Scilly Isles Birding

 Monday 21 April

The Shag Phalacrocorax aristotelis colony

The second of three stops on our week's cruise from Tilbury, London was at St Mary's in the Scilly Isles.  Once again, a lovely sunny day and upon landing in the harbour we soon came across a single Redshank and a dozen Turnstones on the sandy shore.  In the harbour as we arrived a number of Herring Gulls.

Whilst the others went for a stroll around the town, I joined a two-hour bird and seal boat trip out to the Puffin colony beyond St Agnes.  Here, not only lots of Puffins on the water, flying and or near their burrows but also a number of Herring and a handful of Great Black-backed Gulls.  We did see a Fulmar and also a single Razorbill.

Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus

But, on the outlying rocks and a few on the shore we also noted very many Shag, including those in flight.  Great to have the opportunity to compare the the identifying aspects when compered to the more -widely seen Cormorants.  making our way back to St Marys we came across more Great Black-backed Gulls and even a couple of resting Oystercatchers.

 Great Black-backed Gull Larus marinus with Shags Phalacrocorax aristotelis

Once back on land I took an anti-clockwise walk up to the Garrrison and and around the cliffs finding a few Starlings, House Sparrows and Blackbirds.  However, the biggest and most pleasant surprise was to come across a Red-billed Chough foraging on a grassy bank and as I looked on in almost disbelief a second individual flew over me to the cliff behind.  Most annoying to regret not having taken a camera with me and even more so when, having returned to the ship, discovered that the mobile had not taken the photographs I thought it had!!!

Continuing on down to Old Town I added Collared Doves and Robins to the birds seen during the day and as the ship set sail for Ireland, a good number of feeding Gannets just off shore.

Birds seen:

Fulmar, Gannet, Shag, Oystercatcher, Redshank, Turnstone, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Razorbill, Puffin, Collared Dove, Robin, Blackbird, Chough, Starling, House Sparrow.

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