Penzance, Scillonian crossing and St.Mary's

While Ian, Phil, Mag, Paul and I waited on the Scillonian III, we enjoyed a summer adult Red-throated Diver fishing just off the boat. A Grey Wagtail and a few Shags were around, then we set off. The way over was quiet, but there was a Sooty Shearwater, three Arctic Skuas and a Bonxie, as well as decent numbers of Kittiwakes, Guillemots, Razorbills and Gannets, and a couple of pods of Common Dolphins.

adult summer Red-throated Diver

Our first day of birding on St.Mary's saw us eventually connect with the BLUE ROCK THRUSH on Peninnis Head after what felt like a painful foreverness, and a couple of near-misses, but in reality we were very lucky compared to others who have truly struggled to see this bird. We connected with no other rarities or scarcities by sundown, but a Whimbrel, a Greenshank, a small number of Wheatears and Stonechats were around, and at Lower Moors in the evening we heard three or so Water Rails.

1cy Blue Rock Thrush on Peninnis Head

Penzance, Scillonian crossing and St. Mary's

Ian, Mag, Phil and I set off in the early hours to meet with the Scillonian II at Penzance, a day later than planned due to rough seas the previous day. A drake Eider in the harbour was a nice send off from the mainland but the crossing was quiet with just singles of Bonxie and Manx Shearwater featuring alongside the usual Kittiwakes, Razorbills, Guillemots and Gannets.

adult drake Eider at Penzance harbour

After a very quick drop-off at our digs up on St. Mary's at Buzza, we got straight into the birding, connecting with the Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the airfield (distantly with two Golden Plovers) then the first-winter Barred Warbler at the bay end of Porth Hellick. Two Yellow Wagtails dropped onto rooftops in Hugh Town and other bits logged during the day included two Water Rails, seven Greenshanks, eight Snipe, a Kingfisher and two House Martins.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the airfield

1CY Barred Warbler at Porth Hellick

Greenshank at Lower Moors

Hayle Estuary, Penzance and Mousehole

Much later than initially planned, I caught up with my good friend Liam L mid-afternoon and we headed to the Hayle Estuary, seeing five Goosanders and a scattering of waders including Grey Plovers, Bar-tailed Godwits and Curlews, before heading to Penzance. From Jubilee Pool we had five Purple Sandpipers, two Great Northern Divers, a Rock Pipit and a Great Skua, plus a few Guillemots, Shags, Kittiwakes and Gannets. We finished at Mousehole, where a 2CY Glaucous Gull roosted on St. Clement's Isle.

2CY Glaucous Gull at Mousehole