[DELACOWI]

3 green sandpiper flew low over the house at Guineaport this evening. 2 common sandpiper on the river bank. Tawny owl calling in Egloshayle park.
Not sure who has repaired the hide at Treraven, but thankyou. Hope the ideots that vandalised it did the work at their expense? Cheers, Will.

[DELACOWI]

Juvenile mediterranean gull in a large flock of black headed gulls at Treraven this morning, also 25+ teal, common sandpiper. Little greb on the river.

[Qingcol]

Amble Marshes this morning, two large wader groups consisting of mixed shanks, Dunlin, Ruff and Ringed Plover 120+ flew over Walmsley towards Amble at high tide. Birds on the reserve 1 Little Ringed Plover, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Snipe, 4 Green Sandpiper, 56 Teal, 2 Shoveler, 1 juv Tufted Duck, Little Grebe (photo) 9+ Sedge Warbler (with at least 2 juv's ringed) 2 Blackcap and 3 Chiffchaff.

[Qingcol]

Amble Marshes this morning, birds included, 18 Greenshank, 2 Common Redshank, 2 Knot, 3 Ruff, 4 Common Sandpiper (one with badly injured leg) 3 Green Sandpiper, 8 Black-tailed Godwit,1 Lapwing, 38 Dunlin, 1 Little-ringed Plover, 6 Ringed Plover (including a noticeably smaller and slimmer juvenile, probably of the subspecies ‘tundrae’) 19 Teal, 2 Shoveler and a juv Tufted Duck.

Treraven Meadow this morning, birds included 2 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 22 Teal, 80+ Lesser-black Backed Gulls of mixed ages including both ( ‘graellsii’ and ‘intermedius’) 79 Canada Geese, 1 Little Egret, 1 Grey Heron and 1 Kingfisher.

Eight plus guns shooting the end of the flyway between the Camel Estuary and Amble Marshes on the high tide this morning, it was noticeable that as groups of waders departed the sanctuary shots were heard seconds later. I expect this is all perfectly legal, let’s face it if it were not legal there would be absolutely no appetite in these parts to do anything about it! Much easier to vent frustrations on Mediterranean islands for doing exactly the same thing, when it’s on your own doorstep and big money is involved better to say nothing and not be the one to rock the boat.

[Qingcol]

Amble Marshes this morning, birds included a stunning leucistic Common Snipe! Probably showing because of the misty conditions, I have some poor images (due to the mist) though they don’t do the bird justice, 2 ‘normal’ sized Pectoral Sandpiper (photo) 5 Black-Tailed Godwit, 6 Greenshank, 2 Green Sandpiper, 26 Common Snipe, 3 Ringed Plover, 30+ Teal, 4 Blackcap, 8 Sedge Warbler, 1 Goldcrest and 6 Whinchat (photo)

[Qingcol]

A successful day! with everyone getting good views of the Short-billed Dowitcher, Common and Sandwich Terns at Lodmoor. At Radipole, Bearded Tits (photo) the long-stay Hooded Merganser (photo) Redstart, Willow (photo) Reed, Sedge Warbler and Cetti’s Warbler, ‘sinensis Cormorant, great views of Great-crested Grebe hunting underwater (photo) Southwell, Portland a stunning Monarch (photo) Ferrybridge, Dunlin, Knot and 200+ Ringed Plover (of the 200 less than ten individuals appeared to be adults, much the same pattern as the RP at Davidstow this autumn)

[Cornish Chough]

Great pictures Qingcol.

[Redwood21]

A couple of hours early this morning up The Rumps produced roughly 300 Manx Shearwaters, at least one (probably 2) Balearic Shearwater, 2 Great Skuas, 2 Arctic Skuas, a dozen or so Kittiwakes, 40-50 Razorbills and Guillemots, around 100 Gannets and 2 Peregrines.
Also of note was 1 Ocean Sunfish being tended to by a juvenile Herring Gull to remove parasites. 2 Grey Seals were also around.

All the best, Edward.

[Redwood21]

Spent a few hours up The Rumps this afternoon. Only around 100 or so Manx Shearwaters and 20 Razorbills and Guillemots, about 50 Gannets and 10 Kittiwakes, 2 Great Skuas and 2 cracking Pomarine Skuas all moving westwards.
There were also 2 Peregrines and 1 Kestrel.
Marine life was also apparent with 2 Ocean Sunfish and half a dozen Common Dolphins.

All the best, Edward.

[DELACOWI]

Treraven meadows this morning, birds included 6 black tailed godwit, 2 green sandpiper, 2 curlew, 2 little egret, 1 heron, 1 kingfisher, 3 grey wagtail, black headed gulls, teal, mallard, large flock of canada geese.

[DELACOWI]

Walmsley on the evening tide today, birds included - 1 lapwing, 1 snipe, 1 spotted redshank, 17 greenshank, c57 black tailed godwits (I counted them too many times to remember the precise number!) 3 bar tailed godwit, 1 green sandpiper, teal, 1 wigeon, 1 shoveler, grey heron, little egret, liitle grebe with young, moorhen,buzzard. Cheers, Will.

[DELACOWI]

Treraven meadows this evening (late), 1 curlew, 2 heron, 3 green sandpiper, 13 black tailed godwit, 100+ black headed gulls, teal, mute swan, magpie, carrion crow.

[skippo]

A couple of spots and a question. Camel estuary yesterday and today there were about six terns. I think Sandwich from the height that they were diving. Anyone else see them? Also a juvenile gull, either med or common, seen off Pentire Glaze. Clear black band on tail and mottled wings. Did not know enough to tell the difference at a distance. A lot of fulmar (20+) past the Rumps, also a constant flow of gannets. No auks at all. Gently now boys - are they all back at sea now, even the razorbills?

[camelbirder]

Originally Posted by skippo

A couple of spots and a question. Camel estuary yesterday and today there were about six terns. I think Sandwich from the height that they were diving. Anyone else see them? Also a juvenile gull, either med or common, seen off Pentire Glaze. Clear black band on tail and mottled wings. Did not know enough to tell the difference at a distance. A lot of fulmar (20+) past the Rumps, also a constant flow of gannets. No auks at all. Gently now boys - are they all back at sea now, even the razorbills?

Hi Skippo,

There was 20 Sandwich Tern off Padstow on the 17th and 36 there on the 18th together with 4 Common Tern.

There is a lot of Mediterranean Gulls on the estuary at the moment with 83 on the 17th and 72 on the 18th. (There was only a single Common Gull on the 18th). Mediterranean Gulls have been noted feeding in the mouth of the estuary and around the Pentire/ Rumps area.

Both Razorbill and Guillemot leave the nesting colonies when the young fledge. They move out into open water with male birds staying with the young for at least a month.

I hope this answers a few of your questions.

Best wishes,

[skippo]

Thanks Derek - I am pretty sure that the first terns I saw were sandwich, diving in from about 20 - 25 feet. There were some others yesterday in the estuary and these seemed to dip in from a lower height so possibly these were common terns. And thanks for the steer re the auks - that's what I thought. Also a disappointing lack of petrels and shearwaters but I think it was too calm so they did not come inshore.

[camelbirder]

Originally Posted by skippo

Thanks Derek - I am pretty sure that the first terns I saw were sandwich, diving in from about 20 - 25 feet. There were some others yesterday in the estuary and these seemed to dip in from a lower height so possibly these were common terns. And thanks for the steer re the auks - that's what I thought. Also a disappointing lack of petrels and shearwaters but I think it was too calm so they did not come inshore.

No problems.

You are probably right about the terns, how the bird is feeding does help to identify the species, especially if used with other characters and plumage details.

Shearwaters and petrels are best looked for in a north west or west north west wind when they are pushed into the shore and sometimes in the mouth of the estuary. A recent article on Manx Shearwaters breeding on Lundy shows that they feed just off the mouth of the estuary. In July, whilst carrying out survey work, over 800 were watched feeding here together with a single Sooty Shearwater.

For the latest(ish) sightings from around the estuary please visit the website below,

Best wishes,

[lastcornishman]

Hi Where is Qingcol? hope he is ok.

[Dave Parker]

Originally Posted by lastcornishman

Hi Where is Qingcol? hope he is ok.

Last time I heard from him, he was having trouble with his computer!

Dave

[lastcornishman]

Ok thanks, thats not to bad then, but still bad enough.

[Qingcol]

Originally Posted by lastcornishman

Hi Where is Qingcol? hope he is ok.

I’m fine thanks! Not a problem with the computer just no broadband connection at all for three weeks! Still on the positive side I spent many hours on the phone making loads of new friends in India and touch wood it all appears to be running smoothly at the moment.

[DELACOWI]

Welcome back Colin! Good to see you are up and running again. Just wanted to say that those people in India were my friends first!!! Cheers, Will.

[DELACOWI]

Quick look at Treraven this evening, birds incuded black headed gulls flushed off by a sparrowhawk making a kill (was unable to see what it was plucking), 1 moorhen, teal, c6 black tailed godwit, 1 green sandpiper, woodpigeon, crow, canada geese. On the main river, kingfisher, cormorant, little egret, little grebe, grey heron.

[Qingcol]

Originally Posted by DELACOWI

Quick look at Treraven this evening, birds incuded black headed gulls flushed off by a sparrowhawk making a kill (was unable to see what it was plucking), 1 moorhen, teal, c6 black tailed godwit, 1 green sandpiper, woodpigeon, crow, canada geese. On the main river, kingfisher, cormorant, little egret, little grebe, grey heron.

All I can add at mid-day Will, 10 Black-tailed Godwit, 49 Teal, 4 Cormorant, 1 adult Peregrine, 2 Curlew and 6+ Siskin, no Pipits and only 1 Pied Wag, still nice to see a Kingfisher back near the hide (photo)

[Qingcol]

Amble Marshes this morning, birds included a few Meadow Pipit and Chaffinch moving, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Grey and 3 pied Wagtail, 39 Black-tailed Godwit, 6 Greenshank, 1 Common Redshank, 10 Northern Lapwing, 2 Golden Plover, 3 Snipe. 12 Curlew, 2 Dunlin, 9 Eurasian Wigeon, 1 Northern Pintail, 30+ Teal, 1 Jay and 1 Barn Swallow.

[Qingcol]

A colour ringed Black-tailed Godwit at Amble Marshes 16 07 2012 was ringed as a adult female N Iceland.
(Y8-LY) 10 07 2012 Siglufjordur N Iceland.
16 07 2012 Amble Marshes.
10 08 2012 Burton Mere Wetlands, Cheshire, Dee Estuary, NW England.
26 08 2012 " " " " " " .
(A fast mover)