AMERICAN CLIFF SWALLOW-ISLES OF SCILLY

Yesterday morning, having just finished a 12-hour night shift, I pulled into my driveway utterly exhausted at 8:30am when a MEGA alert hit: “CLIFF SWALLOW, St Mary’s, Isles of Scilly”. Twitch mode instantly kicked in. I rang Malc Curtin, but family commitments meant he couldn’t make it. I quickly gathered my gear, and the long journey south began.

Skybus flights were fully booked, but after some frantic calls, a charter boat from Penzance was arranged, leaving at 3:00pm. Higgo even sorted a room for me at Al’s—everything was falling into place.

The journey across the channel was smooth. At sea, we connected with Manx Shearwaters, Fulmars, and even four Common Dolphins and two Porpoises, a perfect prelude to the twitch.

Charter Sorted

Twitch on

Arriving at St Mary's - Hugh Town

Arriving at St Mary’s, the news was grim—the bird had flown over an hour earlier. I was gutted, exhausted from no sleep, but I continued searching. The pool at Porth Hellick provided consolation in the form of a stunning Temminck’s Stint and a Lesser Yellowlegs.

Temminck's Stint

Lesser Yellowlegs

Then, as we walked towards the boardwalk, a glimmer of hope. Higgo spotted the Cliff Swallow heading straight for us. It flew low over our heads, looped around, and continued to show well in front of us until dusk—a complete turnaround from deflation to elation.

Cliff Swallow

After prolonged and satisfying views, I headed back to my digs for a few celebratory beers, sharing the moment with fellow birders at the Scillionian Club.

Catching up with the lads in the Scillionian club 

The following day was more relaxed. On the return boat to Penzance, I managed to stop at Marazion to see the Buff-breasted Sandpiper, which was showing beautifully on the beach down to a few feet. Afterwards, I headed home, finally arriving at 1:45am.

Buff-breasted Sandpiper

It had been a fantastic two days of birding, full of mega rarities, memorable company, and some of the best twitching experiences imaginable.

Previous Cliff Swallow Records in Britain

2001 Oct 26 to Oct 30

Isles of Scilly-St Agnes, first winter, 26th October, photo; same, St Martin's, 26th to 27th October; same, St Mary's, 28th to 30th October, photo.

2000 Oct 1
Hants-Titchfield Haven, 1st October; possibly same as Portland, Dorset, 29th to 30th September.

2000 Sep 29 to Sep 30
Dorset-The Verne, Portland, 29th to 30th September, photo.

2000 Sep 28 to Sep 30
Isles of Scilly-St Mary's, 28th to 30th September, photo.

1996 Oct 1
Sussex-Church Norton, juvenile, 1st October.

1995 Dec 4 to Dec 5
Isles of Scilly-Tresco, juvenile, 4th to 5th December, photo.

1995 Nov 16
Co.Kerry-Dunmore Head, 16th November.

1995 Oct 22 to Oct 28
Yorks-Spurn, juvenile, 22nd to 23rd, 28th October, photo.

1988 Oct 23
Cleveland-South Gare, juvenile, 23rd October.

1983 Oct 10 to Oct 27
Isles of Scilly-St Agnes, juvenile, 10th October; same, St Mary's, 10th to 27th October, photo.