Will Wagstaff
@iwtscilly.bsky.social
Island Wildlife Tours on Scilly. Keen birder but also interested in all other aspects of wildlife.
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.
October 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
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.
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
#scillybirding
October 9, 2025 at 5:25 PM
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
#scillybirding
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
#scillybirding
October 8, 2025 at 9:29 PM
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
#scillybirding
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.
October 6, 2025 at 8:31 PM
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.
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.
September 30, 2025 at 4:55 PM
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.
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
September 7, 2025 at 5:16 PM
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
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.
August 23, 2025 at 4:39 AM
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.
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.
August 19, 2025 at 4:34 AM
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.
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.
August 16, 2025 at 4:34 AM
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.
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.
July 6, 2025 at 12:24 PM
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.
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
April 26, 2025 at 9:10 PM
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
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
April 8, 2025 at 6:57 PM
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
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
April 5, 2025 at 12:00 PM
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
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.
February 12, 2025 at 12:56 AM
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.
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.
February 7, 2025 at 8:45 PM
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.
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
January 15, 2025 at 7:45 PM
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
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.
January 9, 2025 at 6:56 PM
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.
Some bird names here in Grenada make sense- eg Spectacled Thrush ; but I have no idea where the name Bananaquit comes from but they are rather smart birds and both will occasionally sit still for a few seconds.
December 1, 2024 at 2:16 AM
Some bird names here in Grenada make sense- eg Spectacled Thrush ; but I have no idea where the name Bananaquit comes from but they are rather smart birds and both will occasionally sit still for a few seconds.
I am on holiday in Grenada at the moment and found this hummer in the garden this afternoon. It doesn't seem to fit any of the species listed for this area on EBird. A bit of a puzzle- more homework 😄
November 27, 2024 at 12:55 AM
I am on holiday in Grenada at the moment and found this hummer in the garden this afternoon. It doesn't seem to fit any of the species listed for this area on EBird. A bit of a puzzle- more homework 😄
Had a pleasant wander around Langford Lakes this pm after the snow stopped & sun came out. Good to see Scilly scare species such as G C Grebe, G W Egret etc as well as get good views of Shoveler. Stopped at water meadows nr Salisbury where a Little Egret was actively feeding, ignoring the cold wind
November 21, 2024 at 5:47 PM
Had a pleasant wander around Langford Lakes this pm after the snow stopped & sun came out. Good to see Scilly scare species such as G C Grebe, G W Egret etc as well as get good views of Shoveler. Stopped at water meadows nr Salisbury where a Little Egret was actively feeding, ignoring the cold wind
A very fresh Speckled Wood feeding on a daff- not a photo I have taken before. I also saw my first Swallow for a while plus at least 5 YBW, a Sibe Chiff, 2 Cattle Egrets, 3 Cetti's, a G S Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Purple Sandpiper etc. A real mix of species incl some good Scilly rares. #ukbirding
November 11, 2024 at 5:26 PM
A very fresh Speckled Wood feeding on a daff- not a photo I have taken before. I also saw my first Swallow for a while plus at least 5 YBW, a Sibe Chiff, 2 Cattle Egrets, 3 Cetti's, a G S Woodpecker, Kingfisher, Purple Sandpiper etc. A real mix of species incl some good Scilly rares. #ukbirding
Peninnis Head was quiet day apart from fly over GN Diver, but did see a Cory's from home earlier. YBW's still in Lower Moors along with Reed Bunting & Brambling (garden Brambling still present). Still feels like there are birds to be found, but foggy today. #ukbirding
November 10, 2024 at 1:33 PM
Peninnis Head was quiet day apart from fly over GN Diver, but did see a Cory's from home earlier. YBW's still in Lower Moors along with Reed Bunting & Brambling (garden Brambling still present). Still feels like there are birds to be found, but foggy today. #ukbirding
It's still grey but lots of birds about including my latest ever Cory's, Little Bunting, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, an eastern Lesser Whitethroat, Ring Ousel, Whimbrel, Great White Egret etc etc. A cracking morning topped by seeing a Brambling in the garden when I got back home.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
November 8, 2024 at 6:38 PM
It's still grey but lots of birds about including my latest ever Cory's, Little Bunting, 3 Yellow-browed Warblers, an eastern Lesser Whitethroat, Ring Ousel, Whimbrel, Great White Egret etc etc. A cracking morning topped by seeing a Brambling in the garden when I got back home.
#ukbirding
#ukbirding
I always enjoy seeing Little Buntings, so to see two in one small field this morning was rather good. Otherwise, the Red-rumped Swallow showed well at Telegraph plus I also saw the 8 Pink -fronts at Pelistry and many Redwing & Chaffinch going over. ##ukbirding
November 2, 2024 at 5:31 PM
I always enjoy seeing Little Buntings, so to see two in one small field this morning was rather good. Otherwise, the Red-rumped Swallow showed well at Telegraph plus I also saw the 8 Pink -fronts at Pelistry and many Redwing & Chaffinch going over. ##ukbirding
It's been a good many years since I have seen a Radde's Warbler and even longer since I managed to photograph one. This bird was, as usual for this species, often out of sight, but did show well every now and then at Mount Todden, St Mary's. #ukbirding
October 27, 2024 at 4:31 PM
It's been a good many years since I have seen a Radde's Warbler and even longer since I managed to photograph one. This bird was, as usual for this species, often out of sight, but did show well every now and then at Mount Todden, St Mary's. #ukbirding