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ZEISS DTI thermal imaging cameras. For more discoveries at night, and during the day.

Isles of Scilly 8th to 16th October 2007 (1 Viewer)

I have just returned from my first trip to the Isles of Scilly. I flew from Southampton arriving on St Mary's 1hr 20mins after getting on the plane. An expensive but stress free and time saving method of travel. Long term car parking charge £8.70 each 24hrs if you drive to Eastleigh airport.

I accumilated 12 life ticks in a week sampling first hand the buzz factor of the Scilly season. I dipped a few birds including the Wilson's Snipe!

Boat fares between islands were £7 return. Additional boats were put on at short notice when a rarity had been found.

Taxi drivers charged £5 flat fare or £1 per passenger if travelling in a people carrier.

Ths Scillonian Club hosted a nightly bird log with a few tables selling photographs and tours.

Here is my log showing only the first sighting of the species. Lifers in bold:-

08/10

St Mary's

001 Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
002 European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
003 Feral Pigeon (Columba livia 'feral')
004 Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
005 Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
006 Eurasian Swallow (Hirundo rustica rustica)
007 Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
008 Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
009 Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
010 Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria)
011 European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
012 Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
013 Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
014 House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
015 Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

09/10

St Mary's

Porthcressa Beach

016 Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
017 Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
018 Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
019 Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
020 Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)

The Garrison

021 Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
022 Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
023 Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
024 European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
025 Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
026 Great Tit (Parus major)
027 Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)
028 Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)

Carreg Dhu Gardens

029 Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus)
030 Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)

Lunnon Farm opp Carn Frias Farm

031 Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
032 European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
033 Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)

10/10

St Agnes

034 Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
035 Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
036 Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
037 Sanderling (Calidris alba)
038 Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
039 Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
040 Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
041 Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)
042 Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin)
043 Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
044 Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
045 Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)
046 European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
047 European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
048 Eurasian Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

St Mary's

049 Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
050 Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii)
051 Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

11/10

Pelargic

052 Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
053 Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)
054 European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)
055 Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
056 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
057 Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra)
058 Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
059 Great Skua (Stercorarius skua)
060 Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus)
061 Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
062 Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
063 Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
064 Common Guillemot (Uria aalge)
065 Razorbill (Alca torda)
066 Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)

St Agnes

067 Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus)
068 Radde's Warbler (Phylloscopus schwarzi)

12/10

Tresco

069 Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
070 Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
071 Gadwall (Anas strepera)
072 Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
073 Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
074 Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
075 Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
076 Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
077 Common Coot (Fulica atra)
078 Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
079 Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)
080 Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
081 Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus)

Bryher

082 Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
083 Blyth's Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum)

St Mary's

084 Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
085 Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)
086 Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

13/10

St Mary's

087 Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago)
088 Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus)
089 Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)
090 Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
091 Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)
092 Common Raven (Corvus corax)

14/10

St Agnes

093 Merlin (Falco columbarius)
094 Common Gull (Larus canus canus)
095 Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
096 Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus)

St Mary's

097 Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica)

15/10

St Mary's

098 Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus)
099 Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
100 Lapland Bunting (Calcarius lapponicus)
 

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Last edited:
I have just returned from my first trip to the Isles of Scilly. I flew from Southampton arriving on St Mary's 1hr 20mins after getting on the plane. An expensive but stress free and time saving method of travel. Long term car parking charge £8.70 each 24hrs if you drive to Eastleigh airport.

I accumilated 12 life ticks in a week sampling first hand the buzz factor of the Scilly season. I dipped a few birds including the Wilson's Snipe!

Boat fares between islands were £7 return. Additional boats were put on at short notice when a rarity had been found.

Taxi drivers charged £5 flat fare or £1 per passenger if travelling in a people carrier.

Ths Scillonian Club hosted a nightly bird log with a few tables selling photographs and tours.

Here is my log showing only the first sighting of the species. Lifers in bold:-

08/10

St Mary's

001 Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
002 European Herring Gull (Larus argentatus)
003 Feral Pigeon (Columba livia 'feral')
004 Common Wood Pigeon (Columba palumbus)
005 Eurasian Collared Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)
006 Eurasian Swallow (Hirundo rustica rustica)
007 Eurasian Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes)
008 Eurasian Blackbird (Turdus merula)
009 Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos)
010 Barred Warbler (Sylvia nisoria)
011 European Robin (Erithacus rubecula)
012 Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus)
013 Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)
014 House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)
015 Chaffinch (Fringilla coelebs)

09/10

St Mary's

Porthcressa Beach

016 Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus)
017 Great Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo)
018 Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)
019 Eurasian Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus)
020 Eurasian Curlew (Numenius arquata)

The Garrison

021 Meadow Pipit (Anthus pratensis)
022 Redwing (Turdus iliacus)
023 Goldcrest (Regulus regulus)
024 European Stonechat (Saxicola rubicola)
025 Northern Wheatear (Oenanthe oenanthe)
026 Great Tit (Parus major)
027 Yellow-browed Warbler (Phylloscopus inornatus)
028 Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)

Carreg Dhu Gardens

029 Firecrest (Regulus ignicapillus)
030 Lesser Whitethroat (Sylvia curruca)

Lunnon Farm opp Carn Frias Farm

031 Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)
032 European Pied Flycatcher (Ficedula hypoleuca)
033 Red-breasted Flycatcher (Ficedula parva)

10/10

St Agnes

034 Eurasian Kestrel (Falco tinnunculus)
035 Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)
036 Ringed Plover (Charadrius hiaticula)
037 Sanderling (Calidris alba)
038 Dunlin (Calidris alpina)
039 Lesser Black-backed Gull (Larus fuscus)
040 Dunnock (Prunella modularis)
041 Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus)
042 Garden Warbler (Sylvia borin)
043 Black Redstart (Phoenicurus ochruros)
044 Common Redstart (Phoenicurus phoenicurus)
045 Common Rosefinch (Carpodacus erythrinus)
046 European Greenfinch (Carduelis chloris)
047 European Goldfinch (Carduelis carduelis)
048 Eurasian Linnet (Carduelis cannabina)

St Mary's

049 Black-headed Gull (Larus ridibundus)
050 Pied Wagtail (Motacilla alba yarrellii)
051 Short-eared Owl (Asio flammeus)

11/10

Pelargic

052 Northern Fulmar (Fulmarus glacialis)
053 Sooty Shearwater (Puffinus griseus)
054 European Shag (Phalacrocorax aristotelis)
055 Little Egret (Egretta garzetta)
056 Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)
057 Common Scoter (Melanitta nigra)
058 Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)
059 Great Skua (Stercorarius skua)
060 Arctic Skua (Stercorarius parasiticus)
061 Black-legged Kittiwake (Rissa tridactyla)
062 Common Tern (Sterna hirundo)
063 Arctic Tern (Sterna paradisaea)
064 Common Guillemot (Uria aalge)
065 Razorbill (Alca torda)
066 Atlantic Puffin (Fratercula arctica)

St Agnes

067 Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus)
068 Radde's Warbler (Phylloscopus schwarzi)

12/10

Tresco

069 Mute Swan (Cygnus olor)
070 Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope)
071 Gadwall (Anas strepera)
072 Tufted Duck (Aythya fuligula)
073 Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)
074 Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus)
075 Common Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)
076 Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)
077 Common Coot (Fulica atra)
078 Common Redshank (Tringa totanus)
079 Sandwich Tern (Sterna sandvicensis)
080 Carrion Crow (Corvus corone)
081 Eurasian Siskin (Carduelis spinus)

Bryher

082 Mistle Thrush (Turdus viscivorus)
083 Blyth's Reed-warbler (Acrocephalus dumetorum)

St Mary's

084 Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis)
085 Greater Short-toed Lark (Calandrella brachydactyla)
086 Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea)

13/10

St Mary's

087 Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago gallinago)
088 Rock Pipit (Anthus petrosus)
089 Grey-cheeked Thrush (Catharus minimus)
090 Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris)
091 Woodchat Shrike (Lanius senator)
092 Common Raven (Corvus corax)

14/10

St Agnes

093 Merlin (Falco columbarius)
094 Common Gull (Larus canus canus)
095 Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)
096 Rosy Starling (Pastor roseus)

St Mary's

097 Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica)

15/10

St Mary's

098 Jack Snipe (Lymnocryptes minimus)
099 Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla)
100 Lapland Bunting (Calcarius lapponicus)

Hi Kev,
Great list, well done. I have been looking out on Birdguides for the rarities on the Scillies and you seem to have got most of them.
Are you down BSF on Saturday morning? I have some seed to drop off.
Paul
 
The Garrison

028 Blackpoll Warbler (Dendroica striata)

The ASBO's trust their pints are behind the bar with the mad Bulgar at the Scillonian for next time we visit?

Should've used Spider-cabs...£1 per person per journey...support a Birdin' Taxi Man!

When-oh-when...Lord...will they sort the f&^%in' PA out in the Scillonian tho'...answers on a pastie

McMadd...innnit?
 
Hi Kev,

I'm coming on to the islands on Sat afternoon, and could do with getting across to Tresco after 3pm. Do you know if there's any boats that late on?

Cheers

D
 
Nice stuff Kev. A couple of questions. Whereabouts was the Rose-coloured Starling? That bush looks very familiar...
And when and where does the evening log call take place?
Cheers
Jyothi
 
Hi Kev,

I'm coming on to the islands on Sat afternoon, and could do with getting across to Tresco after 3pm. Do you know if there's any boats that late on?

Cheers

D

Dan

The last pick up from Tresco is around 4.30pm i'm sure you would be able to jump on the boat from St Mary's.

Regards

Kevin
 
Nice stuff Kev. A couple of questions. Whereabouts was the Rose-coloured Starling? That bush looks very familiar...
And when and where does the evening log call take place?
Cheers
Jyothi

The Starling was on the vegitated rocks near the freshwater pool on St Agnes. The log is daily at the Scillonian club in Hugh town St Mary's at 9pm.

Each island has its own log evenings for people staying on them. I am not sure of times.

Regards

Kevin
 
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