ORIOLE BIRDING TOUR REPORT Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Pelagics 17TH 22nd August 2012

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Peregrine Blake
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1 ORIOLE BIRDING TOUR REPORT Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Pelagics 17 TH 22 nd August 2012

2 Friday 17 th August We awoke to strong winds and heavy rain this morning at were not sure that the MV Scillonian would be undertaking the crossing to Scilly until we arrived at the quay at 0815 to see her being loaded ready for action. We boarded for what would be a very bouncy crossing, with driving rain and poor visibility. A fine adult Arctic Skua, about six EUROPEAN STORM- PETRELS, Great Skua, two Black-legged Kittiwakes, Common and Sandwich Tern, Northern Fulmar, Northern Gannet and European Shag were all seen but amazingly no shearwaters at all. We arrived slightly late at St Mary s, around 1220, and after a quick briefing of the plans for the afternoon we headed up to our accommodation for a bit of a break. After lunch, we met Bob Flood and co on the quay for a 1500 departure on our evening pelagic trip skippered as ever by Joe Pender of The Sapphire. Hopes were high given the windy conditions, and Bob briefed us as we bounced along between the islands and out into the wind in a southerly direction. The steam took us around five miles from the islands into the teeth of the weather, and was a wet, bouncy and altogether rather unpleasant ride which resulted in around half the party succumbing quickly to the lumpy sea conditions and re-visiting their lunch. This was unfortunately a problem for the rest of the evening, and it remained for the lucky few to get down to the business of finding the birds. The initial steam bought our first Great Skuas in, and singles were present throughout the afternoon, along with the usual array of plunging Northern Gannets and passing Northern Fulmars. We set up a drift and chum, the swell taking us eastwards for almost five miles with the engines cut so we certainly covered plenty of ground. EUROPEAN STORM-PETRELS began arriving at our slick in increasing numbers, and we had some brilliant close range views of these hardy little seabirds as they fluttered over the water to pick at the beef suet being provided. Two single Manx Sheawaters and a Common Tern were also noted, and a stunning adult SABINE S GULL flew in from downwind and passed right over our heads before feeding in the slick. We have seen several of these beautiful arctic gulls on our trips over the years, but they seldom linger for more than a few seconds, so to have an obliging one was welcome indeed. We persisted with the drift for about three hours, though we went through some very quiet spells despite the seemingly ideal conditions. A second adult SABINE S GULL appeared about an hour after the first, and this one was in absolutely mint summer plumage. It flew right into the stern, its wingtips almost brushing the side of the boat as it came so close, it could hardly be focussed upon with binoculars. This bird stayed with us for a good while, making several close passes, and a smart BLUE FULMAR also appeared adding an extra touch of the far north to Scillonian waters. The Sabs followed us home as we steamed back towards the islands, flying up the stern to collect tit bits from the surface. This remained the highlight of the day though and no large shearwaters or wilson s could be found, though an unseasonal GREAT NORTHERN DIVER in the sound just off St Mary s was a nice bonus. We arrived back to the quay at 2030 ready for an early night. Saturday 18 th August Calmer seas and altogether more pleasant conditions today meant a more enjoyable day for those that struggled with the rough conditions yesterday. Seven Pied Flycatchers, two Willow Warblers, Common Chiffchaff and Blackcap were on The Garrison this morning, indicating that the misty weather overnight had at least grounded a few common migrants. We met on the quay at 0930 for our full day pelagic, and with five French trawlers out to the North-west of the archipelago we decided to steam the twenty five miles to their position in the hope that they might be pulling in some birds. We of course chummed as we left the islands, towing a cloud of gulls with us that in turn attracted Northern Gannets, Northern Fulmars and one or two Great Skuas. An adult SABINE S GULL was the forerunner for a superb day for this species, undoubtedly the highlight bird of the trip so far. It took three hours to steam out to the fishing grounds of the French vessels, and on reaching the first trawler another of the latter species was seen though it appeared the boat had already hauled its nets and was heading off, so we set off after the next. Over the next two hours we visited each of the four boats, and had some absolutely superb views of SABINE S GULLS with birds seen in flight so close we could hardly focus our binoculars on them. Great views were also had of them sat on the water, and all bar one subadult bird were in full summer plumage. The last of the four trawlers hosted a SOOTY SHEARWATER, our only shearwater of the day which was quite incredible given the number of trawlers we visited. Really good numbers of EUROPEAN STORM-PETRELS included up to fifty around one of the boats, the birds passing within feet of our vessel and giving some of the best views of this species in the field that one could ever expect to get in the hand views or seeing them in the semi dark does not compare to

3 watching these wonderful little seabirds feeding out in their element in the open ocean just a few feet away and this is the ONLY way to see that. Steaming back to the islands two more SABINE S GULLS took the days total to seven, and a small group of COMMON DOLPHIN bow-rided with us for a while. Ocean Sunfish was also seen and a Black-tailed Godwit was seen in flight as we neared St Mary s. European Storm-Petrel by tour participant Heather Gerrard Sunday 19th August We spent the morning birding on land today, setting off in the pouring rain from the Mincarlo and heading towards the hides at Lower Moors and Porth Hellick, having originally planned to go to St Agnes. Lower Moors was quiet other than a European Reed Warbler so we continued along the road towards Porth Hellick. Three Pied Flycatchers were seen along this section including one showing nicely in a bulb field entrance, while we were astonished by the numbers of Song Thrush feeding in these bare earth fields, with literally scores seen. Along the track to Porth Hellick, three more European Reed Warblers were seen, along with a single Common Chiffchaff. The hides produced seven Green Sandpipers and one Common Greenshank, Gadwall and Tufted Duck for the list. The walk back to Mincarlo added a brief flyover Peregrine but we saw little else, though the sun was now very warm indeed. After lunch, a quick look around the Dead Pine Walk area of The Garrison for some yielded six Pied Flycatchers, showing really well along the sunny edge of the wood, and a single Spotted Flycatcher. Meeting the Sapphire at 1400, we set sail for our last pelagic heading out to the Poll Bank area about seven miles North-west of the islands. The idea was to spend some time fishing to get some fish on board for chumming, and then move to another area for a three hour drift and chum. The evening was unfortunately very quiet for seabirds, with hardly any EUROPEAN STORM-PETRELS seen until the last hour when about twenty appeared. A steady passage of terns throughout the evening were mainly Common Terns, but a single juvenile Arctic Tern and three distant BLACK TERNS were also noted. Two Arctic Skuas were one of the highlights as they came in very close to the stern and sat on the water with us for a time, and about twenty Manx Shearwaters were seen in total, a raft of fifteen on the way back in bumping up the total. One SOOTY SHEARWATER was also seen, and the bird gave some superb views as it banked close to the stern and landed on the slick with some gulls. Six Ruddy Turnstone, a Dunlin and two Whimbrel added some wader interest. We arrived back at the quay in the semi-dark at 2100 feeling tired and ready for an early night. Monday 20th August

4 A warm and beautiful day in Scilly today saw most of the group undertake a circular walk on St Mary s, taking in The Garrison, Porth Cressa, Penninis Head, Porth Minack, Giant s Castle and Porth Hellick. We picked up a few birds on what was a very enjoyable amble round, starting with two Pied Flycatchers on The Garrison and two Red Knot flying offshore, a female Common Stonechat and both Goldcrest and Common Chiffchaff at Lower Broome Platform. Around Penninis, two Northern Wheatear were seen, and a nice adult MEDITERRANEAN GULL was with a flock of Sandwich Terns on the rocks at Porth Cressa. Around the other side of the headland we added three Common Sandpipers on the seaweed covered rocks and three Grey Herons and a Common Kestrel were seen in flight in this area. Dropping down to Old Town churchyard, we had some lovely views of six Pied Flycatchers showing really well at close quarters as they flitted from the gravestones. A cream tea at Old Town cafe set us up for the rest of the walk, though this was probably the quietest section as we headed around the back of the airfield from Porth Minack. Another Pied Flycatcher was in the pine copse as we dropped down to Porth Hellick, where we saw about five Green Sandpipers, one Common Sandpiper, one Dunlin and two Common Greenshank from the hide. The walk back from here along the road was uneventful and we arrived back at Hugh Town with plenty of time for an ice cream before checking in for the 1630 Scillonian sailing. The crossing back to Penzance was a whole lot more pleasant than the journey out on Friday, and thankfully we saw more too. Single Arctic and Great Skuas gave good views, and cetaceans were represented by a couple of Harbour Porpoise and about twenty Common Dolphins. Two EUROPEAN STORM- PETRELS were noted, and once we reached the Cornish coast we began to see Manx Shearwaters about fifty were noted in total. Last bird was a fine BALEARIC SHEARWATER, seen just as we were passing Mousehole. Tuesday 21st August A frustrating day today though we enjoyed some lovely walks in beautiful scenery and warm weather. We started out pre-breakfast with a visit to nearby Hayle Estuary, and here we saw a superb selection of waders. From Lelant Saltings Station, birds were being pushed up by the rising tide and a superb WOOD SANDPIPER was feeding in the corner among Common Redshanks and a Common Greenshank, before flying off calling. A single Red Knot, Bar-tailed Godwit, three Black-tailed Godwits [all of the race islandica, including two beautiful juveniles], three Little Egrets and a very rufous juvenile Ruff were also seen well from here, with two MEDITERRANEAN GULLS [juvenile and second-winter] also dropping in. Moving round to the RSPB hide at Ryan s Field, a large number of Eurasian Curlew were hiding at least six superb Whimbrel, with some super views of the two species side by side. Another Common Greenshank, Common Sandpiper, one Sanderling, two Dunlin, one Common Ringed Plover and another Bar-tailed Godwit were also noted here. After breakfast, our first port of call was Land s End to look for a juvenile Red-backed Shrike seen yesterday, though despite extensive searching of the cycle track area, we failed to connect. Several Common Stonechats and a very obliging Spotted Flycatcher were all we had to show for our efforts here, and a deluge of rain saw us take shelter in the bus with a cup of tea for ten minutes at the end of the walk. Moving on to Nanquidno Valley, we enjoyed a walk in the sunshine noting a few interesting species on the way including Green and Great-spotted Woodpeckers, Common Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, Common Whitethroat and Common Buzzard, with a single RED- BILLED CHOUGH flying through the valley calling. Insects of note included the three specialities of this valley at this time of year Golden-ringed Dragonfly, Small Pearl-bordered Fritillary and Beautiful Demoiselle. Back at the bus, a Pied Flycatcher dropped into the trees calling before heading off down the valley. News reached us of a Dotterel near Polgigga so we headed there next, taking a long walk down Bosistow Lane to view a tilled field at the top of Nanjizal Valley. Sadly the Dotterel had gone, replaced by a single summer plumaged European Golden Plover which was scant reward for the effort involved! Finally we called in at Drift Reservoir, where an Osprey had been present several days but continuing in our poor vein of form it was not showing a Common Swift overhead was the first of the trip and both Eurasian Sparrowhawk and Common Raven were seen. Wednesday 22nd August Our final morning saw us heading back to Drift to have another quick look for the Osprey, but again it was nowhere to be seen. Two Common Raven and two Great Crested Grebe were picked up, but with a westerly breeze blowing we felt the most productive thing to do would be seawatching so we headed down to Pendeen. In the space of about an hour we logged one

5 thousand Manx Shearwaters, including some really nice close groups passing well inside the rocks. Five Whimbrel, four Arctic Skuas, three Ruddy Turnstone and a steady trickle of Northern Gannet and Northern Fulmar were also seen. Moving on to nearby Kenidjack Valley, we rounded off the trip with a walk down to the bottom and while it was very quiet and pleasantly warm, we picked up three or four Common Chiffchaff, Grey Wagtail and two RED- BILLED CHOUGH flew over the end of the valley calling. We concluded the tour at 1400 at Menwidden Farm. Systematic List Birds 1. Great Crested Grebe 2. Manx Shearwater 3. Balearic Shearwater 4. Sooty Shearwater 5. European Storm-petrel 6. Northern Fulmar 7. Northern Gannet 8. Great Cormorant 9. European Shag 10. Grey Heron 11. Little Egret 12. Mute Swan 13. Greylag Goose 14. Canada Goose 15. Mallard 16. Gadwall 17. Tufted Duck 18. Eurasian Sparrowhawk 19. Common Kestrel 20. Peregrine 21. Common Buzzard 22. Common Pheasant 23. Common Moorhen 24. European Oystercatcher 25. Common Ringed Plover 26. European Golden Plover 27. Dunlin 28. Sanderling 29. Ruddy Turnstone 30. Common Redshank 31. Common Greenshank 32. Common Curlew 33. Whimbrel 34. Common Sandpiper 35. Green Sandpiper 36. Wood Sandpiper 37. Bar-tailed Godwit 38. Black-tailed Godwit 39. Red Knot 40. Ruff 41. Black-headed Gull 42. Mediterranean Gull 43. Herring Gull 44. Lesser Black-backed Gull 45. Great Black-backed Gull 46. Black-legged Kittiwake 47. Sabine s Gull 48. Great Skua 49. Arctic Skua 50. Common Tern

6 51. Arctic Tern 52. Sandwich Tern 53. Black Tern 54. Woodpigeon 55. Collared Dove 56. Common Swift 57. Green Woodpecker 58. Great-spotted Woodpecker 59. Meadow Pipit 60. Rock Pipit 61. Pied Wagtail 62. Grey Wagtail 63. Barn Swallow 64. House Martin 65. Winter Wren 66. Dunnock 67. European Robin 68. Northern Wheatear 69. Stonechat 70. Whinchat 71. Common Blackbird 72. Song Thrush 73. Blackcap 74. Common Whitethroat 75. Garden Warbler 76. Willow Warbler 77. Common Chiffchaff 78. Reed Warbler 79. Goldcrest 80. Spotted Flycatcher 81. Pied Flycatcher 82. Blue Tit 83. Great Tit 84. Black-billed Magpie 85. Rook 86. Carrion Crow 87. Western Jackdaw 88. Red-billed Chough 89. Common Raven 90. Common Starling 91. House Sparrow 92. Chaffinch 93. Greenfinch 94. Goldfinch 95. Linnet

HEIGHTS HOTEL WILDLIFE BREAKS Friday April 19th Sunday April 21st 2019

HEIGHTS HOTEL WILDLIFE BREAKS Friday April 19th Sunday April 21st 2019 Saturday April 20th Weather: warm sunshine all day in a light north-easterly breeze, 0900 In the most beautiful Spring weather we