7 May 25 - A Spring Day Trip To St Marys With ORCA

I was scheduled to be leading a team of ORCA surveyors from Penzance to St Mary's on 23 Apr 25. Unfortunately, the survey had to be postponed at the last minute, due to a weather warning which predicted three metre seas and thirty knot winds around the islands. Thanks to a hectic period of passenger bookings around the Easter and May Bank holidays, it took a while before the Scillonian could host us, but we were finally on for the first Weds in May. Fortunately, one of the original surveyors, Sarah Matthews, was still able to support the survey and Julie Bunt stepped in at short notice as the third surveyor. It was a quiet crossing with favourable seas and weather, but no Marine Mammal sightings and low number of Seabirds. This was something that the skipper Dave mentioned had been a feature of the last two weeks of mainly Easterly winds. Still it gave the team the chance to setting into the paperwork side of the survey, as well as, following the survey protocol itself. The reality is a survey with no sightings is always useful training and useful data.

Passing close to Peninnis on our approach to Hugh Town

I finished the survey a few minutes later, as we were getting close to our final approach into Hugh Town. This allowed us to get out of the bridge and stand out of the way on the bridge wing. As we were getting approaching the final turn, we saw this nice looking sailing ship. I pointed out a Shag on the water and then raised the bins to have a quick look at it. A good job I did, as it was actually a cracking summer plumage Great Northern Diver.

This sailing ship was moored just outside of Hugh Town Harbour

Great Northern Diver: This is only the second summer plumage Great Northern Diver I've photographed, albeit the first was hardly a summer date given it was 26 Oct 15

We had sailed a few minutes early and arrived about fifteen minutes early thanks to the calm seas.

The ORCA survey team: Myself, Julie Bunt and Sarah Matthews. The photo is published with Sarah's permission and the copyright for the photo remains with Sarah

Our departure time had been brought forward from 16:30 to 15:00. Therefore, there was no time to lose once we got ashore to have a wander around St Mary's. Sarah and Julie were planning to meet up with a friend of Sarah's who lives on St Mary's. My plan was to head to the Old Town Churchyard, walk along Lower Moors and have a quick look at Porthloo Lane, if time permitted.

The island's climate allows many sub-tropical plants to thrive

Old Town Church: I've spent a lot of time looking in the Old Town churchyard trees, but I think the only goodie I've seen in the trees was a Red-eyed Vireo back in the 1980s. Additionally, I did see my first White-speck in the churchyard in Oct 23

The next stop was a quick look at Lower Moors. The pool from the first hide was quiet, except for a pair of Coots feeding three youngsters.

Coot: Adult with small youngster, whilst nervously watching two Herring Gulls on the pool

I carried on along the Lower Moors. The trees and reedbeds were looking great, with singing Warblers, including, a Chiffchaff, a Willow Warbler, a few Reed Warblers and Blackcaps. Finally, I reached the screen by the Shooter's Pond, where a pair of Moorhens were feeding a couple of youngsters.

Lower Moors: The trail passes through some great-looking trees

Lower Moors: It's never this dry in October

Moorhen: Adult with small youngster

Moorhen: Adult with small youngster

Part of the Lower Moors trail leading to the road at Porthloo Lane

I still had a bit of time to wander down Porthloo Lane. I tried to cut through on the footpath to Porth Mellon beach, but I lost the path and ended up at Harry's Walls. Despite all the days I've spent wandering around on St Mary's in the 1980s, it was my first visit to the site. Harry's Walls are the remains of an unfinished artillery fort, started in 1551 by Edward VI, which was started to defend St Mary's. There was time for a quick photo, before I had to retrace my steps and find the road to Hugh Town.

Harry's Walls: I will have to return for a longer look on a future visit

It's hard to believe this excellent-looking Porthloo garden is in the UK

I had time to grab a coffee before getting back onto the quayside for 14:00. Julie and Sarah appeared soon after and we were quickly back on board the Scillonian. As we were departing Hugh Town there was time for a quick photo of the luxury cruise ship, Le Bellot, that was also visiting the islands that day.

The luxury cruise ship Le Bellot: She had to moor in the channel and ferry passengers ashore

We departed on the route between the islands and the skipper pointed out the regular location where they see Seals in the water around Menawethan, the final island of the Eastern Islands. On range these are going to be Grey Seals, but the four we saw were too far away to specifically confirm their identification, so they were logged as probable Grey Seals. About half way back to Cornwall, Julie and Sarah saw another Seal at sea which was a nice sighting to get. I was surveying from the other bridge wing and missed it. They joys of surveying is you aren't always in the right place to see everything. However, I did pick up a pod of three Short-beaked Common Dolphins as we were close to Mousehole and fortunately, Sarah saw them as well from her bridge wing. It's always good when everybody in the team gets to see at least one sighting on a survey.

I would like to thank the Captain Dave, First Officer Matthew, Purser Gail and the rest of the crew for making us so welcome on the Scillonian. It had been a successful and enjoyable survey.

20 Feb 25 - Luxembourg: Haff Reimich Birding

When I was planning where to visit after Pete Moore & I had seen the Spectacled Eider & I had dropped Pete to head into Amsterdam, I was focusing on visiting Luxembourg for the first time and trying to see Grey-headed Woodpecker. Grey-headed Woodpecker would be a Western Palearctic Tick and they look noticeably different to the subspecies I've seen in Nepal, India, Thailand & Tibet. One of the better-looking sites in Luxembourg was Haff Reimich. While there were a number of eBird sightings for the species at that site, there hadn't been any in the previous six months. It wasn't clear if that just down to a limited number of local observers using eBird or the species still be uncommon there. However, Haff Reimich looked to be the best site in Luxembourg that I could find.

Haff Reimich: Luxembourg is on the top (West) bank of the Moselle

I arrived around 23:30 at Haff Reimich and found there were plenty of parking spaces around the Biodiversum centre. This is a museum and admin centre for the nature reserve. As I didn't have any accommodation booked, the sleeping bag was pulled out for a night in the Focus Hotel. I had a good night's sleep, before waking just before dawn. It was a cold & crisp start to the day, but the weather looked like it would be a good sunny Winter's day, even if the temperature was only going to be a few degrees. Still there was no bitterly cold Texel wind to spoil the day. After brewing some coffee and having breakfast, it was time to head off to explore the reserve.

The lakes are surrounded by light woodland which has a very high water table

Haff Reimich is a series of reed-fringed lakes surrounding by light woodland. The reserve is next to River Moselle which forms the boundary between Luxembourg on the West bank and Germany on the East bank. It lies at the Southern end of the Mosel wine country and the hillsides were covered by vineyards.

Great Spotted Woodpecker: This was the only Woodpecker species I saw, although both Middle Spotted Woodpeckers and Grey-headed Woodpeckers occur

There was a nearby clearing where group activities could take place.

Owl sign in the clearing

Nuthatch sign in the clearing

This Kingfisher sign was the final sign I could find

It was time to explore more of the reserve.

All the hides have steep roofs: Perhaps they have to be able to cope with days of good snowfall

The first of a number of lovely-looking reed-edged lakes: There wasn't a lot on view from this hide, so I quickly moved on

The next hide overlooked a larger lake

There was a lot more activity on this lake: There were some Great Crested Grebes, Shoveler, Gadwall, Coot and Canada Geese on this lake. Mosel vineyards covered the neighbouring hills

A Shrine to St Donatus by the vineyards on the far hillside: According to the internet, St Donatus is a patron against lightning strikes & is often linked to St Florian, who is the protector against May frosts. The two together are often invoked to protect the wine harvest

Great Crested Grebe: While there was nothing I couldn't see back at home, the Birds were more photogenic

Great Crested Grebe

Great Crested Grebe

Gadwall: Male

Coot: It was good to see good number of Coot, which is sadly a declining species in the historic Isle of Purbeck

A track between two larger areas of reedbeds

An important patch of open ground in the reserve

This open ground was a nesting area for Little Ringed Plovers: It is also home to Sand Lizards, Blue-winged Grasshoppers and Green Tiger Beetles

Another hide overlooking another lake

This lake had a flock of thirty Pochard: Once a regular wintering sight at Studland, this species disappeared around 2010 after the introduced Carp decimated the weed and underwater habitat at Littlesea

Pochard: Males

Pochard: Males with one female

Egyptian Goose: I saw a number of these introduced Geese

After a couple of hours exploring the reserve, it was time to head back to the car. This Short-toed Treecreeper was the highlight of the visit to this impressive reserve.

Short-toed Treecreeper: I could remember that Short-toed Treecreepers have a brown flank patch and there were a number of differences to the wings, but I couldn't remember what those differences were

Short-toed Treecreeper: This was a good excuse to read up on the differences in the wing pattern with Treecreeper

Short-toed Treecreeper: The outer edge of the buff wingbar at the base of the primaries does not curve back on itself on primary 4, whereas, it kinks back on itself on the wing of a Treecreeper. The alula has a small pale tip which curves back along the outer edge. A Treecreeper's alula has a large pale tip, without the pale outer edge

Short-toed Treecreeper: The primary tips have well-defined triangular or diamond-shaped white tips on Short-toed Treecreeper. In comparison, Treecreepers have pale tips that look like the Nike logo

Short-toed Treecreeper: Phil Saunders mentioned that Treecreepers on the continent are mainly an upland or coniferous forest species, whereas, Short-toed Treecreepers are more likely at low level. Not, that that will help much if another vagrant Short-toed Treecreeper turns up at Portland

Short-toed Treecreeper: The best view of the toes. This is the feature I'm least likely to use as an identification feature

Treecreeper: A Studland Treecreeper for comparison (25 May 14)

The three storey Biodiversum centre dominates the lake nearest to the car park, yet it also merges perfectly into the area.

The Biodiversum centre

The Biodiversum centre also features different local stone building styles, including this Great Crested Grebe wall

The Biodiversum centre is a museum, art gallery and admin centre for the reserve. There is a section dedicated to the periods of human history in the area.

Up to twelve thousand years ago, the locals had a nomadic lifestyle and lived in simple animal skin tents

By seven thousand years ago, the locals had switched to a farming lifestyle and built more permanent huts

Two and a half thousand years ago, the Bronze age huts were more sophisticated

This Goshawk dominates the ceiling of the Biodiversum centre

Wild Boar: This is a regularly-occurring species in the local woodlands

Beaver: I thought I might have seen some signs of Beavers in the reserve

Hawfinch: Another common local species

It was time to head into the city of Luxembourg to have a look around. I will cover that in the next Blog Post.