Scillies 2017 Day 3 - all about the Crests and Warblers

Although it was a hard slog today with lots of walking and searching, it was rewarding for the sheer numbers of crests into St Marys - almost everywhere I stopped had birds calling, and I reckon easily 100 without trying ! Chiffchaffs were also on the up and a lot of birds seen and heard.

As i am now staying in the delightful Standing Stone cottage at Bants Carn, not only does this mean no beer at the Bishop , but also i am slap bang in the middle of decent habitat just by looking out the window , and within 2 minutes of having a look , a Black Redstart on the roof of the outbuilding, Male Blackcap and 2 Chiffchaffs were seen in the garden.

I then spent the next hour taking a very slow walk around the Bants Carn area , stopping for quite a while at the Carn itself to indulge in a spot of viz migging

although not earth shattering numbers, it was nice to see the following - all were coming from the direction of Tresco

5 Siskin
2 Snipe
1 White Wagtail
Blackcap
1 Chaffinch

around the Carn itself were 2 Stonechats and 5 Meadow Pipits

I carried on walking up the path that runs alongside the Golf course , a quick pish and Bang ! Yellow Browed Warbler always brilliant to self find one of these eastern gems ! got great views for about 30 seconds before it dived off round a bush , which suddenly Phil and Helen appeared from :-) Phil managed to get some good photos !

I then walked slowly up the path before stopping again , big pish and another Bang ! this time an Excellent Firecrest  this one allowed me to actually get my camera out of my bag and actually photograph it ! I actually got some that i like, 4 Goldcrests accompanied it

Another slow wander down Telegraph road resulted in another Black Redstart behind the water tanks, 4 more Chaffinch over , another "Alba" Wagtail and another Siskin. Sunken garden for lunch - only 2 Goldcrests here

I had by now reached Trewince, where a Dragonfly was flying around an enclosed field , i dont know any of these species well but this was very light brown if that aids ID , it or another one was called over the radio as a possible Vagrant Emperor, but no idea !

then onto the crop fields before Carrag Dhu , a quick 5 minute watch netted 2 Blackcaps, 2 Goldcrests, 2 Goldfinch, 2 Linnet , 6 Song Thrush , 4 Blackbird , 5 Wren and 10 Dunnock !

a Chiffchaff back on the road was calling loudly

decided to have a 10 minute stop in Carrag Dhu gardens and while having a quick snack , i was joined by this Blackbird with a broken wing

Later found out from Will Scott that he has survived over a year ! , not much else in the Gardens other than 2 Chiffchaffs and 4 Goldcrest

walked towards Porthellick - the new boardwalk is coming on nicely !

Nothing much doing from the Steven Sussex hide other than a brief flypast of a Kingfisher , 2 Teal and 1 Snipe

1 Chiffchaff and 2 Goldcrests were between the hides , the Seaward hide held Ian B and a really nice guy called Lloyd who i chatted with for about 20 mins whilst "enjoying" the putative Wilsons Snipe ( very bad shots ! ) 6 Greenshank and another 10 Snipe in the far roost.

said goodbye to Lloyd and headed round the Porthellick loop, lots of pishing later and the tally was 1 Firecrest , 10 Goldcrests and 2 Chiffchaffs

No sign of the earlier Spotted Crake , but 2 Chiffchaff and 8 Goldcrest here , another 12 Goldcrest and 3 Chiffchaff were nearer Holy Vale , but best of all was my 2nd self find Yellow Browed Warbler of the day calling and showing really well ( allowed some terrible photos :-) ) just at the entrance to Holy Vale.

10 Goldcrest, 3 Chiffchaff and 2 Water Rails were the best Holy vale had to offer and then a male Siskin as I climbed the long hill upto Maypole

A couple of friendly birders pointed out the correct Hawthorn bush and two cracking Hawfinches were feeding and showing well - my photos might give you some idea of how far away i was though !

2 more Siskin buzzing over and 3 Goldcrest as we approached Newford Duckpond , despite my best efforts, could not increase on my YBW tally ( 2 were reported from there today ) and only 3 Chiffchaff gave themselves up

it was then a misty walk home .... but all was not quite over as Phils diligence paid off at 18:36 when the Short Eared Owl that was seen earlier over the Golf course began quartering Bants Carn as we viewed it from the the balcony a brilliant addition to the trip list which currently stands at 76 !

its Hurricane arrival tomorrow and having stepped outside , you can feel the wind getting up !

the biggee will be found tomorrow ......