Fin Whale off Morning Point

November 29th 2021

Yesterday, this Fin Whale was feeding with a large pod of Common Dolphin, viewed close in off Morning Point.

For the third time in nine days, yesterday in the dull, calm conditions, it was another kayak out to Tresco. The first thirty minutes of birding I had already seen the 8 pale-bellied Brent Geese on the Abbey Pool and at the crossroads, 5 Siberian Chiffchaff, single Firecrest and the Eastern Lesser Whitethroat and Northern ‘type’ Willow Warbler. The two latter species, I was hoping to spend some time with. However, like on my last visit here, five days ago, they were only glimpsed as they both moved on. The Glossy Ibis flew over and perched at the top of the trees high up out of sight. There was a report of a Black-throated Diver off the South Beach. I scanned from the shore, no sign of the diver, instead, there was a Great Northern Diver. I moved on and a few minutes later I was approaching the Rosefields Crossroads where I could hear the Dusky Warbler in the Sallows to my right. It was very vocal and showed well but getting a photo was another thing altogether. And that can also be said of the same for the individual near to the David Hunt Hide. Vocal but no chance of a pic. So there are still 2 Dusky Warbler present in the same areas as to where I had them on the 20th of November. Will they winter?

Many of the images below are a mix from today and my last visit to Tresco, five days ago, 24th

When I first saw this Willow Warbler five days ago, 24th, at the Abbey Crossroads, Tresco, I thought a Northern ‘type’ However, it could just be a late Willow Warbler. I had a single once on the 6th December

Crossing the channel in my kayak from St Mary’s to Tresco and there were up to 12 Mediterranean Gull including this adult

By the time I had arrived at the David Hunt Hide, I had already counted up to 12 Siberian Chiffchaff

Glossy Ibis over Abbey wood

I went to the South Beach, no sign of the reported Black-throated Diver but there was this Great Northern Diver

There are still 2 Dusky Warbler hanging on, including at Rosefields Crossroads and this individual near to the David Hunt Hide. The pic is from the 24th.

From the Swarovski Hide, scanning the Great Pool, there were still present, Glossy Ibis, Spoonbill, 2 Pintail, 5 Wigeon, the male Shoveler, Grey wagtail, LESSER SCAUP but no sign of the 6 Whooper Swan. Teal had increased to 65. Outside I could hear more of both Chiffchaff and Siberian chiffchaff and nearby I came across a small flock of finches including 7 Brambling. On the south side of the pool, it was pretty quiet along Abbey Drive and I drew a blank with both the Whitethroat and Willow Warbler back at the Abbey Crossroads after giving it forty minutes. Approaching my kayak, parked on the South Beach and there were 2 Yellow-legged Gull hanging out with a very high number for this time of year, some 150 Lesser Black-backed Gull. I returned home just before dark to find the Grey Wagtail in the garden.

It was obvious that there were fewer numbers of Chiffchaff from 35 from my last visit to 20-25 today

I had 3 Siberian Chiffchaff in the same tree but could only get these two in the same frame At the end of the day, altogether there was a total of 15+Siberian chiffchaff but probably close to twenty.

Only 7 Brambling today

Just before I got into my kayak to return home, I scanned the gulls and picked out these 2 Yellow-legged Gull The adult was taken from the kayak

Also on the 24th, this Yellow-browed Warbler was the only one present at the Abbey Crossroads out of the three that were in the areama few days before but no sign today

Also on the 24th, I found the cattle and discovered that there are now 2 Cattle Egret off Pool Road

There were also 5 Red Admiral enjoying the brief sunshine that day

Yesterday I was checking out the Herring Gulls at Morning Point and spotted a HerringxLesser Black-backed Gull Scanning out SE towards Peninnis and there was a large pod of Common Dolphin hunting, moving west towards me. Shortly afterward I got a call from Martin telling me that Paul Whitaker has got a Fin whale very close in off Peninnis Head. I searched like crazy for the next half an hour but it was only the dolphins that I was seeing. After nearly an hour I was just about to leave when Graham Gordon called me. I had only been chatting to him for less than a minute when with my naked eye, I could see the whale at close range. I cut Graham off and just got some record shots as it was slowly disappearing under the water. Later on, I observed it again, further out east of Spanish Ledge with the dolphins. Are we goin to have another spectacular whale show in the next few months, like we did last winter?

Sub-adult HerringxLesser Black-backed Gull

What a beast! The Fin Whale giving me a pass off Morning Point or is it a submarine?

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3 Dusky Warbler on Tresco

20th November 2021

No chance of getting a pic of any of the 3 Dusky Warbler I discovered today but this Spoonbill was a delight to see at close range instead of on some distant rock while in my kayak off Samson

I kayaked to Tresco this morning in the dull conditions with a slight WSW breeze after less than 20hrs of SE and arrived at South Beach at 08.30 The 8 pale-bellied Brent Geese flew into the Abbey Pool and when I reached Abbey crossroads, I was greeted by the sound of 2 Siberian Chiffchaff, Yellow-browed Warbler and a not so vocal Dusky Warbler. Of the latter species, like I did this time last year also on Tresco, I was expecting to come across one or two birds. Sure enough, some twenty minutes later I could hear another Yellow-browed and Dusky Warbler near Rosefields Crossroads. Also small numbers of Brambling, Siskin, and more Siberian Chiffchaff. The third Dusky Warbler was picked up by the David Hunt hide, Pool Road. Like the other two Dusky Warbler, I got recordings on my mobile but I only caught glimpses of all three in the thick Sallows. Moving on towards the Swarovski hide, I was listening out for another Dusky Warbler but instead was pleased in seeing another Yellow-browed Warbler and only my second Firecrest of the autumn near to the hide. By the time I had come to the end of Pool Road, at a minimum, I had seen and most of them heard, 14 Siberian Chiffchaff. How many did I not see since leaving the Abbey Pool? Also there were higher numbers of Blue Tit than usual with over 25 with twelve being the largest flock

The 8 pale-bellied Brent Geese on the Abbey Pool

This record shot, if you can make out where it is, was all I could get out of all 3 Dusky Warbler as they were very elusive but I did get a recording of all three calling from my mobile. It wasn’t long ago when we used to get excited when you found or twitched a Dusky Warbler on Scilly. It’s now like, three? I thought you would have found six today! How many are there hiding on Scilly at the moment? I’ve seen five in the last four days and in the SW of Cornwall, there are four Dusky Warbler today.

Two of the 3 Yellow-browed Warbler at the Abbey Crossroads and the Swarovski Hide

Out of the 30 Chiffchaff that I had counted so far, half of them were Siberian Chiffchaff. How many are there on Tresco where I did not cover or did cover? And if you add on the 15+ on St Mary’s, then that’s over 30 birds!! And what about Bryher, St Agnes and Martins?

Over 20 Goldcrest were also feeding in the same areas as the Siberian Chiffchaff

Smaller numbers of Brambling from the 15 I had on St Mary’s yesterday with only nine birds altogether

Only some 20 Chaffinch including this female at Rosefield Crossroads

over 25 Blue Tit was a pretty high count for Tresco

But I only 6 Great Tit.

Opened the slats to find a Spoonbill at close range from the Swarovski Hide. It flew off and teamed up with the Glossy Ibis, 3 Little Egret, 8 Redshank and 6 Greenshank on the SW corner of the Great pool. Observing the ibis, Spoonbill and egrets together, would not been thought of less than five years ago. Also on the pool were the 6 Whooper Swan and distantly the LESSER SCAUP was hanging out with 4 Pochard and a single Pintail, Shoveler and Wigeon. I counted up to 82 Coot and large numbers of gulls were coming into bath and in an hour some 21 Mediterranian Gull moved through with 16 on the water at the same time. Leaving, I found the Glossy Ibis had made the short flight to the field opposite the entrance to the hide. On the south side, along Abbey Drive, I could hear more Siberian Chiffchaff but as they were close to the pool, I couldn’t really add them on as they could be birds from the north side of the pool commuting with the two sides. The same with Blue Tit with small numbers along the drive. I reckon that’s there’s probably up to 20 Siberian Chiffchaff in the areas I’ve just covered. The rest of the island, who knows? I only had time to check out South Beach before returning home. 7 Dunlin, 40 Turnstone were with over 150 Ringed Plover and now on the edge of the shore, the 8 Brent Geese. Yet, another good day on Tresco but I’m expecting someone tomorrow to find a Dusky Warbler back on St Mary’s

From the Swarovski Hide, I got some cracking views of this Spoonbill

This Glossy Ibis was first seen on the Great Pool before moving into the field opposite the entrance to the Swarovski Hide

Another species that we used to get excited over was Mediterranean Gull. from one or two in a year over ten years ago, now we see flocks of 40-50 in late summer/autumn. On the Great Pool there were up to 21 birds which is a high count for the winter on Scilly.

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2 Dusky Warbler on St Mary’s

19th November 2021

Three days ago, 15th, I came across a Dusky Warbler at Higher Moors. The following day, Steve Holloway discovered this Dusky Warbler at Lower Moors where it’s been showing well, including today, east of the Hilda Quick hide.

Four days ago, Graham Gordon text me in the morning ‘Surprised there’s no Dusky Warbler on Scilly at the moment since there were 4-5 this time last year’ I discovered three of them and I was already out listening hard for one My reply, less than an hour later ‘Just found a Dusky Warbler! No surprise really. It was not so vocal, deep in cover on the trail towards Holy Vale at Higher Moors. The following day, after listening to the Dusky Warbler, Steve Holloway came across a very vocal and showery individual just off the boardwalk east of the Hilda Quick hide, Lower Moors. And it was still present today in the same scrub. Also in the area were some 7-8 vocal Siberian Chiffchaff, 2 Siskin, 5 Woodcock, a single Reed Bunting, Grey Wagtail and Yellow-browed Warbler at Shooters Pool. Brambling seemed to be all over the shop, in the trees or flying overhead, including a mixed flock of 15 with 11 Chaffinch. I also had over 30 Brambling at Newford/Pungies Lane yesterday. This is a high count for Scilly.

This Dusky Warbler at Lower Moors playing hard to get at times

But nowhere near as hard as the two-day stayer at Higher Moors, 15-17th I got a text from Graham Gordon ‘It’s about time you had a Dusky Warbler’ And shortly after, I heard this Dusky Warbler on the trail to Holy Vale at Higher Moors deep in cover. Didn’t even know I got this heavily cropped record shot at the time until I went through my pics back home on the laptop

Also at Lower Moors today, I saw my third Reed Bunting of the year so far at Shooters Pool

There were smaller numbers of Brambling at Porthloo and I made the effort along the boulders at the north end of Porthloo Beach in search of the Spotted Sandpiper. No sign of the sandpiper but 4 Black Redstart instead. This included an immature male with them and concentrated in trying to creep closer to it. I was sitting on the side, under the cliff face, when the Spotted Sandpiper appeared from nowhere! Ideal! Maybe the redstarts are keeping their distance but the sandpiper was showing at close range. However, it wasn’t hanging around and was on the move but I managed to get a few pics before I turned my attention back to the redstarts to try again. Earlier on I also had 2 Black Redstart at Porthcressa.

While taking pics of the 4 Black Redstart at the far north end of Porthloo Beach this afternoon, the Spotted Sandpiper popped up from the rocks directly in front of me!

Although there were 4 Black Redstart at Porthloo Beach, this male was the only one that came close enough for me to get a decient shot in the dull conditions

In the last few days, altogether I’ve had a total of up to a minimum of 17 Siberian Chiffchaff including this individual, one of the 7-8 at Lower Moors today

This individual was at Newford Duckpond yesterday

While this bueat was one of the 6 I had at Porth Hellick/Higher moors two days ago I also had up to 2 Siberian Chiffchaff at the Dump Clump

A high count of over 30 Brambling with 12 Chaffinch yesterday were in the Newford/Pungies lane area

Three days ago I came across this striking leucistic Redwing at the stables. A Sparrowhawk spooked it and the 150 Redwing it was with and disappeared. However, today it was relocated by Rebecca Williams at Carn Friars

Redwing at the stables

On the morning of the 15th, I had this Cattle Egret in the Salkee fields and was probably the individual that’s been on Tresco for the last week

Good numbers of Collard Dove still visiting the garden

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Radde’s Warbler at Porth Hellick

13th Novermber 2021

After goin missing for nearly two weeks, Robin relocated this Spotted Sandpiper on the very same rocks to where it was first discovered by Matthew Naylor a month to this day, 14th Oct, at Porthloo Beach

Five days ago, I was nearing the end of the north side of the boardwalk on the Porth Hellick loop trail and I just caught a single note from what I thought might be a Wren behind me. But it didn’t sound right and it was enough to stop me in my tracks and listen. It called once more and I rushed over to the west end where the call was coming from as I thought it sounded more like a possible Radde’s Warbler. For the next few minutes, I was running around in all directions inside the wood as it proved to be very mobile, always low out of sight. It only gave itself away to where it was when it called. it was still vocal after a few minutes but I had to leave to get back to work. I managed to get some recordings on my mobile and sent it to James Lidster asking if this is a Radde’s? I also put the recording on the Whatsapp group with ‘What do others think of this call?’ Then the local birders can make their own minds up if they find the recording interesting enough to go and search for it themselves if they also thought that maybe it was Radde’s. Jim came back shortly after and told me that I might be right, that it is a Radde’s Warbler but also warned me that some Robin recordings, are inseparable from Radde’s. Even the sonograms prove mega tough between the two species. After being told this, I was thinking that maybe it’s a Robin after all. We needed to see the bloody thing. Later that day, I was helping Bobby ‘Dazzler’ Dawson out and after he heard the recording, he asked me if I had thought about Hooded Warbler? I wouldn’t have a clue what one sounded like. That night others suggested that it might be a Hooded Warbler as well. We needed to pin this bloody thing down! I immediately let others know that night.

Here is the call of the squeaky toy at Porth Hellick loop trail You may need earphones If all accepted, I’ve now discovered Marsh, Greenish, Western Bonelli’s, Arctic and now Radde’s Warbler in the space of less than four months on Scilly!

Late that evening, I drove down Church Road and caught an owl in the street lights just above but in front of me. It flew low down below the street lights in the center of the road, where I could see that it was a Long-eared Owl. It turned off at the junction to the Stone Shop and flew NW over the park. I continued on home and as I approached the Police Station, it reappeared from nowhere, very low over the road only meters in front of me and flew off into the dark south towards Sallyport.

First thing the next morning, there was only Scott and myself hoping to catch a glimpse of the third Hooded Warbler for Britain! Just before we had to both return to work, I could hear it faintly calling in the reeds nearby. As it was in the reeds, that kinda ruled out Robin but now pointed more towards the reed loving Hooded Warbler. We let others know that whatever it is, it’s still here calling. Shortly afterwards, I returned with Steve Holloway, who moved over to live on Scilly a few months ago, and we heard the Hooded, Radde’s Warbler/Robin, Chicken, Hedgehog, squeaky toy, whatever it is, give away a single note only a few meters in front of us. Steve said ‘that’s it!’ He was spot on. It was it. Whatever that is? We didn’t hear a peep after nearly an hour and I left Steve still on the loop trail. It wasn’t long before he called me to say that it’s been very vocal, deep in cover out of sight, low down in a Sallow, a step away from the north side of the boardwalk. He had made his mind up to what he thought it was and when he observed it fly out, he was 100% that it was a Radde’s Warbler. Shite!! Like everyone else, I so wanted it to be a Hooded Warbler. Oh well, like the Arctic Warbler that I found a few days ago, it’s a species that I’ve been hoping to discover on Scilly for some time now. However, now we know what species it is, I would like to see it. I returned early afternoon to find a small gathering of local birders in the area, who had heard it nearby. It was not until I returned later on, when everyone had moved off, that I observed the Radde’s Warbler very briefly, mid-way up the same Sallow that Steve had it earlier. As it made it’s way down, I tried desperately to focus on it with the camera but it was no good as it was always half-hidden behind too many tiny branches and before I knew it, it was on the deck where all I could see was movement from the undergrowth it was deep within. Just then Scott came around the corner and I quickly told him what I had just observed. I thought I had nearly an hour to hang out in the area but I had to move on as I could hear my helicopter coming in half an hour earlier.

The following day I spent whatever time I could off work in the Porth Hellick loop trail area. For my effort I did see a single Yellow-browed Warbler, 6 Siberian Chiffchaff, 20 Chiffchaff and near to the pumping station, the Eastern ‘Type’Lesser Whitethroat but no sign of the Radde’s Warbler. But Robin jammed in on it later in the afternoon on the deck calling almost under the boardwalk. And two days ago, it was only heard by others in the same area in the reeds north of the boardwalk. If accepted it will be the latest Scilly record

Yesterday, I had an hour off work and got a pleasant surprise when I walked into the north entrance of Lower Moors. A very vocal Yellow-browed Warbler!! Probably only my third this autumn! While it was still calling, I could hear another one towards the Shooters Pool. 2 Yellow-browed Warbler new in!! In the area, there were also 6 Siberian Chiffchaff, a single Willow Warbler and Lesser Redpoll, 4 Woodcock and 6 Swallow.

Both Yellow-browed Warbler at Lower Moors were very vocal but both birds proved very elusive

This Lesser Redpoll paused briefly before moving on

At least 6 Siberian Chiffchaff also in the area

This morning, was very gloomy with light drizzler. although there was no sign of the Radde’s warbler yesterday, I covered Porth Hellick loop trail and of note were only 2 Siberian Chiffchaff, 2 Swallow and 4 Woodcock. Overhead, winter thrushes were overhead and by 11.00, some 600 Redwing and 50 Fieldfare had moved through with the odd Brambling and handful of Siskin. Also, 22 Snipe flew north and 24 Stock Dove NW.

No sign of the Radde’s Warbler at Porth Hellick but still good numbers of Siberian Chiffchaff on St Mary’s including this vocal individual at Porth Hellick

Very small numbers of Brambling knocking around including this individual on the beach

I had 6 Swallow yesterday but there were I only saw two this morning

Later in the afternoon, the weather had improved a little and Robin relocated the Spotted Sandpiper at Porthloo Beach since it was last seen nearly two weeks ago at Watermill. As usual, it showed off under the cliffs at high tide at the north end of the beach. There were also 2 Black Redstart and later on, just before dark, I had a single at Little Porth and the airport where there were 5 Skylark at the latter site.

This Spotted Sandpiper has been hanging out on St Mary’s for a month now and has returned to Porthloo Beach where it was first discovered after spending most of it’s time on the east side of the island at Watermill. Note a few spots coming through behind it’s legs.

There has been up to 9 Mediterranean Gull at Porthloo in the last week but there was only this cracking adult present while observing the Spotted Sandpiper

I had up to 4 Black Redstart today

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3rd LESSER SCAUP for Scilly

7th November 2021

This LESSER SCAUP first turned up on St Agnes at end of October The following day it was relocated at the Tresco Great Pool where I managed to get this record shot today

Not getting out in the kayak for over a month, I was eager to jump in it and get out on the water. I arrived at South Beach in the bright sun and I immediately got my target species with a quick scan of the Abbey Pool. viewing from the west side, the LESSER SCAUP, which has been on Tresco for nearly two weeks now, was hanging out with 4 Mallard near to the island. Ideal! But I would like to get a better view of the scaup and made my ways to the east side where it was closer to the shore. For the next twenty minutes, I searched for the duck but it had disappeared and was more than likely back on the Great Pool where it’s been favoring during it’s stay. Nothin else of note on the pool and I cracked on. At the Abbey Crossroads, there was a concentration of a small number of Chiffchaff and Goldcrest. Mixed in with them were a single Willow Warbler, 2 vocal Siberian Chiffchaff and a silent Eastern ‘type’ Lesser whitethroat. The whitethroat proved hard to get as it was very mobile and I only observed it briefly before it moved on.

Heavily cropped shot of the LESSER SCAUP on the Abbey Pool with Mallard

These 2 Siberian Chiffchaff (top two images) at Abbey Crossroads were feeding with some 15 Chiffchaff

And this is the best I could do of a Willow Warbler that moved through the Sallows in a flash

Blue Tit

There were 2 Sparrowhawk knocking around

From the south end to the north end of Pool Road, there were good numbers of Chiffchaff and I also added 4 Siberian Chiffchaff. In the fields bordering the road, in with the 40 Scandinavian Redwing, I spotted a single Icelandic Redwing and Mistle Thrush. From the Swarovski Hide of note were a single Shoveler, 2 Pochard, over 50 Gadwall, 35 Teal, the 6 Whooper Swan and distantly, the LESSER SCAUP. I spent nearly two hours in hide and the scaup came a little closer but I was now looking right into the sun, making observation and photography very difficult. It was worth the two hours sitting in the hide just listening to the very noisy Whooper Swans. Time was almost up on me and I had to get back home. Returning to my kayak, I had one more look at the Abbey Pool where there was a family of 4 pale-bellied Brent Geese, 6 Little Egret came into roost and over 100 Meadow Pipit flew SSE. A scan through the hundreds of large gulls off South Beach revealed an adult HerringxLesser Black-backed Gull before it flew off south. Five minutes later I was following the hybrid in the same direction, south back to St Mary’s.

This Scandinavian Redwing was one of the 40 in the Abbey fields

And feeding with them was this single Icelandic Redwing

Along Abbey Road were 4 Siberian Chiffchaff

And up to 20 chiffchaff

After just catching these 6 Whooper Swan flying away from me over St Mary’s over two weeks ago, it was good to catch up with them settled on the Great Pool

The LESSER SCAUP kept it’s distance on the Great pool and it appears as though it’s moulting into to a male.

Returning back to my kayak and passing the Abbey Pool, were a family of pale-bellied Brent Geese

A large number of over 100 Meadow Pipit flew SSE over the Abbey Pool

And just before I jumped into my kayak, I spotted this HerringxLesser Black-backed Gull off South Beach

The Arctic Warbler at Content Lane was last seen on the 4th. During it’s four-day stay it was very obliging showing at very close range that at times you couldn’t focus on to it with your camera.

Despite having a tick behind it’s eye and having it’s beak half-open all the time, the Arctic Warbler appeared to feed well and on one occasion it spiraled down from the top of the Elms after a fly and almost landed on my shoe!! I couldn’t focus and had to back off and as you can see, it successfully caught it’s prey. crazy but a delightful bird to spend time with.

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Arctic Warbler at Content

1st November 2021

It’s the 1st November and the last thing that I expected to turn up on this day so late, was this Arctic Warbler at Content Lane

Just after 11 this morning, I dropped off guests at the stables, passing the Pink-footed Goose on the way there in it’s usual field at The Moos and also 3 Swallow overhead. I had thirty minutes before returning to work and I thought I would see if Robins Little Bunting he had yesterday off Pungies Lane, might be still there. It didn’t take long to sweep the field with no sign of the bunting but 4 Skylark and 30 each of Chaffinch and Brambling were still present. I continued around until I got to Content Lane. The conditions got duller as the next shower moved through. Immediately, I caught a movement high up in the ivy and lifted my bins and all I could see was a white belly on a large bulky phyllosc It’s November ‘Not another Northern Willow Warbler!’ I thought. I’ve had them in this area before and I’ve lost count of how many I’ve found with one or more of these cracking birds most years and always think, why can’t it, just for once, be an Arctic Warbler? I was looking at it from below but when it moved side on, I caught two narrow pale wing bars and it had a whacky super. I’ve had NWW with prominent supers but only showing a single narrow wing bar. This was looking like the real deal. At last, I had found an Arctic Warbler!! In the next few minutes, it showed at close range as it came down to head height before flicking back into the canopy. I had to return to work and just as I was leaving, Rik Anderson and Scott were already on the scene after I released the news and I left them to it with the warbler.

In the ten minutes that I had with the Arctic Warbler, except for a brief view of it being at head height, it spent most of it’s time high up feeding activly in the top of the Elms and Sycamores.

Earlier on in the morning, the Olive-backed Pipit was still being reported from the usual Nowhere field. A few minutes to spare on my ways to the airport and I managed to get the pipit low down in the east hedge. while in the next-door field, there were 3 Brambling and 12 Siskin. It was not until later on that I went and spent the last hour of light with the Arctic Warbler at Content. It performed well and in the conditions, I put the IOS up and fired off a few shots. I put the camera away and for the next forty minutes, I observed it with bins before returning home.

The Olive-backed Pipit has been hanging out in the same Nowhere field for just over a week now

One of the 3 Brambling next to Nowhere with others overhead elsewhere

Also up to 12 Siskin in the same field with small numbers heard overhead

But only this single Greenfinch in with the Siskin

I returned later on to Content Lane and the Arctic Warbler showed off at close range in the fading light. If all accepted, I’ve now discovered, Marsh, Greenish, Western Bonelli’s and now this Arctic Warbler in less than three months!

No sign of the Richard’s Pipit at Content today but yesterday it gave good views from the road

Also yesterday, there were 3 Wheatear and the Whinchat at the airport carpark

Below are some images of the different Northern Willow Warbler I’ve discovered on Scilly Some individuals appear to look like an Arctic Warbler if viewed from below, all being large and bulky and if only a very brief observation was made. This is just seven NWW that I discovered out of at least the 15+ and they’re all from late October to November Only last year I turned up two but so far this year, not one!

This striking frosty individual with a narrow pale wing bar and prominent white super, was a cracker It looks like another species I discovered it at Higher Moors in November 2015. Note the orangy legs and feet contrasting with the white belly. In fact, I had three different birds on the same day but the others were the usual looking NWW.

This is also one of the three that day at Higher moors appearing your typical NWW and not as frosty as the first three images Just look at that potbelly Don’t see that on your Willow Warblers

Found this corker at Lower Moors and not so frosty as the Higher Moors individual but still very pale looking Nov 2018

In the same area as todays Arctic Warbler was this NWW in Oct 2017 A week later, I relocated it at Lower Moors and shortly after, now in November, I came across it at Higher Moors. Note the white feather misplaced out on the upper coverts of the wing

This was one of two that fed together that I came across on Tresco in Nov 2014

And another one I had at Lower Moors in November 2019

Also at Lower Moors in November 2017

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