About the Tour
Book this Tour
Target Species
FAQ
About the Tour
Departure
Autumn migration on the magical Isles of Scilly. Our week long tour will see us leave Penzance by boat on Monday 3rd October for the 2hr 45 minute journey to St Mary’s. En-route there will be an opportunity to see seabirds like Red-throated and Great Norther Diver, Eider, Puffin, Gannet, Fulmar, Shearwaters and possibly Whales and Dolphins. Previous journeys have also witnessed migration of smaller birds, with some often landing on the boat! Flocks of thrushes, finches and Skylarks may be seen heading towards the mainland, with passerines like Robins, Chiffchaff, Pipits and Flycatchers landing on the boat.
Arrival on St Mary’s
We arrive at St Mary’s around lunchtime and once we are settled in our hotel accommodation, we will head out to the Lower Moors Nature Trail to look for migrants. This will be a leisurely afternoon after our journey and after evening meal those that want to can join us at The Scillonian Club, where the daily bird log is recorded and we can relax with a drink amongst other birders.
Daily Itinerary
The rest of the week will be flexible and governed by where the birds are. This is a week of looking for the rare and scarce as we hope to encounter birds from the East and West, depending on the wind direction. We will visit Tresco and St Agnes during the week and possibly Bryher depending on the birds. The price of the trip includes 2 inter-island boat trips, but we may re-visit other islands if the birds are there. St Agnes is often the first landfall for American vagrants and we often find ourselves there on consecutive days!
All the islands we visit have good footpaths and walkways and the pace will mainly be leisurely, we may pick up the pace if a rare bird is located!
Each evening our guides will be at The Scillonian Club to add our sightings to the bird log. There will also be an opportunity to purchase the excellent annual Isles of Scilly Bird and Wildlife Report here. There are other pubs nearby should you wish to do your own thing or you may just want to relax in the hotel’s pool!
Final Day and Departure
We depart St Mary’s on Monday 10th October 2022, the boat usually leaving at 1630hrs, so the daytime will be your own to explore St Mary’s further or grab last minute gifts in the town. Alternatively, we will still have plenty of time for birding on Saturday if you want to join your guide(s), you never know what might turn up at the last minute!
What’s included in the price?
The price includes travel by boat to and from the Isles of Scilly, Hotel accommodation at the Bell Rock Hotel with Dinner, bed and Breakfast, 2 inter-island boat tickets, full weeks guiding fees and a complimentary Bird Tours Beanie hat!
If you want to upgrade to the plane from Land’s End then let us know, that can be arranged for further cost.
Whats Not included?
Private holiday insurance, travel to Penzance from your home address (we can provide mini-bus transport from our HQ at Hayle to save you parking), items of a personal nature. Lunches during the day and any drinks. The hotel may provide a packed lunch if requested, otherwise the local shops sell sandwiches and pasties.
Need Optics?
We have a supply of quality Opticron binoculars and Telescopes to rent or buy. Please ask on booking.
Other Information
The weather at this time of year can cause cancellations to boat/planes on and off the island. We are not responsible for any costs for extra accommodation should, we get stuck on the islands.
The Bell Rock Hotel is situated in the heart of Hugh Town, St Mary’s and is close to all amenities. The food is excellent and staff are very friendly and helpful. Rooms are clean, comfortable and contemporary and single occupancy is available.
Book this Tour
COST: £1400 – Price is per person.
If you would like to place a non refundable £500 deposit please contact me direct final payments have to be made 4 weeks before the tour begins.
Target Species
What to expect from the West
American landbirds we have seen on previous trips include: Indigo Bunting, Red-eyed Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Northern Waterthrush, American Robin, Blackpoll Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Grey-cheeked Thrush, White-rumped Sandpiper, Hudsonian Whimbrel, Lesser Yellowlegs, Upland Sandpiper, American Wigeon and Green-winged Teal.
What to Expect from the South and East
During Easterly conditions we have seen: White’s Thrush, Paddyfield Warbler, Pallid Swift, Red-backed Shrike, Wryneck, Bonelli’s Warbler, ,Barred Warbler, Yellow-browed Warbler, Dusky Warbler, Aquatic Warbler, Pallas’s Warbler, Blyth’s Reed Warbler, Rose-coloured Starling, Red-flanked Blue-tail, Blue Rock Thrush, Siberian Stonechat, Eastern Yellow Wagtail, Blyth’s Pipit, Richard’s Pipit, Olive-backed Pipit, Short-toed Lark, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Common Rosefinch, Rustic Bunting, Ortolan Bunting and Little Bunting.
What else might we see?
Other species previously seen are: Snowy Owl, Surf Scoter, Waxwing, Corncrake, Spotted Crake, Black-necked Grebe, Whooper Swan, Brent Goose, Shelduck, Mandarin, Mallard, Shoveler, Gadwall, White-fronted Goose, Pochard, Wigeon, Teal, Redshank, Greenshank, Oystercatcher, Turnstone, Ringed Plover, Bar-tailed Godwit, Eider, Common Scoter, Long-tailed Duck, Red-legged Partridge, Pheasant, Swift, Swallow, Stock Dove, Coot, Moorhen, Golden Plover, Grey Plover, Dotterel, Curlew, Knot, Woodcock, Kittiwake, Med Gull, Iceland Gull, Common Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Leach’s Petrel, Grey Phalarope, Great Shearwater, Manx Shearwater, Balearic Shearwater, Sooty Shearwater, Shag, Cormorant, Little Egret, Cattle Egret, Great White Egret, Osprey, Buzzard, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Merlin, Peregrine, Long-eared Owl, Short-eared Owl, Kingfisher, Great Spotted Woodpecker, Chough, Hooded Crow, Woodlark, Skylark, Cetti’s Warbler, Lapland Bunting, Snow Bunting and more!!!!…………………
FAQ
- Suitable outdoor clothing and footwear, the weather can be unpredictable at any time of year
- Sunscreen – on our spring, summer and sometimes autumn tours, it can be very hot and sunny in Cornwall. This is the item most people forget!!
- Drink – Hot or cold depending on the weather. We can be out walking for long periods so best to be prepared.
- Binoculars – we recommend you bring binoculars. We currently don’t have any spares.
- Packed Lunch – if the tour package does not include a pub lunch, then a packed lunch and refreshments are advised.
You can hire a pair of binoculars at the time of booking. We have a limited supply so please choose this option when you book. If you find yourself in need of a pair last minute just contact us in advance.
Our hire pairs are the superb quality Opticron Oregon 4, 8×42. They give fantastic clarity and are suitable for all our tours. We also have these in stock to buy if you’re impressed by them!
Our leaders have their own telescopes that they are happy to share if needed, but please feel free to bring your own, especially if the tour involves visits to estuaries or sea-watching. We hope to have telescopes and binoculars for hire in the future.
Not necessarily, if you have one then please bring it along. All our tours provide photo opportunities, so it is handy to have a camera with you.
For our Somerset and Devon Tours there are on site toilet facilities. Other bespoke and West Cornwall tours will have planned toilet breaks at public facilities.
Yes, within reason. We can pick up along the A30 corridor for our tours outside of Cornwall. For other pick-ups, we may be able to arrange if given enough notice.
