MORE SHEARWATERS THAN EVER
August began with a Sooty Shearwater seen off Peninnis on 4th.
The next day found a Little Tern off Bar Point whilst the Little
Egret count had risen to twelve. These were usually seen in Tresco
Channel or roosting in the pines on the south side of Tresco Great Pool.
In the next week a Little Stint was on Tresco as were two Mediterranean
Gulls. Twelve Cory's Shearwater were seen from the Scillonian
on 12th. The first of a series of Icterine and Melodious
Warblers was noted from 13th. These European warblers were often
difficult to find after the original sighting. Nightingales were
seen on Tresco on 18th and 19th and on St. Agnes on 20th. An 0rtolan
Bunting was seen flying from Peninnis to the Airport on 21st.
A visit to St. Agnes on 22nd found Melodious, Marsh and Barred Warblers
and a male Red-backed Shrike on Gugh. Whilst a Wryneck
was on the Garrison early that morning.
An evening fishing trip six miles south of Scilly on 23rd had some
amazing birds in the shape of one Wilson's Petrel, a Cory's Shearwater,
150+ Great Shearwaters, an adult Sabine Gull and one Mediterranean
Shearwater. This was bettered the next day with the greatest
ever number of large shearwaters recorded on Scilly. During the day
we logged 700+ unidentified 'Large' Shearwaters, 616 Cory's Shearwater,
137 Great Shearwater plus five Great Northern Diver, a Black
Tern, Arctic and Great Skua. Another fishing trip
that evening produced yet another Wilson's Petrel and 60+ Great
Shearwaters. This exceptional passage of seabirds was not produced
by any strong winds as might have been expected, just misty muggy weather.
The Marsh Warbler in Lower Moors was overshadowed by all these seabirds.
The last week of the month saw more Icterine and Melodious
Warblers and two more Little Terns. An American Golden
Plover was on St Mary's on 26th-27th. This was followed by a
Pectoral Sandpiper on St. Agnes which then moved to Tresco and a
Baird's Sandpiper that was initially on Bryher before moving to
Tresco (30th-31st). A Marsh Warbler at Argimore Pond showed
very well at the end of the month. Seabirds were not forgotten with
Cory's Shearwater off the Eastern Isles and Great Shearwater
off St. Agnes on 27th. A Great Skua showed well sat on the
sea between St. Mary's and Tresco on 28th. Strong winds on 29th brought
a Sabine's Gull and a Grey Phalarope between the islands
and a Sooty Shearwater off Deep Point (31st). As the number
of birds passing through the islands on their way south increases we wait
to see what is coming next.
Will Wagstaff
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