UNFORTUNATELY THE WALK WAS RAINED OFF THIS MORNING - SO I HAVE SHARED THE DETAILS OF MY UPCOMING TRIP TO THE ISLES OF SCILLY - THERE ARE JUST THREE PLACES LEFT ON THIS TRIP
ISLES OF SCILLY - BIRD WATCHING TOUR
Tuesday, October 6, 2020 - Tuesday, October 13, 2020
Price: £995 no single supplement - Maximum group size 8 Remaining Places: 3
This superb 7-day tour takes in these unique islands situated just 28 miles off the south west coast of Cornwall, UK. Renowned for their beauty and exquisite light the islands form a mini-archipelago with some flora and fauna found nowhere else in the UK.
Bird-watchers have been drawn here for many years during the peak migration periods of April, May, September & October because under certain weather conditions unusual and rare species of birds turn up on a regular basis. Butterflies and moths too, it can be one of the most exciting places to visit when anything can turn up.
BIRDING THE ISLES OF SCILLY
Leader: Bob Buckler
Ortolan Bunting, seen during our 2018 trip.
The Islands
There are five inhabited islands, St Marys, St Martins, St Agnes, Tresco and Bryher, (six if you count Gugh which is attached to, but separated from, St Agnes during high tides), . These together with over 140 other, much smaller, islands make up the archipelago and constiutes the most southerly land mass of the UK.
Sitting in a geographically unique position these islands are usually the first and last landfall for many migrating birds. Over the years Scilly has developed an enviable and remarkable reputation as Europe's premier rarity locality, being a magnet for birds originating from all directions. To date over 440 species have been recorded and new species continue to be added - for example Eastern Orphean Warbler was included on the list in 2017. This species' total beats any other single site in Europe being made up primarily of vagrant migrants.
In the late seventies and early eighties the number of birders visiting the islands during the peak autumn migration often outnumbered the inhabitats! Quite often over 1,000 birders would descend on the archipelago during October time. But these days the numbers have vastly reduced and you can often find peace and quiet on most islands.
On WINGSPAN'S Isles of Scilly Tours it is not just rarities that are sought after, we take a more lesisurely approach, we embrace in the ambience of the islands, we do not dash around like 'twicthers on steroids' and we enjoy every species we find. It is often more rewarding to sit and watch an area and wait to see what will pop into sight rather than to scour around.
For us it is much more enjoyable to find a scarce migrant like a Red-backed or Woodchat Shrike rather than to spend hours searching some scrub for a very brief glimpse of some non-descript rare warbler. Having said that we will endeavour to see most rarities that do turn up if we happen to be in the vicinity of them.
Tour Description
A 7-night - 8 day tour staying at an excellent guest house in the middle of Hugh Town, St. Marys. Daily excursions to all parts of St Marys and visits to three or four of the main islands by boat. Dinner and Breakfast are taken in the guest house whilst lunch will be pcinic style taken in the field. (Please note for three nights we shall eat out in town).
Itinerary
Day 1 - transfer from Penzance to St Mary
You have three options to travel to St Marys, boat, light-aircraft or helicopter (the latter two options incur a supplement).
For those travelling by boat we meet up in the harbour at Penzance in readiness for our morning 2 1/2 hour cruise to St Mary on the Scillonian III. This trip sets sail at 09:15 and gives you the opportunity to see many oceanic species and migrating birds as we make the crossing. We may see unusual Gulls or Skuas, Auks, Shearwaters, Gannets and Petrels. For those of you that are not comfortable travelling by boat the flights offer a quick and easy alternative from Newquay and (Land's End) St Just or further afield.
For those that choose to fly we shall arrange to meet you at the guest house on St Marys.
After checking into our guest house we shall have time to explore parts of St Marys looking for birds that have arrived prior to our arrival and those closest to our guest house. In the early evening we return to the guest house for a delicous home-cooked evening meal and for those that want to we can wander into town to listen to the daily bird-log at the Scillonian Club.
Day 2 - 7.
For the rest of our week we shall visit three or four other inhabitated islands of Tresco, St Anges, Bryher and St Martins. The location of recent sitings and the the weather will determine our daily destination. We shall be entirely flexible and go with the flow.
We shall also take a pelagic cruise (weather permitting) to the Western Isles. This 4-5 trip will be especially good for seeing rare shearwaters and perhaps petrels. You might also see whales and dolphins as well as Puffins, Guillemots, Razorbills, Kittiwakes and Gannets. This trip is included in the price.
Sightings of rare and scarce migrants have historically been recorded during October. In particular, records have shown that the majority of rare birds and scarce migrants turn up during the middle of October, but in recent years the changing weather systems have bucked this trend. Now many birds are turing up 7-10 days earlier, that is why we run our trips during the last few day of September and the first few days of October.
Bird sightings are different every year, this depends on the Atlantic weather systems and prevailing winds. However most years a number of regular scarce migrants are found, these include: Yellow-browed, Melodious and Barred Warblers, Richard's and Tawny Pipits, Common Rosefinch, Eurasian Wryneck, Red-backed Shrike, Greater Short-toed Lark, Firecrest, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Spotted Crake and Jack Snipe. During 2018 western Europe experienced an 'irruption' of Rose-coloured Starlings and right on cue a few turned up on Scilly, 2020 looks to be just the same.
For your information these are the main sightings seen on Scilly between Sept 28th and Oct 10th 2018
Buff-breasted & Pectoral Sandpiper, Jack Snipe, Wilson's Snipe, Wryneck, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Yellow-browed Warbler, Melodious Warbler, Lapland Bunting, Ortolan Bunting, Tawny Pipit, Rose-coloured Starling, Common Rosefinch, Whooper Swan, Red-backed Shrike.
Main sightings made during our visit September 30th - October 7th 2019:-
Yellow-browed Warbler, Blue Rock Thrush, Rustic Bunting, Richard's Pipit, Dotterel, Red-backed Shrike, Ortolan Bunting, Black-and-White Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Jack Snipe, Wryneck, Buff-breasted Sandpiper, Green-winged Teal, Spotted Crake, Lapland Bunting, Short-toed Lark and Red-throated Pipit
Lapland Bunting - a regular autumn visitor to the islands
As the price includes trips from St Marys to the three or four other inhabited islands and a pelagic you can be assured that we will attempt to see the majority of birds that turn up.
Day 8 Departure Day
There will time after breakfast to visit one or two of our favourite local spots on St Marys before we depart, The Scillonian III leaves the port at 4pm so those travelling by boat will have to be at the port by 3pm. Anyone flying back will have to be at the airport at their respective flight times. The tour will offically be over as we dock in Penzance at 7pm.
ISLES OF SCILLY ARCHIPELAGO - THE FIVE MAIN ISLANDS
The islands are covered in historical sites, a great diversity of habitats and some interesting landscapes both natural and man-made. We shall have time to look at all of this as we stroll around each island. The Sub-Tropical Gardens of southern Tresco contrast greatly with the natural heathland of the northern section. The unique tiny bulb fields on St Marys are protected by tall hedges and offer soem great birding.
For detailed information on the habitats and general landscapes of the five islands plea main visit:
https://www.visitislesofscilly.com/islands
General Information
As we do not have transport on any of the islands a great deal of walking and standing will be required, therefore a degree of general fitness is required for all of the walking, although the pace is easy. There are some steep hills and some muddy paths, so walking boots are recommended.
It is generally quite warm at this time of year, so sun-cream and sun hats are essential . There are all the usual facilities on St Mary's including Post Office, banks, shops, pubs, hospital, museum, etc.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
1. 7 nights half-board accommodation at a well-known guest house, Hugh Town, St Marys
2. Boat trips to three or four major islands of St. Agnes, St Martins, Tresco and Bryher
3. A 'Round the Islands' Nature watching cruise, if weather permits
4. Boat passage to and from St Marys from Penzance (you can upgrade to a Flight if you prefer as an optional extra fee)
5. All guiding fees
6. A checklist of Species and evening bird-log
7. Water, Tea, Coffee, Juice with breakfast/evening meals
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED?
1. Flights using the regular services from Cornwall and Devon
2. Travel Insurance (in the event of bad weather with boat/flight cancellations you are responsible for extra accommodation costs in Penzance or St. Mary’s)
3. Lunches, we can pick up supplies in local shops
4. Tips and gratuities
5. All items of a personal nature: telephone calls, alcoholic drinks, snacks