Scilly Sojourns, Sept/Oct, 2022, Pt.3 - 30th September to 3rd October

This is the third, and final, part of my account of our stay on the wonderful Isles of Scilly.

Friday, 30th September

We woke to an exceedingly disappointing weather forecast of rain all day, 'heavy' for most of the time, and winds of between 24 and 42 mph. 

As there was only drizzle at around 09.30, and the girls declared that they didn't want the buggy, I decided to head out anyway. It seemed sensible to go to somewhere with a hide to sit in if it was going to chuck it down with rain, so Lower Moors was my destination.

I arrived to find a Common Snipe disappearing from view and just managed a shot of its departure. 

 

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - Lower Moors

A Grey Wagtail flew in, and flew out again before I could get a shot. 

It then went very quiet, and I was having a pleasant conversation with an amicable gentleman. The conversation turned to the subject of Wryneck and, as the rain was still holding off, I offered a lift to the Porth Wreck location. Sadly, someone was wandering around in the quarry looking for the Wryneck, rather than keeping outside the quarry. 

After a while of not seeing the bird, we set off again, stopping at the entrance to Higher Moors and wandering in. Distant views of both Common and Jack Snipe were had from Sussex Hide, and much closer views of a Common Snipe from Seaward Hide. 

 

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - Porth Hellick Pool

Then the rain set in, and we made haste back to the buggy, and headed back to Hugh Town for lunch.

 

The rest of the day was a total wash-out as far as birding and photography was concerned.

Saturday, 1st October

The forecast was for one of the better weather days of our stay, and so it turned out to be, with lots of long sunny spells, lighter winds, and higher temperatures. 

I managed to get out a little earlier than normal, and was on my way by around 09.00. 

My walk along the sea fronts of Littleporth and Porthcressa just turned up the photographic opportunity of a Herring Gull.

 

Herring Gull (Larus argentatus) - Porthcressa

On the path up to Buzza Tower, I stopped to photograph a Red Admiral.

 

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) - Buzza Hill

Once arrived at the top of the hill, I took the road towards Old Town, taking a short diversion down the road that leads to Carn Gwaval. I once saw Spotted Flycatcher take a Red Admiral here. However, this time I found nothing more exciting than a couple of Red Admirals.

Nearly an hour spent in the ISBG hide at Lower Moors produced nothing but six Mallards, some of which looked to be of dubious pedigree, and the definite domestic escape duck that was black with a white breast. No photos were taken from the hide, but I did take some photos of common fare from the path. The Speckled Wood was rather pale for the insula sub-species, but I have little doubt that that is exactly what it was.

Speckled Wood (Pararge aegeria insula) - Lower Moors

Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto) - Lower Moors

I then moved on to Rosehill, where a Pied Flycatcher had been recently reported. The bird was not seen but I did find three male Common Darter dragonflies. At first, there was just one spotted, and I tried for some flight shots for a while, and didn't do very well.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (male) - Rosehill

Eventually, it decided that it needed a rest, and settled!

 

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (male) - Rosehill

The other two specimens were at the second pond, having a bit of an altercation.

I suddenly noticed that my phone was about to die - I suspect that I'd not plugged the charger into it correctly the night before. As the phone was critical, to keep in contact with the girls, and to receive notice of sightings from the local bird and wildlife groups, I hot-footed it back to base to put the phone on charge and have an early lunch.

During this time, a message came through about the sighting of two Clouded Yellow butterflies near Pelistry beach. As this was one of my target species, I decided that a look in that direction was required. The girls agreed to take me out in the buggy to the road to Deep Point. However, there was a very long delay before this materialised, due to difficulties with our granddaughter, Georgie, who is autistic and has other issues too. While I waited, a Song Thrush landed on the back of a garden chair, just outside ther conservatory.

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) - Littleporth

Eventually, Georgie decided that she was ready to move, and we were on our way. As they dropped me off at the parking area, a Clouded Yellow flew past. I spent some time trying to locate it, but failed. 

I then took the coast path to Pelistry Bay, stopping to photograph a Meadow Pipit and Stonechat en route.

 

Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis) - Mount Todden

Rock formation at somewhere north of Mount Todden

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) (female) - Gilbert Porth

As I approached Pelistry Bay, there was a Shag on a rock out in the bay, below me.

 

Shag (Gulosus aristotelis) - Pelistry Bay

I spent some time at the Pelistry field where the Clouded Yellows had been seen earlier, but couldn't find one.

Lindsay and Melanie had enjoyed a stop at Carn Vean cafe that morning, and as I was close by, I  dropped in just before closing time. This turned out to be a very enjoyable and entertaining experience. The 'jaffa cake' cake (a moist chocolate sponge cake with rich chocolate and sharp orange fillings) I chose to have with my Earl Grey tea was absolutely wonderful. The amusement came when a bevy of six House Sparrows decided the cake was theirs. They were so bold that they were trying to beat me to getting at the cake. I had to physically brush them away from the plate. When I had finished the cake, I let them clean the plate.

 

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - Carn Vean Cafe

Feeling replete, I walked to Higher Moors and spent some time in the two hides here. From Sussex hide I saw four Common Snipe, but couldn't find the Jack Snipe that was, apparently, hiding behind a clump of grass. From Seaward hide, I  saw another Snipe.  I didn't bother with the Coots , Moorhens, or Mallards which were there.

 

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - Porth Hellick Pool - from Sussex Hide

Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago) - Porth Hellick Pool - from Seaward Hide

The girls came to pick me up in the buggy just in time to get back to base before the rain started.

Although it had been another relatively unproductive day, it had been a greatly enjoyable one.

Sunday, 2nd October

The evening being mainly occupied by preparing for a homeward departure the next morning, I omitted to make notes that night on how the day had progressed, other than the fact that it became a fine sunny day, after a very wet night. I shall, therefore, be relying on my rather weak powers of memory!

Below the garden, on the beach, a small group of Turnstone were foraging at the water's edge. Unfortunately, the light was in a difficult direction. This is part of that group.

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) - Littleporth

The girls wanted the buggy for the morning, so I got them to drop me off in Old Town. I then headed into Lower Moors where, from ISBG hide, I had a brief glimpse of what I thought was a Water Rail in some reeds. Eventually it partly showed, confirming my suspicions, and I took a few record shots. After about a quarter of an hour it seemed that it was about to head out into the open - but it changed its mind and headed out of sight in the other direction. I waited for another half an hour or so, but it didn't reappear.

Water Rail (Rallus aquaticus) - Lower Moors

Moving on to Rosehill, I was happy to spot a Common Darter again. I am relatively confident this this will have been my last odonata sighting of the year.

Common Darter (Sympetrum striolatum) (male) - Rosehill

After my time at Rosehill, I returned through Lower Moors to Old Town and set off past the church to walk to Peninnis.

Carn Lêh is a fine landmark on this route, and I felt the need to walk round it, rather than past it.

Carn Lêh

In the past, Carn Lêh and its surrounds has been a magnet area for Stonechat, but I only saw a distant Wren on this occasion.

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - Carn Lêh

Ascending the east side of Peninnis there is a pleasant view back to Carn Lêh (which gives a better impression of its size) and Old Town beyond.

View from Peninnis to Carn Lêh and Old Town

Peninnis Head seemed to be relatively devoid of birds, but the Thrift was giving a colourful display.

Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima) - Peninnis Head

A rock, just off the head, had me thinking that, if there was an easy way of accessing it, I would like to spend a while sitting on it with the sea surrounding me.

 

Rock - off Peninnis Head

Heading back towards base on the west side of Peninnis, I was pleased to see a pair of Stonechat. In my experience, Peninnis is THE most reliable place for Stonechat, but I'd not been having any luck with sightings of them here this stay,  I did not fare well with photography, however, as they stayed distant and partially obscured for most of the time.

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) (male) -Peninnis

While trying to photograph the Stonechats, I had a momentary view of another bird that I thought might have been a Whinchat. However, a couple that I'd chatted with a few days previously came from the opposite direction, and told me that they'd earlier seen a Wheatear from the path ahead of me. As I'd not yet seen one this visit, and I do love a good Wheatear, I kept my eyes open and found three further on.

Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe) - Peninnis

A little further on, I noticed that a seal was occasionally popping its nose out of the water. I'd had very few sightings of seals this stay, and so a photo was necessary. I believe that this was a Grey Seal, as Common Seal are extremely rare round the Isles of Scilly, and I can't see enough of the head shape and nostril configuration to make a proper ID.

 

Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus) - from Peninnis

It was time to head back to base for a late lunch.

After lunch, it was decided that all four of us would visit Carn Vean Cafe, as it was thought that it might be Georgie-friendly. We took the buggey there and, after a ten minute set-back, Georgie plucked up courage enough to come and sit at a table in the garden. 

To my disappointment, the Jaffa Cake cake was not available, and so I had a sumptuous cake version of a bakewell tart. It was a very acceptable substitute for my original choice! The sparrows were out in force again and one took to sitting on my camera.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - Carn Vean Cafe

We had limited time here as I had to return the buggy that we'd hired for the week. Scilly Carts' premises is on the small industrial estate just beyond the old dump site. As I left the estate, I noticed birds at the water's edge at Porth Mellon, opposite the estate. there were three Oystercatcher, and a good number (uncounted) of Turnstone.

Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) - Porth Mellon

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) - Porth Mellon

A rather rare Red Cage Fungus had been reported as being near the Dump Clump and, although I am not particularly interested in fungi, it was unusual enough in appearance to persuade me to try and find it, so this is where I went next. I failed to find it.

I carried on along the path until I reached the road by Old Town and then headed towards Hugh Town, popping a short way down the Carn Gwaval road to see if anything was about. The most action seen was a good number of Ivy Bees on the Ivy.

Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) - Carn Gwaval Road

Occasionally I find the desire to photograph the moon. I did so that evening.
 

The Moon - from Littleporth

Monday, 3rd October

We woke to a frustratingly good weather forecast for the day - unbroken sunshine, warm temperatures and virtually no wind. If only we'd had such conditions during our week there.

A farewell visit to the bottom of the garden after breakfast had me photographing a Rock Pipit on the sea wall railings.

Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus) - Littleporth

Our flight was booked for a 10.25 departure, with check-in closing at 09.55. We got a little nervous, therefore when our transport to the airport, booked to pick us us at 09.25 had not arrived by 09.45. I phoned in and was told the driver had been delayed and was on his way. In the event, there was a hold up and queue at check-in anyway and, after a mix-up over pre-notified seating arrangements had been sorted, we were soon boarded and on our way.

The journey home was uneventful and, with pit stops en-route, we were home by around 17.50.

Thus ended a break on the Isles of Scilly which was the least productive for birds and photography of any of our stays there. The tides had been a little less than helpful with their timing too, and low tides were the lowest I can remember seeing there.  It was, nevertheless, extremely enjoyable and we are already looking forward to returning next year.

As for the birds, things started picking up there soon after our departure, with some real gems showing up, and attracting hundreds of birders from far and wide, resulting in twitches that I would not have felt comfortable being part of.

My next post will probably focus on garden observations for the month of October. In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and Nature.

Thank you for dropping by - - - - Richard