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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