Isles of Scilly

Finally I have been able to twitch a real mega this autumn!! The Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Travelling with Dan to Crawley to meet Gary and John late on 24/10, the four of us travelled west to reach a half 8 helicopter to St. Mary's. And then a boat taking us to St. Agnes for about half 9 on the 25th. The bird had already been seen at half 8 that morning, but had remarkably done a disppearing act. There was no sign until a photographer photographed the bird near Troy Town at about half 12. There was again no further sign of the bird and we refused to leave the island for other birds.

A showy Song Thrush eating the Blackberries instead of the Grosbeak (c) Ashley Howe

2 Merlin, Short-eared Owl and Raven were seen mean while.

Half an hour before our boat left back to St. Mary's the dip was looking ominous. But another report from the same area of Troy Town saw us running across the island and eventually clapping eyes on the bird. And what a stunner it was too.

The main bird showing us what its got, the extent of the red in the wings was fabulous as it flew between weeds and turnips. (c) Ashley Howe

Marching from the boat to the hides (ISBG I think) just minutes before our flight back to Penzance, there was no sign of the Wilson's Snipe but a roosting Greenshank.

A roosting Greenshank just before dusk (c) Ashley Howe

Many Thanks to Gary and Dan for the lifts and what turned out to be a successful twitch.