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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SCILLYSPIDER 2 