March/April 1998
112
REVELATIONS
OF A
RELAXED BIRDER
There can be few inhabitants who are unaware of the birdwatchers who visit
the islands in the autumn. They come in the hope that they will see unusual
birds and, particularly, the New World rarities that focus their attention
so earnestly. You could be forgiven if you thought that this would be the
only time of the year when there was any interest in birds. Indeed, but
for the attention of Will Wagstaff, very little would be brought to the
notice of anyone. I do not regard myself as a rarity hunter, but during
the period at the end of each year I visit the islands in search of peace,
pleasure and the probability of some good birding. Take for example a steady
walk along the beach on Tresco from Carn Near, by Tobaccoman’s Point, Lizard
Point to Old Grimsby. Here are gulls and waders, many of the latter being
the few migrant birds that hang about into December. There are large numbers
of Ringed Plovers and Sanderlings with an occasional Grey Plover and may
be a Whimbrel. I always look carefully at the gulls and one year I was
rewarded with a Mediterranean Gull. There have been other rare gulls around
the islands, not least being an Iceland Gull I found at Porth Hellick and
which later moved to Porthloo. All these beaches are worth a look at, for
additionally, it is more than likely that you will see a Stonechat or a
Black Redstart. The Great Pool on Tresco will always attract interest,
for the species here are forever changing. The high tide roost of Redshanks
and Greenshanks can reach large numbers. They are often looked upon by
the Little Egrets which frequent the trees to the right of the western
hide, and if you don’t find the Egrets there you will find them on Merrick
Island in the Tresco Channel. The ducks on the pool are not all Mallards
either and you could be fortunate enough to see Pintail, Wigeon, Goldeneye,
Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck and Teal. What about the Great Black Backed
Gull roost on the Abbey Pool and the Goldcrests that frequent the pines?
You look at Bryher and say to yourself that there cannot be much there.
Look again. Great Porth usually has a Great Northern Diver at high tide
and the nearby rocks have a Curlew roost that can exceed thirty birds at
a time. Sometimes the Ravens from the Eastern Rocks are heard and seen,
and the beaches below Samson Hill usually have Ringed Plover and an occasional
Dunlin. A pair of Kestrels favour this area. St. Agnes may look desolate
on a winter day but keep your eyes open. I have seen Golden Plovers on
Wingletang and have flushed Merlin from Gugh. Periglis is worth an hour
of your time and here you will get Purple Sandpiper, Meadow Pipit and Rock
Pipit. Black Redstarts will pop up and surprise you and a watch off Horse
Point will reveal Gannets at sea. The Road and Crow Sound look uninviting
as the wind whips up the sea but that might reveal some of its secrets.
Rafts of Common Scoter, and on one occasion a rare Velvet Scoter; Long
Tailed
Duck, Red Breasted Merganser, Kittiwakes, huge lines of fishing Shags
and perhaps a Red Throated Diver. Do not neglect St. Mary’s. Lower Moors
may well reveal a Jack Snipe. Porth Hellick once produced a Peregrine for
me one year and, more than often, the bushes in front of the hide will
produce a Firecrest. Mute Swans come here from Bryher and Tresco. The fields
by Telegraph have Lapwing and I have seen a Hen Harrier fly over Bar Point.
Purple Sandpipers are by the Quay and the Sanderlings at Porthmellon are
a delight to watch on a sunny day. I have not forgotten St. Martin’s. The
Neck of the Pool will sometimes have over 200 Ringed Plovers at once and
this seems to be place for the four Bar Tailed Godwitt to frequent. The
rough areas on the north side need to be worked hard but you may be rewarded
by a Woodcock or a Merlin, and I always reckon to find a Common Gull somewhere
around. I have visited the islands at Christmas for many years and never
tire of the changing scene, the peace and tranquillity and the clear skies
and exciting views. There are rainy days I know but what is one of these
when you can look over Hell Bay with a strong wind to whip up the seas
and with low sunlight, blue skies and cumulus clouds as a backdrop? Sometimes
I have a bit of luck as the two Bean Geese I found behind Old Grimsby,
a find for me. I came across them by chance and although I do not regard
myself as a twitcher, I ticked them off my list!
Peter Barlow, Manchester.
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