ISLES OF SCILLY 2013

My annual birding week to the Isles of Scilly this October, was to be my 28th year in succession. Unfortunately it turned out to be one of the worst weeks I can remember for seeing and finding rare birds. It didn't help that very few birders were on the islands on what has been traditionally recognised as THE week and very few semi-rare birds to look at, let alone any major vagrants. A mixed bag of weather with wind directions mainly from the south, made little difference. Best vagrant bird of the week was a North American Sora Rail on the Great Pool on Tresco and a self-found Water Pipit was my bird of the week, a rare species for the islands. So with  little in the way of rarities to photograph, I took advantage of other opportunities that passed me by.

Highlights were a Sora on Tresco; Spotted Crake and Jack Snipe at Lower Moors on St. Mary's; Garganey on Tresco; 12 Yellow-browed Warblers; Short-toed Lark on St.Agnes; 2 Rose-coloured Starling (1 on St.Agnes & 1 on St.Mary's); 2 1st winter Mediterranean Gull on St.Mary's; 3 Black Redstart; Subalpine Warbler at Longstones, St.Mary's; Water Pipit at Borough Farm, St.Mary's and a fly-over Ring Ouzel, Garrison, St.Mary's. I managed to move my year list on to 250.

  

Above two images – Sora Rail – Great Pool, Tresco, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison (Heavily Cropped)

Above two images – Spotted Crake – Lower Moors, St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Yellow-browed Warbler – Covean, St. Agnes, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison 

Rose-coloured Starling – Juvenile – Warner's Cove, St. Agnes, isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Subalpine Warbler – Longstones, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison (Only managed this heavily cropped record shot)

Above two images – Dawn over Porthcressa Bay, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – Tony Davison

Lower Moors, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – Tony Davison

Above three images – Kingfisher – note red base to bill indicating a female – Lower Moors, St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Greenshank – Lower Moors, St.Mary's, Ilses of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Little Grebe – Lower Moors, St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Above two images – The Nags Head, Castella Down, St.Agnes, Isles of Scilly – Tony Davison

Town Beach, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Above three images – Turnstone – Town Beach, St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Above two images – Adult Great Black-backed Gull – Town Beach, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Adult Herring Gull – Town Beach, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

1st year Herring Gull – Porthcressa, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Morning Point, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Blackbird – male – Morning Point, St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 –  Tony Davison

Wire Weed – Buzza Rock, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – Tony Davison

Earth Star – Great Pool, Tresco, Isles of Scilly – Tony Davison

Oxalis pes-coprae (Bermuda Buttercup) – St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – Tony Davison

The Dragon of Holy Vale – St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – Tony Davison

Above two images – Moorhen – Newford Ducvk Pond, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Above two images – House Sparrow – male – St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Above two images – Northern Wheatear – Porthmellon Beach, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Teal – female – Shooter's Pool, Lower Moors, St.Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Pied Wagtail – (note grey flanks & black rump) – Porthmellon Beach, St. Mary's, Isles of Scilly – 19th – 25th Oct 2013 – Tony Davison

Cromwell's Castle, Tresco, Isles of Scilly – Tony Davison

Homeward Bound – The Scillonian leaves St.Mary's in a Howling Gale and a heavy swell – Tony Davison

Painted Lady – An influx to the islands during our week – Tresco, Isles of Scilly – Tony Davison ( Bright orange individuals)