PORTHGCRESSA - BOAT TO ST AGNES - PORTH KILLIER - PELIGRIS COVE - CAUSEWAY TO GUGH - ST MARYS - PORTHCRESSA
WEATHER: lots of sunshine, lighter winds reducing during the day.
After yesterday's stormy conditions it was nice to be out in the sunshine again, it was still a bit windy first thing, but nowhere near as bad as yeaterday.
We decided to go to St Agnes to look for the Hoopoe that had been there for nearly a week, it had been showing on and off but we took our chances. The crossing was interesting, very choppy water and everyone got a bit of a soaking. The windy conditions soon dried out our waterproof clothing as we walked round to Porth Killier.
Periglis Cove from the slipway
From the coastal path we found Curlew, Whimbrel, Oystercatcher, Turnstone and lot of gulls. We then walked over to the cricket pitch to where the Hoopoe was last seen and of course the bird wasn't there! We checked out a few surrounding fields and enclosed plots but still the bird remained unseen.
At the slipway into Periglis Cove we stood and watched the numerous waders on the beach, Sanderling, Dunlin, Ringed Plover, Oystercatchers and a few Curlews coulkd be seen. Then Lynda called out that she had found the Hoopoe! There it was, sitting not too far from us near the slipway. We watched it for a while before it flew along beach, we changed position and watched from the embankment, getting excellent views. Other birders joined us and soon the Hoopoe had an admiring crowd.
the Hoopoe in Periglis Cove
Whilst watching the Hoopoe we also found Stonechats, White Wagtails, Meadow and Rock Pipits and a Whinchat turned up too! The Hoopoe eventually flew off towards Troy Town and we walked to the cricket pavilion to eat our lunch on the terrace.
a Whinchat on the beach
after lunch the Hoopoe returned and gave even better views, we then set off for the Old Lighthouse Cafe, it was closed when we got there, so we decided to take the early boat back to St Marys, we had time for a visit to Gugh which is only accesible during low tide periods.
The tide was rising, we only had time to cross the causeway and return, only Denis, Lynda and Debbie walked across the sand bar onto Gugh.
Denis and Debbie on their way to Gugh across the Tidal Sand-Bar with Lynda looking on
They made it across the Sand Bar to Gugh - Denis, Debbie and Lynda
The crossing back to St Marys was much calmer, the wind had dropped significantly and no-one got wet this time. We spent the next hour sitting on a bench looking out over Protcressa Bay watching a summer-plumaged Great Northern Diver, it was quite far out but you could make out the colouring on the bird.
a very distnat Great Northern Diver
We spent sometime scanning the rocks for a Black Redstart but drew a blank, at 5pm we walked back up to the guest for our last night. Lyn and Debbie walked back into town to collect a take-away for dinner, we had the most delicious food of the week from a new fish-bar, the fish pie was excellent!
Cormorant and a Shag the iconic species of the rocky terrain around the Scilly Isles
In the meantime a Buff-bellied Pipit had been found on the Garrision, we decided it was too late to walk all the way up there, hopefully the bird will still be around tomorrow, our flight back is scheduled for 12:20 so we shall have time for a sortie to the Garrison.