PORTHCRESSA - HUGH TOWN QUAY - ST AGNES ( TROY TOWN - PERIGLIS BAY - CRICKET PITCH - KILLIER BAY - BACK TO ST MARYS - PENINNIS HEADLAND
WEATHER: quite windy all day, light rain to start, the broken sunshine all day. temp 16C
Despite the windy conditions and the early morning rainfall we had a fabulous day on St Agnes.
We set out after breakfast at 8:30am and walked down to Porthcressa which was quickly abandoned because we had the full force of the southerly wind in our faces. A quick look at the Town Beach and the Harbour produced the usual suspects with the added bonus of two Cattle Egrets, a good bird for the islands.
Our boat trip across to St Agnes was uneventful, we noted Mediterranean Gulls, Gannets, Shags and as couple of Grey Seals.
2ND summer Mediterranean Gull seen on the rocks near the harbour
After landing we marched up to the centre of the island at the lighthouse a Common Redstart flitted across the path and was lost to sight.
We then walked down to Troy Town to the fields above the camp site and joined a group of birders who were watching an UPLAND SANDPIPER! Wowza!! What a bird! It is an odd looking North American wader that lives on the prairie, it has long yellow legs, a long neck, a fairly long bill and large bulbus eyes. It pumps it tail slowly from under long, folden wings. We saw it in flight and walking around, a super bird for our list!
Upland Sandpiper showing off its bright yellow legs
quite distant - this is how we first saw this strange looking Sandpiper
weird thin neck, with a small round head having bulbous eyes
Next we walked down to Periglis, where we scanned a large bay for waders, wagtails and pipits. The tide was low and large sections of sand was exposed. We found our first Sanderlings, Ringed Plovers and a Possible Dunlin (seen by Lyn). Lots of gulls loafed on the rocks and plenty of White Wagtails dashed about with Rock Pipits and Linnets.
Rock Pipit
We ate our picnic lunch on the benches next to the cricket pitch from where we saw a couple of Northern Wheatears, Meadow Pipits and more Linnets. In the bushes and scrub around the Great Pool we located the Red-backed Shrike with help from other birders.
Red-backed Shrike
We went on to find Pied Flycatcher, Common Redstart and Rob found a Whinchat that no-one else saw. So we spent a lot of time searching for the Whinchat which only re-appeared just as we were leaving and once again, only Rob saw it well.
Common Redstart seen after it had just taken a bath
In Porth Killier we scanned the rocks for more species and added Curlew to our list, but we also saw lots of Oystercatchers, Turnstones, Black-headed Gulls and we had great views of a Kingfisher which hovered in several places whilst fishing.
Porth Killier
After taking an afternoon drink at the pub, sitting outside in the lovely afternoon sunshine we board the boat back to St Mary’s. We were well satisfied with our sightings, but more was still to come!
As we walked up the hill past Buzza Tower were heard that a Snow Bunting had been along the track to Peninnis Head. As the sighting wasn’t very far from where we were it would have been rude not to go and look for the bunting.
three pictures of the Snow Bunting all taken by Anne Songhurst
My god did it show well, the group were amazed at how close the bunting came to them. The cameras and phones were clicking away, what a great way to finish our birding day.
