[camelbirder]

Not been birding over the weekend, family duties and a new computer have kept me in, (as well as the weather).

I did see a small male Peregrine over the town this afternoon though.

On your reflections, Colin, I have seen Cetti's at Harlyn pools this year, and they seem to occasional at the NRA Pools as well, but why don't they visit Walmsley, is it because there is not enough bushes.

[Qingcol]

I suppose one good reason why Chetti's don't visit Walmsley, could well be the fact that where they do tend to thrive in this country (Partly due to warmer winters) they prefer to be if not in, a large reed bed, close to one, the very thing Walmsley lacks.

A few waders at a very wet Walmsley this morning.
26 Dunlin.
2 Greenshank.
1 Black-tailed Godwit.
7 Ringed Plover.
1 Little Ringed Plover. Plus a Barnacle Goose with the Canada geese.
20+ Common Swift.
1 Male Wigeon.
1 Pair Gadwall.

[Qingcol]

Barnacle Goose still this morning at Walmsley, plus 20+ Dunlin. 4+ Ringed Plover. 2 Greenshank. 1 Male Wigeon. 2 Gadwall. 20+ House Martin. 12 Swift.
Reed and Sedge Warbler

Below Reed Warbler pic's in the rain this morning.

[Qingcol]

Dinham Flats from the Camel Trail; good numbers of waders on the high tide this morning, with 118 Dunlin. 5 Sanderling. 3 Summer plumage Grey Plover. 7 Ringed Plover. 26 Curlew. Plus brood of 8 Shelduck ducklings.

[Qingcol]

Very quiet this morning at Walmsley, with no sign of any waders, but Wigeon and Gadwall still. Reed Warbler mimicking Water Rail near the Tower Hide!

[camelbirder]

Great pictures Colin.
Hopefully I will get out today.
Derek.

[Qingcol]

Dinham Flats today at high tide; a little misty but not much wind. Birds included 1 D.B Brent Goose with Canada Geese. 76 Dunlin. 3 Knot. 34 Ostercatcher. 20 Curlew. 1 Whimbrel. 4 Ringed Plover.

[Qingcol]

Walmsley Sanctuary, misty at first this morning with 16+ Swift, 2 Sand Martin a Hobby and a ringed Cormorant, its small size and angle of the gular pouch suggesting the continental subspecies P.c sinensis.

[camelbirder]

Hi Colin, once again great photographs.

The Cormorant from the photographs looks to me to be a carbo; the general build of the bird looks to bulky, (although we have had a few conversations about photo, making things look different than in the field), the gular patch is intermediate for me, being about 75 degrees-ish and the bill looks to large with a large hook on the tip, sinensis have much slighter bill.

Could be a hybrid, mixed pairs are breeding in this country.

Best wishes, Derek

[Qingcol]

Are we looking at the same thing? the yellow area of skin below the lower mandible i make it around 90 degrees.

[camelbirder]

Originally Posted by Qingcol

Are we looking at the same thing? .

I don't know. Measuring out from the gape line I make it about 75 degrees, (but the head is not directly side on).

[Qingcol]

Yes a difficult but interesting bird! the feathering towards the centre of the gular does not help. It's a pity i could not manage to read the ring number.

[gonvena]

Hello Gentlemen, Just trying this out to see if I can get onto the thread.

Rumps this morning to looks for Puffins. still haven't seen any this year. Razorbills nesting on Mouls, c.10 Guillemots on water. Manx Shearwaters were passing pretty far out at a rough estimate of 1800 an hour. 3 singing Corn Buntings

[camelbirder]

Hi Mike and welcome,

Its sad about the Puffins, I have heard of only a single bird on one date so far this year. Is it just the Mouls or has the population crashed in the southwest.

[Qingcol]

Welcome to the thread Gonvena! 3 singing Corn Buntings is good for the Rumps, did you see if any were colour ringed?
Very quiet on the high tide at Dinham Flats today with 9 Dunlin, 45 Curlew, 39 adult Mute Swan. Pair and 8 cygnets still at Town Bridge.

[devon.birder]

It took me over an hour to see one Puffin sat on the sea on May 10 in perfect conditions. Roger

[devon.birder]

Originally Posted by camelbirder

Hi Mike and welcome,

Its sad about the Puffins, I have heard of only a single bird on one date so far this year. Is it just the Mouls or has the population crashed in the southwest.

It's not just in the South West. Puffins on the Isle of May are down from almost 70000 pairs in 2003 to about 41000 pairs this year. Birds are also arriving underweight. Roger

[gonvena]

Originally Posted by Qingcol

Welcome to the thread Gonvena! 3 singing Corn Buntings is good for the Rumps, did you see if any were colour ringed?
Very quiet on the high tide at Dinham Flats today with 9 Dunlin, 45 Curlew, 39 adult Mute Swan. Pair and 8 cygnets still at Town Bridge.

No didn't see them just had them singing all around the fields above Pentire farm.

[gonvena]

Ah! Tks for the info I am sure Camelbirder will be grateful for that. We must assume that the bird must have been a late returning bird and has moved on. May be worth while having a chat with the boat people who do Puffin tours around the island, or perhaps the National Trust at Pentire, see what they have to say.
How about flagging this to Spring watch

Oh dear, this was supposed to be a reply to Roger (Devon birder), didn't seem to hit the right box

[camelbirder]

Thanks for the info Roger, any idea how many birds on Lundy.

Visited the estuary this morning at Rock were 57 Dunlin roosted at Porthilly Point, also here were single Ringed Plover and Whimbrel as well as 46 Oystercatcher. (Also of interest were 124 rabbits in the field above the point).

At Clapper Marsh today very few birds were on show with 19 Mallard, 2 Mute Swan, 3 Sedge Warblers, a Moorhen and two Swifts being the highlights.

Red-legged Partridges appear to be everywhere this week, with birds noted in the centre of Wadebridge.

Best wishes, Derek.

[Qingcol]

Extremely quiet at Walmsley Sanctuary this morning as you would expect at this time of year, the small Cormorant wearing a ring still, looking much smaller than it's companion of the same age. (more pic's below)
Other birds include 4 Sand Martin, 20+ Swift,2 Blackcap, 20+ House Martin,
2 House Sparrow, 5 Grey Heron. 3 Shelduck. Brood of Long-tailed Tits.

[Qingcol]

(/QUOTE) Its sad about the Puffins, I have heard of only a single bird on one date so far this year.[/quote]
It's not just the Puffins! Reed Warbler and Grasshopper Warbler are well down this year, at least in the local sites that i watch.
Below some extra residents at Walmsley today.

[gonvena]

Wadebridge School sports field has been a constant source of surprises over the years. The local Herons have discovered it in earnest and instead of just one or two sightings a year, this last week there have been up to four present most days. There are always some birds or other feeding at all times of year. Herons possibly after of young frogs. Right time of year.

[Qingcol]

[/QUOTE)The Cormorant from the photographs looks to me to be a carbo; the general build of the bird looks to bulky, (although we have had a few conversations about photo, making things look different than in the field),[/quote]
I found with this bird, by taking lots of angle shots you could select a gular angle, to be anything you wished. In the end I selected a true side profile shot and I think this is the best one can do.( Alstrom 1985, 1991, Newson 2000, Cormorant with gular pouch angles 60 degrees are carbo while 75 degrees are sinensis)
(Newson 2000, This feature is about 95% reliable in the field) I don't know what angle the pic below is, but as you say it looks more like carbo but only just. (there has to be some overlap) One thing the photo's do show clearly is that there are 14 rectrices.

[Qingcol]

At Dinham Flats this morning a Hobby was hunting over the dam, waders included 18 Dunlin, 2 Sanderling, 4 Knot ( 2 in full summer plumage) 8 Ringed Plover, 26 Curlew, 10 Oystercatcher and a Spotted Flycatcher from the Camel Trail.