Red-throated Pipit at the airfield

This male Firecrest was the first time that I had seen one up so close in the hand 

  Today I was always in the right at the right time. The Whitburn ringers were down for a week and with Jim, they asked me to join them this morning at Porth Hellick. So glad that I did. Instead of waking up to the hot T-shirt weather we've all be basking in for nearly two weeks, it was overcast with a strong southerly. When I arrived they had already started and were in the process of ringing a Grasshopper Warbler. A first for me in the hand. Will Scott already had a Yellow-browed Warbler and 2 Firecrest at Tremelethen and with the number of birds we were catching, it was obvious that there were more birds in. After an hour I made my way to Higher Moors and immediately heard a Siberian Chiffchaff and relocated it feeding with 4 Chiffchaff. A Yellow-browed Warbler showed well and I heard a Firecrest. At Porth Hellick the juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper was showing well, but the 2 Jack Snipe that were also present, I didn't see. The Summer plumage Red-throated Diver that was still in Porthcressa Bay yesterday was now in Porth Hellick Bay, but it wasn't showing as well as it did when I saw it in the former bay. I returned to the ringing station in time to see a Kingfisher being released. Earlier on we could hear a Firecrest and I had only been there a few minutes when we trapped a cracking male. Another first in the hand! By now the wind had increased and they decided to call it day. Out of the 100 Swallow flying around they managed to trap 30.

Male Firecrest

This is the second Grasshopper Warbler that has been trapped after one yesterday 

A handful Blackcap were ringed

Only 2 Sedge Warbler were trapped

And you never get bored of one of these beauties! 

the Red-throated Diver spent most of it's time asleep in Porth Hellick Bay

This juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper has been at Porth Hellick for over three weeks now

  I walked the Salakee fields nearby and news broke of a Red-throated Pipit just two minutes from where I was, on the airfield. Here I joined the small crowed by the windsock, but was told it had flown towards the turning circle with 50 Meadow Pipit. There was no sign of it and everyone moved on. However, John Headon, Robin and i returned to the windsock to see the same 3 Lapland Bunting from last week. As we approached the area, I heard the pipit calling and shouted 'There! Red-throated Pipit!' It was very vocal as we all observed it heading SW towards Peninnis where we lost. That's that then and we concentrated on the 3 Lapland Bunting and had super duper views.

There were 4 Stonechat in the Salakee area

  I returned to town with Jim Almond and the mobile rang as I parked up at the steps of Porthcressa. Martin Goodey called to say that there is a adult Yellow-legged Gull at Porthcressa. Nice one! For the forth time today, I was 'in the right place at the right time! Tim Sexy had found it and he put us on the bird out on the rocks by the pilchard pond. This was a good Scilly tick for many and slowly more birders arrived to tick it off.

Adult yellow-legged Gull at Porthcressa Bay. As we only normally get one a year, a few birders ticked it off to add to their Scilly list

I love Herring Gulls and if you look closely at the photo of the flock of gulls, at the near right hand corner of the bottom of the pic, you will notice a slice of bread. Also notice that not any of the gulls are taking any interest in it. We thought what is going on and couldn't work out why they were not scoffing it down there necks? Then Martin came up with the obvious answer and said 'it's a CRUST!' Of course it is. Why didn't we know that when it's so obvious. Who likes crusts of bread?

  As predicted, just before 16.00, it started raining and with it I observed a Scilly record of 30+Stock Dove with a few Wood pigeon fly south over Maypole! I think less than 20 is the most that has been seen on Scilly. On the golf course the Swallows were grounded with a single Sand Martin and feeding between them were 7 Pied Wagtail, 30+Meadow Pipit and a single Wheatear

During the rain at least 40 Swallow were grounded on the golf course

30+Meadow pipit and 7 Pied Wagtail were also on the golf course 

Not much else new in today except for a Snow Bunting on Bar Beach.

Yesterday while feeding the ducks, well Pablo as Peter decided to go and fly off around the island as I saw him over Hugh Town earlier, I could heard the Great-spotted Woodpecker above me in the pines. Could I see the bloody thing, despite it still calling. Five minutes later Peter dropped in and I gave him a tomato to chew on. 

This amazing singer/songwriter is so under the radar that she's not on wiki. Having begun as a solo singer-songwriter, Sophie Jamieson’s project has evolved rapidly into something ambient and haunting. What were once quiet, melancholy folk songs are growing in strength and gaining atmosphere at the hands of her band, to provide one of the most engaging live sets taking place in London.Having spent two years after graduating gigging relentlessly in the capital, Sophie's journey has brought highlights of radio play on BBC 6Music and BBC Introducing, support for the likes of Lanterns on the Lake, Josh Record, Emily and the Woods and Rhodes. Her debut, Where EP was released in June 2013 through Folkroom Records to wide praise from blogs and press, earning her a place in multiple 'End Of Year' lists as well as the longlist for the 'Blog Sound of 2014'.