Isles of Scilly, 2023 Pt.3 - 27th & 28th September, 2023

This third instalment of my account covers another two days of our recent holiday on the Isles of Scilly. It is a little shorter than my two previous postings, but if I had added a third day it would have been excessively long.

If you missed Pt.1 or Pt.2, you can find them by going to the bottom of this post and then clicking on 'Older Post'. 

Wednesday, 27th September

This day had been forecast for a few days as being one of awful weather due to Storm Agnes, with an official Severe Weather Warning for much of the UK,  including the Isles of Scilly.  The main factor was high winds, but heavy rain was in the mix too.

We woke to fairly strong winds with light rain. However, the wind soon picked up, and the rain became torrential. Some birding folks ventured out in the foul weather and some interesting birds were sighted, but I stayed at base, mainly because I couldn't contemplate going out without my camera, and my camera isn't waterproof. I did take some photos of the Humming-bird Hawk-moth which was now in the conservatory.

Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) - from the house - Littleporth

After lunch it started brightening up, although it was still very windy, and so I took the buggy to Old Town and went into Lower Moors.  To my delight, the hide was empty apart from two other people who arrived at the same time as me. The juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper that had relocated from Higher Moors,  presumably to be in a more sheltered location, was immediately spotted and showed well.

Pectoral Sandpiper (Calidris melanotos) - Lower Moors

I spent a while here but it started getting crowded in the hide, so I departed, heading for Carreg Dhu Garden as this beautiful garden is in a sheltered long-disused quarry and often used by sheltering small birds, such as Firecrest. I found butterflies and two Humming-bird Hawk-moths, but no birds to photograph. 

Humming-bird Hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) -Carreg Dhu Garden

I next moved on to Higher Moors and, on entering Sussex Hide, found the unprecedented sight of  eleven Greenshank together. I have only ever seen single Greenshank.

Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) - Porthellick Pool

Little else was happening here, so I moved on to Seaward Hide, where only Mallards were visible. I sat out a heavy shower of rain then went along to Porthellick beach. Here there were lots of House Sparrows and three Turnstone.

Turnstone (Arenaria interpres) - Porthellick Beach

What was more interesting to me, however, was the several stranded 'jellyfish'. These varied considerably in size from maybe 3 cm to 15 cm across. Some seemed to be absolutely crystal-clear, but a couple seen had a circular ring of a pinkish colour. I did not know what species these were, but an image I posted of the second one was was subsequently identified by the excellent 'Scilly Wildlife News' WhatsApp group as Crystal Jelly. This very attractive and bioluminescent animal is not an actual jellyfish but classed as a hydrozoan. It is, I believe, quite a rarity in UK but there were numerous sightings being reported in the south-west of UK at this time. According to an on-line article, "The species is typically found off the west coast of North America, identified from the Bering Sea to southern California. It’s particularly common in Puget Sound, an inlet of the Pacific Ocean along the northwestern coast of Washington." I must say that I find this hard to believe!

Crystal Jelly (Aequorea victoria) - Porthellick Beach

I dropped back into the hides on Porthhellick Pool. At Sussex Hide, the Greenshank were still there, but put up by an arriving Grey Heron. This seemed to have prey, which looked rather like a small rodent, in its bill. I couldn't see clearly as this shot was of it at the seaward end of the pool.

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea) with prey - Porthellick Pool

The Greenshank soon settled back again and seemed quite relaxed.

Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) - Porthellick Pool

Other than these, the only other notable sightings were a pair of Snipe in the distance, kindly pointed out by Julian Branscome, a member of the superb Isles of Scilly Wildlife Trust.

It was now time to head back to base.

Apart from a shopping trip to the Co-op, the evening was spent relaxing and writing up notes.

I'd been expecting the day to be a total washout,  but it was far from that.

Thursday, 28th September

The weather forecast indicated that a relatively dull morning would develop into a rather wet afternoon.  The girls decided that they'd like another attempt at collecting sea-glass on Treasure Beach (Porth Minick),  so I got Melanie to drop me off at the entrance to Higher Moors. The plan was that I'd see what was going on at Porthellick Pool and Beach, and then walk over Sallakee Down, past the airport turning circle, and meet them at Treasure Beach.

I saw absolutely nothing of interest until just before the airport turning circle, where I got some shots of a female Stonechat.

Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola) (female) - by Airport Turning Circle

Between the airport turning circle and Porth Minick, I spotted a Kestrel. My previous sighting of a Kestrel on the Isles of Scilly was on 14th March, 2020 when some photos I took turned out to be the confirming photos for Lesser Kestrel - a 'mega' that had previously been reported as a 'very interesting looking Kestrel on Porthellick Down' with a request for photos.

I had no such luck this time!

Common Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) (female)

I arrived at Treasure Beach before the girls had departed from base, so had a brief look around. All I found of interest was something that looked like a tiered lump of jelly, but again was subsequently identified by the 'Scilly Wildlife News' WhatsApp group as being a Beadlet Anemone. It seems that it would have been a real treat to see this animal in shallow water with its tentacles open.

Beadlet Anemone (Actinia equina) - Porth Minick

As the girls had not appeared, I made a quick visit to Lower Moors, but saw nothing of any interest. I then hurried back to Porth Minick and found the girls had already got there. I spent a little while with them, but was concerned that I was going to get caught out by the forecast heavy rain, there being only room for the four girls on the buggy, so I set off to return to base.

I stopped briefly for a comfort stop by Old Town Cafe, and noticed that the forecast had moderated, with the rain now coming in later. I changed my plan and took the path round Old Town Bay towards Carn Lêh, getting some shots of a large and wonderful Hornet Hoverfly which, unusually, settled.

Hornet Hoverfly (Volucella zonaria) (female) - near Carn Lêh

I went up onto Peninnis, seeing little of interest. 

As I descended the west Peninnis path a Grey Heron passed by, but the shots were binned. I was surprised to see some 'wild swimmers' who seemed to be launching themselves from what appeared to be a relatively inaccessible location, not far from Peninnis Head. 

Wild Swimmers - Peninnis

By the allotments I stopped by some Ivy where there were many Ivy Bees.

Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae) - by Porthcressa Allotments

After a late lunch, we all went out to Carn Vean Cafe where we sat outside and enjoyed tea and cake. I was happy to be reunited with their fabulously succulent 'Jaffa Cake'. Because of the forecast rain, I'd left my now normal (non-waterproof) camera set up back at base and taken my old Nikon D7200 body with an old Tamron 28-300 lens (my only back-up equipment these days) with me. I found myself struggling to remember how to use this kit, but did manage some photos of the House Sparrows that wanted us to share our cakes with them. One even had the cheek to read the menu.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) - Carn Vean Cafe

While we waited for Melanie to return with the buggy (it needed two trips to transport five of us in a four-seater) I took Lindsay part-way down the path from Carn Vean Cafe to show her the views over to Toll's Island and the Eastern Isles. Toll's Island can be accessed on foot at low tide, but the tide was in on this occasion.

View to Toll's Island from Carn Vean

View to the Eastern Isles from Carn Vean

We got back to base just in time to avoid the rain.

The evening was spent, as usual, catching up with notes, making plans, etc.

 

My next blog post, if all goes according to plan, will feature the next day of our stay, and will be a little different. 

In the meantime, pleased take good care of yourselves and Nature. Thank you for dropping by - - - Richard

Breaking New Ground - last week of February, 2023

header image (while this post is current):- Fisher's Mill Pool, RSPB Middleton Lakes on 23rd February, 2023

With Lindsay's situation continuing to improve, we were both confident that I could safely leave her for more than the two or three hours that I'd limited myself to lately, and go a little further afield. It also meant that I was not having to spend so much time keeping the household afloat, and could start trying to catch up with projects around the house and garden that needed attending to. The result was that, although I did get out twice in the seven days, I spent little time observing what was happening in the garden.

Wednesday, 22nd February                    Garden

This was the last day that I had recorded a Redpoll in the garden - until today (3rd March). However, we also had an unwelcome visitor in the form of a Brown Rat. I had been rather lax in sweeping up spilled seed from the feeders and this was, no doubt, the result of my failure. I quickly swept up but, unfortunately the rat was seen again yesterday (2nd March).

Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) - garden on 22nd February, 2023

Thursday, 23rd February                    RSPB Middleton Lakes

In my last blog post, I mentioned that I'd met my old pal Mick Smith at Hicks Lodge that week. Mick, and his wife Pauline, had been extolling the virtues of Miiddleton Lakes Nature Reserve. I have never been to this reserve before, although it is less than 20 miles (30 km) from my home. The reserve is just south of Tamworth on the west side of the River Tame. I have, however, in the distant past (2011), been to Dosthill on the opposite side of the river to photograph Short-eared Owls.

For the first time since Lindsay's operation in esarly December, I made myself a picnic lunch and headed off for a short 'day out'. Middleton Lakes seemed like an obvious choice.

It was a relatively easy journey there and I parked in the RSPB car park, headed into the courtyard at nearby Middleton Hall to check what might be there for a future visit by Lindsay and to avail myself of the ablutions there (none on the RSPB reserve). 

I'd armed myself with a map of the reserve that I'd downloaded from the internet and, having enjoyed a short introduction to the reserve by a volunteer at the reserves entrance, set off into the reserve. 

RSPB Middleton Lakes Map

I feel that I should point out that the signage in the reserve is not great and, without the map, I would almost certainly (1) got lost, and (2) missed a lot. 

It is approximately 1 km from the car park entrance, along the Woodland Trail, to the first lake, and I had not travelled far along the trail before I was greeted by a Dunnock. A Dunnock may not be the most colourful of birds but I think the feathering of the side of the face is wonderful.

Dunnock (Prunella modularis) - Woodland Trail, Middleton Lakes

A very short distance further on, there is a small pond on the left with feeders beside it. I stopped to survey the area just before I got to the feeders as there were youngsters busy watching the birds on the feeders and the rats on the ground. It was all very common fare, and I didn't attempt any photography there.

Further on, on the right, there is another area with views over some water and reed beds. Here there is also a set-up which is desctibed (if I remember correctly) as a 'bird kitchen', where people put out seed on an arrangement of tree stumps to attract the birds. I spent a little while here, but nothing of interest was seen.

It was quite a bit further on that I came to what is described as 'Pooh Stick Bridge'. I stayed here a while as Lesser Spotted Woodpecker was being seen here on a virtually daily basis, but usually early in the morning. However, the best that I could manage was a shot of a busy Nuthatch.

Nuthatch (Sitta europaea) - Pooh Stick Bridge, Middleton Lakes

The trail crosses the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal at Fisher's Mill Bridge. Here, people had been leaving bird sees on the bridge parapet and this was attracting mainly Robins, and Great Tits, but some Reed Buntings were showing an interest and being quite bold.

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) (male) - Fisher's Mill Bridge, Middleton Lakes

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) (female) - Fisher's Mill Bridge, Middleton Lakes

It's only about 50 metres from Fisher's Mill Bridge to Fishers Mill Pool, at a point where I took the shot that is the header to this blog while this post is current. Here, although the birds were all distant, the noise being made by the gulls was tremendous!

I turned northwards here, seeing little of interest as I passed along the west side of Fisher's Mill Pool. I stopped at the West Scrape blind when I reached the area known as Jubilee Wetlands, but again saw little.

Part way along the west side of Jubilee Wetlands, a pair of Greylag Geese flew in and landed with a group of their congeners on the grass to the west of the trail. The second image, below, serves as a warning not to stand under flying geese!

Greylag Goose (Anser anser) - by Jubilee Wetlands, Middleton Lakes

As I approached the northern end of Jubilee Wetlands, I noticed a large number of swans on the far side of Jubilee Wetlands North. Through my binoculars, I was surprised to see the furthest and largest group seemed to have very yellow bills. My immediate thought was Whooper Swan. A birder was coming from the opposite direction and I asked him if I was correct in my identification. He responded that he wasn't sure, but had been looking for Bewicks Swans. While we were busy talking, the swans took to the air and I grabbed my camera and took some shots as they flew past. I commented that I thought that it was the first time that I'd seen Whooper Swans in flight. Later, I was asked by persons on a few occasions if I'd seen anything interesting, and I'd replied that the most interesting thing for me had been the Whoopers. I was, therefore, highly disappointed and extremely embarrased when, on reviewing my shots when I got home, I found that these swans were only Mute Swans! How I'd managed to see yellow bills I don't know - it must have been a trick of the light. Anyhow, I did manage to get some acceptable shots of the Mute Swans.

Mute Swan (Cygnus olor) - Jubilee Wetlands, Middleton Lakes

A little further on, I found a Coot in a small pool of water.

 

Coot (Fulica Atra) - Jubilee Wetlands North, Middleton Lakes

Near to the start of the track that leads to North Pool and The Lookout, I could not resist a shot of a Reed Bunting in its more natural environment.

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) (male) - near The Lookout, Middleton Lakes

From the path to The Lookout, I photographed a nearby lone Great Crested Grebe.

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps cristatus) - near The Lookout, Middleton Lakes

I spent a while in The Lookout but, although there were many birds visible, they were all beyond the reach of my camera lens, and nothing out of the ordinary was spotted.

I made my return journey down the east side of the reserve, and the trail runs alongside the River Tame for most of its length. I did not bother photographing the Mute Swan in the river, but did try, rather unsuccessfully, to photograph some Teal which, surprisingly, didn't fly off as soon as I was in sight. I only managed to salvage one shot from here. Sadly, that shot features an item of detritus, not spotted at the time of taking it.

Teal (Anas crecca) (male + female) -River Tame, Middleton Lakes

Reaching the eastern end of the seasonal trail that crosses between Fishers Mill New Reedbed and Jubilee Wetlands, I stopped at the junction, and just missed getting a shot of a Treecreeper.

Turning down the seasonal trail there was a Kestrel in the distance ahead of me. Sadly, I was shooting straight into the light, so I only got a very distant record shot, and can't tell for certain whether this was a male or female bird, but I suspect the latter.

Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) - from seasonal trail, Middleton Lakes

I went a short way down the seasonal trail and stopped at the East Scrape blind to see what was visible. There were several Shoveler in view, but not much else.

Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) (male + female) - by East Scrape, Middleton Lakes

Wanting to see as much of the reserve as possible, I turned back, and then took the footbridge that crosses the River Tame to Dosthill Nature Reserve. I had a quick scan about from the top of the bridge and decided that Dosthill would have to wait until another day. Coming back off the bridge, I continued round the east and south sides of Fisher's Mill Pool, seeing absolutely nothing of interest.

Back at Fisher's Mill Bridge, a squirrel was looking for a snack, and a Dunnock posed nicely in a nearby bush.

Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) - Fisher's Mill Bridge, Middleton Lakes

Dunnock (Prunella modularis) - Fisher's Mill Bridge, Middleton Lakes

I stopped at the bird kitchen for a while, and spent a short while photographing a Blue Tit.

Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) - the 'bird kitchen', Middleton Lakes

Opposite this area, there is a stream that runs beside the trail. Here, a Grey Wagtail flew past, and I failed to locate it again.

I got back to my car after just under four hours on the reserve. Although I had not seen or photographed anything outstanding, it had been a very enjoyable time. The reserve is full of promise, and I look forward to returning in the not too distant future, and taking things at a more relaxed pace. My thanks, again, to Mick and Pauline Smith for inspiring me to visit this place.

Friday, 24th February                    Garden

The numbers of birds visiting the garden have thinned out, almost certainly being put off by the frequent visits by the Sparrowhawk. I have, therefore, had limited opportunities for garden photography.

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) - garden on 24th February, 2023

In our front garden, a pair of Goldfinch were canoodling in the top of our small Pink Pagoda Mountain Ash, staying stationary and just making facial contact for a least twenty minutes.

 

Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis) - garden on 24th February, 2023

Saturday, 25th February                    Garden

After a long absence, the female Pied Wagtail made a brief return visit this day, but I only managed a rear-end view from the kitchen window.

Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii) - garden on 25th February, 2023

To our delight, we are seeing Wren more frequently recently. Here's a shot of Wren in a fuchsia which, after many years, now seems to have been killed off by the extended cold spell earlier this winter.

Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) - garden on 25th February, 2023

Sunday, 26th February                    Kelham Bridge ; Normanton le Heath

An early afternoon visit to Kelham Bridge started off quite well as I was hearing the chatter of Fieldfare as I entered the site. I only managed photos of one bird and that was with difficulty as it was in a tree with another tree in front of it and I had difficulty in finding a gap to shoot through.

Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris) - Kelham Bridge NR

Things then went rapidly down hill as, when I got nearer to the first hide, the tranquility of the day was shattered by the sound of unsilenced trail bikes. There were two of these machines which were on a circuit and passing at high speed within about 20 metres of the hide. Unsurprisingly there were no birds seen in the vicinity.

I didn't stay long, but moved on to the second hide. Here, it was much quieter, but there was little to see. Three pairs of Gadwall stayed distant, as did a lone Little Grebe, and the only other birds on the water were Mallards. However, the sun was shining, and a drake Mallard is a truly handsome duck - especially when in sunlight.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) (male) - Kelham Bridge NR

After about three quarters of an hour, I gave up and was pleased to find, on returning to the first hide, that the idiots on bikes had gone and peace had returned, as had a few birds. Contrary to my principles, all I have to offer from this stop is a shot of a woodpecker on a feeder - I felt I needed to add something to the account of this visit!

Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) (male) - Kelham Bridge NR

I chose to make a short diversion on my way home, taking in Redburrow Lane from Normanton le Heath. I was disappointed to see that it was likely that some poor child had lost it's favourite teddybear. I hope that it was reclaimed from its seat before the rain set in that night.

 

Redburrow Lane, Normanton le Heath

I took a short walk along the lane when I got to the barn, and was enchanted by the song of a Song Thrush that was atop the derelict barn which used to be home to both Little Owl and Barn Owl before half the roof collapsed. 

 

Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) - Redburrow Lane, Normanton le Heath

Tuesday, 28th February                    Garden

The weather on this last day of February, was pretty grim, with rain for most of the day. It did not, however, stop us having a rare visit from a female Reed Bunting. I managed to get a few (much manipulated) shots of it through the rain-spattered window on my study by holding the lens close to the glass.

Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus) (female) -garden on 28th February, 2023

The Sparrowhawk was still visiting, and I got a number of shots, including this one of it having lost its composure, and looking slightly less manacing than usual. 

Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) - garden on 28th February, 2023

 

Thus ended February. March is now upon us and I will endeavour to produce another blog post in a week or so's time. In the meantime, please take good care of yourselves and Nature. Thank you for dropping by - - - Richard