Finders-in-the-Field: Eyebrowed Thrush, Isles of Scilly
Neil Davies recounts a once-in-a-lifetime moment for his birding crew on St Mary’s
The Kent contingent of Scilly birders for 2025 – myself, Chris Powell, Andrew Lipczynski and Keith Privett – arrived on St Mary’s on 5 October for a week’s birding. We hit the ground running, connecting with the Mourning Dove on St Agnes after a tense wait from its initial arrival. The first couple of days were excellent, with both Spotted Sandpiper and American Pipit on our lists. Spirits were high – but then things began to quieten down.
By midweek, we were in “list-boosting” mode, wondering what might be turning up back in Kent while we trudged the familiar circuits. On the sixth day, I’d had enough of pacing the Garrison yet again. After seven years of covering the same ground, I realised I needed a change.
A Knot had been reported at Porthloo, so I persuaded Chris and Keith to join me for a different morning route. Predictably, the Knot had gone – I never do see them – but as we reached the duck pond on Porthloo Lane, we faced a choice of paths. A sign marked Sophie’s Walk (or should that be Sophie’s Way?) looked intriguing, so we followed the boardwalk to see where Sophie might lead us.
Chatting as we entered a small wooded area, Chris suddenly interrupted in his usual calm, deadpan tone: “Guys, you really should get onto this thrush.”
Keith and I did – just as it dropped down and flew to our left. “What on earth was that?” we wondered aloud. Chris, who’d had the best view, was convinced: Eyebrowed Thrush. For us, a truly mythical bird. Moments later, it flew over Porthloo Lane and dropped into scrub.
We quickly sent out the message: Putative Eyebrowed Thrush, Porthloo. Ten or fifteen minutes later, Keith called out – again in that wonderfully understated way – “I’ve got it.” This time we both had clear views, confirming the identification. Another message went out, this time without the “putative”. A pattern was emerging: Kent birders 3 sightings, all-comers 0.
Soon everyone on the island had descended – around 150 excitable birders hoping for a glimpse. The usual mutterings of “one-birder bird” and “probably a Redwing” began circulating, when Chris, ever the steady hand, returned to the original site and found it showing well, grabbing some excellent photos. Kent birders 4, all-comers 0.
But then, Chris called everyone back in – 4-1, game on!
Keith and I later saw it fly again near the boatyard, bringing the score to 6-1. When someone insisted it was “just a Song Thrush”, our conviction only grew stronger – and so did our joy. We celebrated like a winning team, high-fives all round, before heading off to the American Pipit at the airfield – which we dipped! Who cared? We’d just found an Eyebrowed Thrush.
Hot chocolate at Old Town followed, accompanied by a chorus of “I can’t believe we’ve just found an Eyebrowed Thrush.”
Next morning, two early risers relocated it in the same area, 6-2, and soon after, our full Kent quartet, with Andrew joining in, enjoyed cripplingly good views as it fed in the leaf litter, flicking vegetation everywhere. Once we’d had our fill, we gladly passed the baton to the rest of the island’s birders, who could now share the same thrill.
Fill your boots, all-comers – we certainly had.
All week I’d been saying that Dick Filby would surely find something, as he always does. So perhaps this one repays a few of the birds he’s found for me over the years.
After 48 years of coming to the Scillies and finding absolutely bugger all, maybe the goalposts have finally moved.
Thanks, Scillies, for giving me the joy of a Big One. We were over the moon. Apartments already booked for 2026 – and an even bigger Kent squad assembled. Get in there, you Kent birders!
October 2025
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