 2 Whitethroat, 30 Whimbrel, 20 Wheatear, 6 Chiffchaff, 1 Sedge Warbler, 1 Black Redstart and my first Garden Warbler of the year. The Pallid Harrier was not seen throughout the day and must of moved on after it’s one day stay.

In the 100s of Red-throated Pipit that I’ve observed abroard, I can’t recall seeing one so bright as this individual that proved to be hard work in getting a photo as it weaved in and out of the reed stems.

There were up to 4 Gadwall on the pool

When I returned home, I spotted this funnel cloud to the south from the window where I took this image from. I was just about to put the news out, but it was all to brief and it just disappeared.

It also proved to be hard work on Bryher with the lack of common migrants and only 2 Whitethroat

Blackcap were down from 40 from my last visit last week to 9 today

Out of the 20 Wheatear this male was in full song and displaying to a female on the down

This Black Redstart was at the campsite

There were up to 30 Whimbrel at the southern end

Good numbers of Stonechat appear to be breeding on Bryher

I got home just after 19.00 to find ‘Billy’ and this brute in front of the Castle obs window

Also 4 Greenfinch on the bird table with some 50 House Sparrow. All pics taken from the window

Yesterday, this Blue Tit performed well in the evening light at Carn Withiers and down the road I had a Hawfinch fly west over Trenoweth Farm

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