As I was working for Silversea on the Silver Explorer until mid April I started my season on Scilly with a bang as all the summer flowers were already in bloom and there were many bird migrants about. The warm spring continued for some time so having left West Africa in the sun there was not too much of a temperature shock.
The warm and calm start to the season did not continue into May. So much so that the highlight of the second week of May was a Glaucous Gull from the high north! The occasional wet spells gave us another burst of flowers with the Dwarf Pansy and Spring Squill on Bryher doing well as a result. After it warmed up again in late May more migrants, both birds and butterflies arrived with a very nice Red-rumped Swallow around the islands for a few days. One of the rarest sights this summer was the first Large Tortoiseshell Butterfly on Scilly for many years found on the Lower Moors Trail extension.
It was a summer of Black Kites from southern Europe with three singles and then a group of three in October to make it the best year ever for this species. Continuing this southern feel was the European Bee-eater than spent the summer on the islands. It took me some time to see this bird even thought I managed to hear it on four different islands before I saw it!
The autumn of 2011 will be remembered as one of the best for many years as far as rare birds are concerned with many transatlantic species seen on the tours, including Lesser Yellowlegs, Baird's Sandpiper, Blue-winged Teal and Least Sandpiper. It was also a good time for European species as we seemed to be bumping into Wrynecks every few days in mid September and managed to find our fair share of Woodchat Shrikes. It was also a good autumn for migrating insects with a good number of Clouded Yellows in late Sept along with a few of the rather rare Red-veined Darters also coming off the continent.
I am due to be working for Silversea again in the New Year, heading south again so will hopefully be full of what we saw when I start here again next spring.
I have some groups booked for next season. As of time of writing these are booked for the following dates when I will therefore not be available for my usual walks. There will also be the occasional single days when I am not doing my usual tours.
27th April to 5th May 2012 A Private Group
5th to 12th May 2012 Island Holidays
12th May to 17th May 2012 Travelling Naturalist
I am planning to give my weekly slideshows every Saturday night from 31st March until early Oct. My tours will start around the same time and finish in mid October.
I will update this information when it changes. For any up to date information please email me.
Will