Author | Lightnews

Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · 9d

A cracking trip out west this morning with the Scilly Pelagics team where we saw thousands of Great Shearwaters, plus good numbers of Manx and Sooty Shearwaters, several Great Skua, an Arctic Skua a few Puffins and an Arctic Tern plus feeding Bluefin Tuna.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · 22d

Thankfully the Mourning Dove on St Agnes hung around long enough for me to see it this afternoon. A welcome addition to my list 😀
#scillybirding

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · 23d

A visit to St Agnes this morning saw some good birds , but sadly the Mourning Dove went missing again. Still, any morning with Buff-bellied ( American) Pipit, Hoopoe and 3 Firecrests can't be bad.
#scillybirding

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · 25d

A couple of photos from yesterday where the Spoonbill was on Green Island and this Black-necked Grebe showed very well off Gleaner Beach Tresco. Today on St Agnes I saw my 2nd Hoopoe of the autumn in what has been a bumper year for them on Scilly as well seeing a Lapland Bunting on Wingletang Down.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · 29d

If I remember correctly, we went out c 70 miles beyond Scilly to the Jones Bank on one of the Scillonian pelagics. We had c 1 hour there before coming back. Close , but no Madeirans 😆

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Sep 30

I was glad I opted to go on the Bishop Rock trip this am before a meeting this pm as there were masses of shearwaters near the lighthouse. Mostly Cory's but also some Great and single Sooty & Manx plus a Great Skua. I saw what looked a good candidate for a Scopoli's as well. a cracking trip.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Sep 7

Its not a bad days birding on Scilly when one can see Dotterel and Buff-breasted Sandpiper together, a Pec Sand a 10 min walk away; find a Hoopoe on the way back and then see 38 Glossy Ibis from the house. What a day. #Scillybirding #ukbirding

Dotterel and Buff-breasted Sandpiper on the Airport.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Sep 3

Glad you let some get by you - 3 on Scilly today despite strong SW winds.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Aug 23

One of the many Bowhead Whales we passed today in the Beaufort Sea. It was very difficult to estimate numbers, but could easily have been up to 100. I also saw two Beluga Whale , what was prob a distant Humpback breaching and lots of Pacific Diver still in breeding plumage.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Aug 19

Victoria Island in the high Arctic gave a great display of birds I have seen at home - Buff-breasted Sandpipers, American Golden Plovers, Bairds Sandpipers, Shore Larks, American Pipits, Rough-legged Hawks, Pomarine Skuas- with full tail. It was good to see them in their breeding range for a change.

American Golden Plover & Semi-palmated Sandpiper

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Aug 16

A cracking day in the High Arctic of Canada. We saw 4 Bowhead Whales, 4 Polar Bears including 4 cubs, 4 Musk Ox, 2 Narwhals plus many 'Blue 'Fulmars, but the highlight was the Polar Bear that was miles from land that came to see the ship before carrying on its original track.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Jul 6

A nice bird for the start of July, a Semi-palmated Sandpiper found at Porth Hellick by Bob Flood. The last one I saw was on the same site in 2017.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Apr 26

Thankfully the Shore Lark that was found last Weds hung around for me to photograph today. Although its the 4th I have seen here its the first I have photographed. There were also more Wheatears around which are always good to see. #Scillybirding

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Apr 8

Out west to the Bishop Rock Lighthouse for the first time this year today. Loads of Puffins and other auks, plus 12+ G N Diver along with a scattering of Manx Shearwater etc

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Apr 5

It's been an amazing spring so far on Scilly - we haven't had so many Hoopoe for years, but it was redstarts that caught my eye/camera the last two days. I don't see many spring male Common Redstarts so this one on Gugh was v pleasing as was the male Black Redstart on Tresco. #Scillybirding

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Feb 12

A super morning on New Island in the Falklands visiting the Black-browed Albatross colony that also contained Rockhopper Penguins and Imperial Shags and lots more including Striated Caracara and Tussoc Birds etc. V windy but a great visit.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Feb 7

It's been nice to be back in South Georgia, although the weather has been variable as ever. Macaroni Penguins yesterday at Hercules Bay were in full voice in the early evening. Fur Seal pups were their usual annoying selves, looking cute one minute and mock charging the next- stroppy things.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Jan 15

It's been a super day of warm sunshine on Scilly which I spent on Tresco. A grand total of 61 sp seen incl L Grebe, 17 G N Divers, Marsh Harrier, 13 Med Gulls, 3 Shoveler, Pintail, Fieldfare etc. Also 2 Red Admiral and a Peacock Butterfly & Humpback Whale from boat home. #ukbirding #Scillybirding

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Jan 11

I had another good couple of hours around St Mary’s today. Bar t Godwits & Firecrest new for year. Saw the 8 Pink feet fly over P Hellick where GWE was roosting with L Egret. Sadly no sign of the Barn Owl this evening. Another 50+ species day.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Jan 10

I’d rather something new 🤣

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Jan 9

After yesterday's wind and rain it was much nicer out today. A Marsh Harrier over Samson, Whimbrel on P Loo plus a Black t Diver off Watermill were my highlights. Also a few Chiffchaff in Little Porth with the two Balck Redstart. 54 sp in total, not bad for a cycle around the island.

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Jan 2

A v different day on Scilly- dry and sunny. 3 sp of Egret in a hour this morning. Then watching Humpback Whale from Garrison this pm, along with sev G N Diver, a B t Diver plus lots of auks, Gannets and Shags. Must be good feeding there. #Scillybirding #ukbirding

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Jan 1

After strong gales last night and rain most of the day I wasn’t expecting to see much today but saw 54 species, 2 more than last year and I missed a few “easy” ones. watching 8 P Geese as a Whimbrel flew by calling was a little surreal. Otherwise 2 Black Red, Kingfisher were nice #Scillybirding

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Dec 27

A strange addition to birds seen from the house today - Pied Crow, seen while I was having lunch. Presumably the bird from West Cornwall, and before that, who knows 😆

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Will Wagstaff @iwtscilly.bsky.social · Dec 25

You're looking well Mick 😆

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