The Scilly Log

Until reminded of it yesterday I had forgotten about this vintage NQS post. It dates from 2008, and my first October trip to Scilly since 1991 I think. My excuse for resurrecting it is of course its topicality...



What is 'The Log'?? If you've never been to Scilly in October, and never stayed at a Bird Observatory, you may well have no idea. It is basically this: first, the birders assemble; next, someone runs through the systematic list out loud, species by species (or group of species eg. divers, Hippolais warblers, etc) - this is known as 'calling the log' - and the assembled mob pipe up with their sightings. For example....

"Yellow-browed Warbler on St Mary's?" goes the call. The responses:
"One at the Dump Clump"
"One, Carn Friars"
"Two, Holy Vale"
And so on.

This ritual serves at least two purposes. One, it allows the recorder to collect bird records nice and easily, and two, it is a source of gen for the assembled birders - if they are just recently arrived they will quickly find out what's around.

Actually, the log also provides you with opportunities to display your birding prowess, and shine among your peers. Like this...

Trumping
You've been out all day, with very little to show for your efforts, but you did spend three hours by the weedy field at Telegraph, carefully counting its inhabitants. Tucked away in your notebook are 8 Whinchats, 180 Starlings and 222 Linnets. Being experienced in the log-calling game you know to keep yourself well reigned-in. Hold back that winning count until the other players have revealed their hands.......then hammer them with your hefty score. This is how it goes:
"Whinchat, St Mary's. Whinchat?"
"Three at Telegraph," squeaks an over-eager young thruster. "Pah!" you think.
"Five, Telegraph," intones an earnest, but kindly voice, trying not to crush the youth.
"Six, Telegraph." Ah, that must be the bloke you saw hanging about by the gate for a good half hour. You crane to check, and it is. It looks like the glory is yours for the taking.
"EIGHT, Telegraph," you announce, with careful emphasis and enunciation - there must be no mistaking the number. A hush descends, and admiring eyes glance your way. You swell with pride.
Right then, Starling soon. You relax and sip your pint.
"Starling?" goes the call. "Any counts?"
Steady. Wait for someone else to call first.
"About two hundred at Telegraph," chirps an accursed estimator.
"Pox!" you think.
You still have those Linnets up your sleeve though, and wait patiently for your moment.
"Linnet? Any groups over 50?"
You hold back.
"About two hundred at Telegraph." The very same bloke.
"Hah!" you think, "Gotcha!" and draw sufficient breath to give extra force to your delivery.
"TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-TWO at Telegraph!"
But, just as the heads are once more swivelling in admiration....
"EIGHT HUNDRED AND FORTY-FIVE at the north end, from Telegraph to Watermill." A pause. "TWO HUNDRED AND TWENTY-SEVEN of those at Telegraph"
Defeated, your shoulders slump.
A ring of worshippers forms around the new Counting Hero.

Actually, watching the trumpers in action is even more fun than doing it!

On my previous October visits the log was always downstairs at the Porthcressa, and was PACKED with sweating birders, ten deep at the bar. Nowadays it is upstairs at the Scillonian Club, and in the first few days of our holiday was attended by just 60-80 birders at the most. The numbers swelled noticeably towards the end of the week, and I took these photos on Saturday 11th.

Will Wagstaff is a long-serving resident IOS birder, wildlife tour leader and thoroughly nice bloke. Here he is, 'calling the log':

Judging by the expressions, we must have been on Starling, or Woodpigeon or something equally riveting

Swinging the camera right a tad gives a view over a fair proportion of the bar's populace, though there were still a load further right and behind me. The first Saturday of the peak week. From counts made at the Sociable Plover twitch on Sunday evening it was estimated that around 500 birders were on the isles. This is apparently par for recent years, but compares to something like double that (at least) in the mid-80s/early 90s. Anyway, here they are:

A Scilly first-timer has just called 2 Nuthatches, a Treecreeper and 6 Magpies. No one quite knows what to do with themselves....