PENINNIS HEAD - PORTHCRESSA BEACH - ST AGNES ALL DAY WITH VISITS TO: KILLIERS BAY - PELIGRIS BAY - TROY TOWN - HIGHER TOWN
WEATHER: broken cloud with sunny spells, liight winds. Tope temp 15C
We fully intended to walk to Peninnis Head to look for a Wryneck but somehow we got distracted by the Short-toed Lark which was showing well near the pig field. We also searched for a yerllow Wagatil which had been seen recenlty in roughly the same place. We abandoned our Peninnis Walk and headed for the quay via Porthcressa Beach, the morning light was superb as we 'scoped the bay from the track near Buzza Tower.
another photo of the obliging Short-toed Lark
Nothing new for our list was present, we saw all the usual suspects such as: Kingfisher, Curlew, Sandwich Tern, Mediterranean Gull, Grey Heron, Oystercatcher, Shag and usual bunch of of dodgy Ducks.
the view of Porthcressa and Hugh Town from Peninnis Headland
Our boat left for Agnes at 9am and witthin 15minutes we were walking up the quay on this small island. We took anti-clockwise direction and headed for Killiers Cove in the hope of bumping into a Rosefinch which had been seen there recently. Searching through the Linnet flocks we found nothing unusual, at the Great Pool we found two Moorhena and some nmore dodgy looking Mallards.
young Linnet
From the embankment above Perigilis Cove we watched quite a few waders, there must have been 40+ Common Ringed Plover with halkf a dozen bar-tailed Godwits and a few Ruddy Turnstones. Both Rock Pipits and White Wagtails dashed about on the beach.
a couple of Godwits showing off their Bar-tails - taken by Phil Naylor
On the cricket pitch we saw more Linnets and some meadow Pipits with Stonechats in the hedges, a Common Kestrel flew over and hovered nicely for the cameras not too far away. We made our way to Troytown via the coastal pathnothingn new popped up, in fact it was very quiet in general.
Oystercatcher
The cafe at Higher Town was open for coffee and cakes and that is where we ended up next. The sun was shining, barn Swallows and House Martins scythed through the air above us and Robins sang in the hedgerows. During our coffee/lunch break we heard news of a Yellow-browed Warbler showing just down the road near the Parsonage, so that is where we spent the next hour or so.
flycatching Chiffchaffs
We found many Common Chiffchaffs and a Spotted Flycatcher as we moved from one area of trees to another. We may have seen the Yellow-browed Warbler but no-one got a decent view of it to clinch is ID. We spent a good two hours lookng. A Sparrowhawk enetrtained us a couple of times but not much else showed up.
At 3pm we walked away from Higher Town to search an area of scrub near the old Co Vean cafe where a Wryneck had been showing once or twice this morning. Along the way Sue spotted a 'crest in a fir tree, we discovered it was a Goldcrest then she saw a second bird and this one was a Firecrest, our best sighting of the day!!
a Chiffchaff taken by Phil Naylor
Our search for the Wryneck went unrewarded as expected so we stroll down to the quay to catch the last boat back to St Mary. We left the island at 4:45pm and at 5pm we entered the Atlantic Hotel for dinner at 5:30pm. We were back at the guest house by 7:30pm having searched the beach area at Porthcressa for more birds from the track up to Buzza Tower.
Firecrest - lightened up by Phil Naylor as this bird was in seen in deep shadow
As we sat down later to complete our checklist news came out of a Black Redstart being seen at Porthcressa Rocks, we had just skimmed over those very rocks, not 30 minutes ago, we also talked about the posibility of a Black Redstart being present! Doh!!
Porthcressa taken this evening by Phil Naylor
Our checklist was completed very quickly, it had been the poorest list so far on the trip. Must try harder tomorrow as it is our last full day.