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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