Another Scilly Sojourn, Pt.1 - 8th to 12th March, 2020

I’ll open this post by apologising for being somewhat inattentive to the blogs of people that I follow in Bloggerland. This, as some of you will know, is partially due to the fact that I came back from a week on the Isles of Scilly with a stack of photographs to process.

On top of this, there has been the coronavirus situation. I have seen many comments from people about what they are going to do with all this free time that they have, now that they are confined to their homes. However, I’m sure that we are not unique in finding that this whole corona thing is extremely time-consuming. Before heading off to the Scillies, we ran down our perishable foodstuffs, not realising at the time that, by the time of our return, basic essentials would be extremely difficult to source. Both Lindsay and I are vulnerable for both health and age reasons, and put ourselves into full isolation immediately on our return from the Scillies. We’ve not left the premises since. We have a decent-sized refrigerator, but only a small freezer, and it was our custom to go shopping two or three times a week for fresh food. Much time has been spent trying to obtain a second freezer, and trying to get a delivery slot for foodstuffs and other essentials. We’re getting there now, but it looks as if it will be at least three weeks before we can get another delivery.

Anyway – on to our visit to the Isles of Scilly:-

Sunday, 8^th March              Ashby de la Zouch to Hayle (Cornwall)

As at the same time last year, Lindsay and I were accompanied by our daughter, Melanie, and our granddaughter Georgie, who travelled down to Cornwall independently. The journey was a little stressful as the dangers of coronavirus were already evident and it’s a 300 mile (480 km) 5 hour journey (without stops). However, several stops were essential en-route for visits to the loo, and this would have us mingling with all and sundry. We did take the precaution of taking a picnic with us to eat in a car park, rather than queue at an outlet in one of the service areas.

Melanie and Georgie arrived at our accommodation, the Premier Inn just outside Hayle, about half an hour after us, at around 16h30. Because of Georgie’s needs, our evening meal was a take-away from the Scottish Restaurant (McDonalds for the uninitiated), and then we were soon settled in for an early night, with the alarm set for 05h30.

Monday, 9^th March            Hayle to Land’s End to St. Mary’s (Isles of Scilly)

We gave ourselves an early start in order to guard against any possible delays in getting to Land’s End airport, with the biggest risk being the ability to get Georgie on the road. Our flight wasn’t until 09h40, with an 08h40 check-in time, and we’d opted to get a light breakfast in the café at the airport. We set off, therefore, at 07.15. It was a smooth journey, and we were soon settled in at the airport. Having ascertained that the morning flights were set to run on time (but those intending to fly in the afternoon would not be so lucky) I cancelled our standby booking for the Premier Inn that night. Due to the problems with Georgie’s autistic condition, we were allowed to be the first to board the 17-seat aircraft, with Georgie sitting in the single left-hand seat of the front row, me behind her, and Melanie and Lindsay beside her on the other side of the aisle, so she was surrounded by family. It was a relatively smooth flight of less than 20 minutes duration.

Baggage was soon retrieved and the friendly team from Paulger’s Transport took us by minibus to the entrance to our rental property. There we were met by Jenny, who manages the property and who expressed pleasure that we had not cancelled our stay. I got the impression that she was already losing a lot of bookings. 

Once settled in, Melanie and I headed off to the Coop to buy provisions for our stay, noting that already some items were in short supply.

It was afternoon before I got out and took a wander along the path that runs along the sea wall past the bottom of the garden of the property. The threatened strong wind had arrived and the planes had stopped flying as predicted.

Song Thrushes are plentiful on the Scillies and tend to be very confiding, so I was pleased to have my first encounter with one.

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

Wren also does extremely well on the islands, probably because of the type of coarse drystone walls which are a common feature. I usually find one or two Wrens at the west end of Porthcressa beach.

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

The rocks at the west end of Porthcressa beach are also a virtually guaranteed location for Rock Pipits.

Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

My greatest excitement, however, was at finding a pair of Great Northern Divers in the bay, albeit at a some distance. Although not rare, it is not often that I get the opportunity to see this species. Here is one of the two.

Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

Little did I know that I was soon to get insanely better opportunities with these divers.

Because of the strong cold wind, I didn't stay out for long and spent the rest of the day settling in at base.

Tuesday, 10th March       Porthcressa - Peninnis - Carn Leh - Old Town - Salakee Down - Porth Hellick - Porthcressa

I took a pre-breakfast stroll along the sea front, getting a tantalising glimpse of a Black Redstart on the rocks that divide the beach at Porthcressa and only managed a record shot which I won't trouble you with here. A couple of Rock Pipits were on these rocks too.

Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

Some Ostercatchers were amongst the seaweed which had accumulated on the beach to the west of the rocks.

Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

For the past two years at this time I have enjoyed the daily presence of a Greenshank on Porthcressa beach at the Littleporth (west) end. I was delighted to see there was one there this year too.

Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

It was now time to head back to base for breakfast, after which I set off for a walk. I'd only got as far as the eastern end of Porthcressa beach when I noticed that one of the Great Northern Divers was coming in somewhat closer.

Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

I stood still at the water's edge and waited and it eventually came ridiculously close to the shore.

Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

I waited for it to slowly wander away from me and then set off on my travels again, taking the steep path up Buzza Hill, stopping en-route to take some shots of a Blackbird - I like to photograph common birds too!

Blackbird (Turdus merula) (female) - Buzza Hill, St. Mary's

From Buzza Hill, I took the track that is King Edward's Road onto Peninnis Head. Little was seen, probably not helped by the strong wind. However, I did get brief views of Stonechat just though the gate here - this is usually a good place for Stonechat - and managed a couple of distant shots of a female, before they disappeared.

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) (female) - Peninnis Head, St. Mary's

I then descended the east side of Peninnis, stopping just before Carn Léh to take a shot of a pretty red flowered bush that is very widespread and plentiful on St. Mary's. I understand that this is a Pittosporum that was introduced from New Zealand!

Pittosporum crassifolium - near Carn Léh, St. Mary's

Just before Old Town Church, I took a photo of another shrub which I found attractive, but have no idea what it was! I suspect it will be obvious to someone.

? - near Old Town Church, St. Mary's

My walk then took me to Lower Moors where nothing of interest was seen from the IOSBG hide, and deep-looking water on the path discouraged me from venturing further, so I headed back, then round Tolman Point to Porth Minick, and past the end of the airport runway.

There had been a report of a pair of Chough at Giant's Castle and just after passing the end of the runway I had a view to this outcrop around 200 metres away where I could see a couple of black birds being harassed by a large corvid. By their behaviour, I'm pretty sure the two birds were the Choughs. I tried to take some distant shots, but found that I'd managed to lock onto the corvid (a Carrion Crow) and got a brief glimpse of the Choughs (?) disappearing round Church Point.  

I then continued on to Salakee Down. As I descended from the entrance grave area I spotted an interesting-looking fly and spent a minute or two trying to photograph it. I have to say, I'm quite pleased with the result which I think is a testament to the versatility of the Sigma 50-500 zoom lens - I'm somewhat upset that, for some reason best known to themselves, Sigma have discontinued production of this lens, replacing it with the 60-600 at twice the price and twice the weight. Every photo in this post was taken with the Sigma 50-500.

Yellow Dung Fly (Scathophaga stercoraria) - near Porth Hellick, St. Mary's

My thanks to Bob Dawson, from the Scillies, for pointing me towards 'dung fly' when I had no idea of its identity.

I called in at both hides on Higher Moors, only taking a few shots from Seaward Hide of the several Gadwall (8, I think) that were present.

Gadwall (Mareca strepera) (male) - Porthhellick Pool, St. Mary's

I continued northwards, getting very wet feet on one flooded area of the path, until I reached the road, and then headed back towards base by road until I reached the road to the hospital, where I turned off and descended to Porthcressa from Buzza Hill.

As I came down the hill, I could see two Great Northern Divers in the bay and, having reached the beach, managed to get a few shots with both birds together. They were much further out than they had been earlier.

Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

One of the birds spent a long while seeming to play with a bit of weed. However, I think, on further examination, that there was some sort of crustacean attached to the weed, which it was trying to get at.

Great Northern Diver (Gavia immer) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

I had a late lunch back at base, and my afternoon stroll around the harbour yielded nothing of interest. That night we had a very enjoyable dinner at the Atlantic Inn.

Wednesday, 11th March     Porthcressa - Buzza Hill - Peninnis Head - Carn Léh - Old Town - Porthcressa

This day started somewhat warmer than the previous two days, but very windy once more. A pre-breakfast visit to the beach gave me another tantalising glimpse of Black Redstart, but no usable photos. The first reasonable shots I got were of a Pied Wagtail. I get the impression that, at this time of year, there tends to be an influx of Pied Wagtails and White Wagtails on the Scillies, and I find I often struggle to tell one from the other without one in each hand. Please let me know, therefore, if I mis-ID one.

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba ssp. yarellii) (male) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

At first I was not seeing many birds and found myself photographing lichen - which I know absolutely nothing about, but find quite attractive!

lichen #1 - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

lichen #2 - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

As I headed back along the sea wall, the Black Redstart landed briefly some distance in front of me.

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

By the rocks at the western end of the beach a warbler was flitting about. At first, I took this to be a Willow Warbler because of the pale legs, but I now think it was a Chiffchaff - comments welcome! Although I can see from my photos that it was being quite vocal at times, it is one of the problems of wearing hearing aids, as I do, that the noise of a strong wind and splashing waves overrides any other sound - I didn't hear so much as a peep from this bird!

Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collybita) - Littleporth, St. Mary's

It was now time for a relatively late breakfast, after which I set off for a walk, heading up Buzza Hill once more, with the thought that I might find the Choughs on Peninnis. 

I stopped half-way up Buzza Hill to take some shots of Porthcressa bay - the property that was our base is at the bottom of that yellow line.

Porthcressa, St. Mary's

Just to keep the trigger finger exercised I also took some shots of overhead gulls. The shot that follows this one (which I won't show) made me very glad I wasn't standing underneath it!

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) - from Buzza Hill, St. Mary's

Peninnis Head was not very productive. I attempted some shots of a distant passing Gannet, but the results were well below par, as were ones of a Carrion Crow high up on a rock. A visit to Peninnis is always a pleasure, however, as the rock formations up there are inspiring - this one is known as Pulpit Rock.

Pulpit Rock - Peninnis Head, St. Mary's

This time I managed distant shots of both male and female Stonechats and one of the Wrens that are usually easily found on the head.

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) (female) - Peninnis Head, St. Mary's

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) (male) - Peninnis Head, St. Mary's

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - Peninnis Head, St. Mary's

I then continued to Lower Moors via Carn Léh, and was disappointed to find that someone had smashed a glass bottle on the floor into tiny fragments and the two pairs of binoculars that are provided in the hide had been hung out of the windows. I reported this on the WhatsApp group and was told that a Ranger would be dispatched to sort out the mess.

I then headed back up the road towards base taking the Buzza Hill route again. Near the bottom of the path, I photographed this hoverfly - again I have no idea of the species.

hoverfly sp. - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

Having made myself a sandwich for a relaxed late lunch, I headed off to the beach outside the property once more. A young Shag was just off shore.

Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis) (juvenile) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

I also photographed Pied Wagtail (more certain of this one!), Rock Pipit, and got a slightly better shot of Black Redstart.

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba ssp. yarellii) (male) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

That night we dined in, then had a relatively early night.

Thursday 12th March       Porthcressa - Hugh Town - Porthcressa - The Garrison - Porthcressa

I had a later start this day, not getting out until after breakfast. The day had dawned quite sunny, but there was still a strong wind.

A post-breakfast visit to the beach below the property gave me some photo opportunities with a pair of Stonechat that were by the rocks in the centre of the beach.

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) (female) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) (male) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

At the west end of the beach, a Wren was also somewhat obliging.

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

I then headed for the harbour, where a Great Northern Diver was evident, but too far away for any worthwhile photography. 

As I returned to the Porthcressa side of the isthmus, via the alleyways that are quite common in Hugh Town, a Dunnock popped up onto the wall beside me. For some reason, I've not been conscious of Dunnock on the Scillies before, although I'm sure they will have been there. However, they seemed to show up all over the place during this visit.

Dunnock (Prunella modularis) - Hugh Town, St. Mary's

Having returned to the beach, I found both Pied and White Wagtail, Greenshank, and a Wren once more. My wagtail shots don't make the grade, but I was interested to see the Greenshank pull something out of the water, although I'm not sure what it was.

Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

I couldn't resist some more shots of the Wren, which seemed to be getting used to my presence.

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

After a lazy lunch at base, before going out, I noticed an odd-looking beetle on the stairs in the property. My thanks, once again, to Bob Dawson for identifying this as Creophilus maxillosus - the Hairy Rove Beetle. I subsequently learned that these can give a painful nip if disturbed!

Hairy Rove Beetle (Creophilus maxillosus) - Littleporth, St. Mary's

It had been a few years since I had taken a walk round the Garrison - the fortified headland that is separated from the rest of St. Mary's by the isthmus on which Hugh Town is situated. This day I decided to rectify that situation. 

Soon after reaching the walls, I noticed that the 'Porthcressa Three' were below me in the bay. I feel that I should tell you about these ducks, whose fame is spreading (they even have their own Facebook account!), although they are not wild birds. If I've got the facts right, two of these ducks were once domestic ducks owned by one of the Scillies key birders - Kris ('Spider') Webb. Keeping the story short, they left their home in a storm in 2015 and became 'sea ducks' and were later joined by a third duck. I first noted them out in the bay three years ago and they have been a regular sight every day that I've been there since. Last year, they produced eleven ducklings. Sadly, gulls predated many of them until they were transported to a safer location by Kris, and were fostered by another duck. I believe four ducklings survived. Anyway, here are the Porthcressa Three :-

The Porthcressa Three - Porthcressa, St. Mary's

I saw several birds during my perambulations, including Great Northern Diver, Shag, Cormorant, Gannet, and Stonechat, but all were at a great distance and no worthwhile photos resulted, partly because it was hard to stand still in the very strong wind that was buffeting me. I was quite high up, and the spume was blowing over my head! I did, however, take a few shots of the seascape. This is Penninis Head, taken from almost exactly 1 km away.

Peninnis Head - from the Garrison, St. Mary's

I believe this next one includes the islands of Samson, Bryher and Tresco (l to r) in the distance.

'off islands' - from the Garrison, St. Mary's

I'll end the photographic aspect of this blog post with a couple of shots from the end of my visit to the Garrison that day. Both the bee and the thrush were attempting to shelter from the wind.

Buff-tailed Bumblebee (Bombus terrestris) (queen?) - The Garrison, St. Mary's

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) - The Garrison, St. Mary's

That night, we dined in again.


Hopefully, the second part of my account of our stay on the Scillies will be ready in about a week's time.

In the meantime, thank you for your visit. Please take great care and stay safe and well in these difficult times.