MarcellC
Well-known member
Hi all
Just back from a few days on the Isles of Scilly where we stayed on the island of St Martins. Definitely the more tranquile option whilst still being able to visit the other islands etc. What I would do next time though is probably go during second last week of May which according to the locals is the one of the best birding times. We did have fantastic weather though.
We spent a day on Tresco at the Abbey Gardens and some time at the bird hide at the "Great Pool", the latter being a potential gold mine for birding with reports of a nesting pair of Marsh Harriers (unfortunately didn't see them) and loads of herons and Little Egrets.
Unfortunately our time was bit limited so I didn't get to do a Pelagic trip. The reports on pelagic trips during that time though show a large variety of pelagic species seen - well another reason to go back.
Another thing to do is the a private charter around some of the small uninhabited islands and rock outcrops. We did one around the eastern isles and it was amazing with each outcrop seemingly designated to specified one or two species. For example, one each for Common Terns, shags, cormorants, Sandwich Terns, and one shared by Grey Herons and Little Egrets (there were at least 15 Grey herons during our visit, including loads of juveniles).
At one side of St Martins there are apparently some breeding Peregrine Falcons as well - Missed them too :-C
Here's the list (I'm sure I missed quite a few though);
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Greater Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Gull
Northern Gannet (excellent amount of diving with some terns on a windy morning)
Oystercatcher
Common Tern
Sandwich Tern
Cormorant
Shag
Curlew
Whimbrel
Redshank
Greenshank
Ruddy Turnstone
Dunlin
Ringed Plover
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Mallard
Coot
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Pheasant
Barn Swallow
House Martin
House Sparrow (very very rich rufous colours - like Spanish Sparrow)
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
Pied Wagtail
Rock Pipit
Wheatear
Mistle Thrush
Spotted Flycatcher (what a surprise!)
Wren
Magpie
Starling
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Collared Dove
Wood Pigeon
Rock Pigeon
Oh yes, and yesterday at Perranuthnoe (just east of Penzance) got a Dunnock :bounce:
Definitely a destination that requires more than one visit.
Cheers
Marcell
Just back from a few days on the Isles of Scilly where we stayed on the island of St Martins. Definitely the more tranquile option whilst still being able to visit the other islands etc. What I would do next time though is probably go during second last week of May which according to the locals is the one of the best birding times. We did have fantastic weather though.
We spent a day on Tresco at the Abbey Gardens and some time at the bird hide at the "Great Pool", the latter being a potential gold mine for birding with reports of a nesting pair of Marsh Harriers (unfortunately didn't see them) and loads of herons and Little Egrets.
Unfortunately our time was bit limited so I didn't get to do a Pelagic trip. The reports on pelagic trips during that time though show a large variety of pelagic species seen - well another reason to go back.
Another thing to do is the a private charter around some of the small uninhabited islands and rock outcrops. We did one around the eastern isles and it was amazing with each outcrop seemingly designated to specified one or two species. For example, one each for Common Terns, shags, cormorants, Sandwich Terns, and one shared by Grey Herons and Little Egrets (there were at least 15 Grey herons during our visit, including loads of juveniles).
At one side of St Martins there are apparently some breeding Peregrine Falcons as well - Missed them too :-C
Here's the list (I'm sure I missed quite a few though);
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Greater Black-backed Gull
Herring Gull
Common Gull
Northern Gannet (excellent amount of diving with some terns on a windy morning)
Oystercatcher
Common Tern
Sandwich Tern
Cormorant
Shag
Curlew
Whimbrel
Redshank
Greenshank
Ruddy Turnstone
Dunlin
Ringed Plover
Grey Heron
Little Egret
Mallard
Coot
Moorhen
Mute Swan
Canada Goose
Pheasant
Barn Swallow
House Martin
House Sparrow (very very rich rufous colours - like Spanish Sparrow)
Greenfinch
Goldfinch
Chaffinch
Pied Wagtail
Rock Pipit
Wheatear
Mistle Thrush
Spotted Flycatcher (what a surprise!)
Wren
Magpie
Starling
Blackbird
Carrion Crow
Collared Dove
Wood Pigeon
Rock Pigeon
Oh yes, and yesterday at Perranuthnoe (just east of Penzance) got a Dunnock :bounce:
Definitely a destination that requires more than one visit.
Cheers
Marcell
