I left work at 6pm this evening and drove down to Penzance for a week on the Scillies. I slept in the car overnight, and before I knew it, my alarm was going off and I was walking down to the quay to get on the Scillonian. The weather was shocking, and I knew I was in for a bumpy ride on the boat.
St Michael's Mount
Leaving Penzance
Birding was quiet till we passed Land's End, when I picked up a Grey phalarope on the sea before it flew, and then a Sooty shearwater flew along the side of the boat.
Sooty Shearwater
There were plenty of Gannets around, and I also saw several Manx Shearwaters and a Great Skua.
Gannet
The crossing was bad with the weather, and there were plenty of people who were struggling with seasickness. Anyway, we arrived safely at St Mary's even though some people looked green. On arrival, I headed straight for Porthcressa Bay to try and see a Black necked Grebe that had been around for the last couple of weeks. I soon picked the bird up close to the shoreline. I couldn't believe how close it was, and it wasn't fazed by me taking photos.
Black-necked grebe
After getting some photos, I dropped my gear off at my bed and breakfast and set off for Bant's Carn near Telegraph. The weather was now deteriorating even more, but I wanted to make the most of the day. On arrival, I soon connected with the Wryneck that had been around for a few days.
Wryneck
The bird showed really well whilst I was there, even though it was absolutely throwing it down. Moving on from Telegraph, I called in at Newford duck pond, where I soon heard my first Yellow-browed warbler of the year. Two birds were eventually seen happily flitting around with Goldcrests.
Yellow Browed Warbler
After trying to get some photos, I gave up; it was just too wet, and I was soaked, so I started to head back to my bed and breakfast. Walking back, one of the local birders, Spider, rang me to say someone had found a Spotted crake at Lower Moors. I called in and was rewarded with good views on arrival down to a few yards.
A cracking afternoon's birding, even though I was soaked to the bone.Roll on day 2.
