Cornwall Birding (5 Viewers)

[Dave Parker]

Had Oystercatchers feeding in the playing field of Falmouth school the other night. Luckily the lights were on red affording me longer viewing

Is this a regular occurence Dan?

Hi Simon,
Fairly normal I think, we get them on the Morrisons roundabout on the A30 coming in to Penzance. Had Lapwing and Golden Plover on there during the recent hard weather and it's a good place for Med Gulls early autumn as well.
Dave

 

[thenorthernmonkey]

Hi Simon,
Fairly normal I think, we get them on the Morrisons roundabout on the A30 coming in to Penzance. Had Lapwing and Golden Plover on there during the recent hard weather and it's a good place for Med Gulls early autumn as well.
Dave

Yeah - just wondered. Having passed the place twice a day every day on my way to work i thought i would have noticed them before (which i havent). Maybe i need to open my eyes a bit more.

 

[henerz1]

The Penryn rugby pitch by ASDA's, Simon, had a Laughing Gull briefly several years ago and it regularly gets Curlew and the odd Med Gull. These open green spots are all worth checking if passing by regularly.

 

[Jon Turner]

When I lived in Falmouth in the mid-seventies there were frequently Oystercatchers on the school playing field in Trescobeas Road.

Jon

 

[dantheman]

That roundabout near Penzance has had Oyks on it every single time I've passed!

78 Curlew this morning on the playing field at 9:45 am (none earlier). (Plus a Blackcap in the hedge and I think at least two 'tacking' in the bushes on the opposite side of the road.)

To clarify; I've passed twice a day since September myself, usually in daylight hours, and seen Oystercatchers on maybe half a dozen occasions. There is a sign up saying dog walkers will be videod on CCTV, and could be prosecuted, but the corner of the field does have a footpath running across it and so it will be disturbed at times.

 

[Ash1456]

Whooper swan showing AMAZINGLY well today at Drift.
Also Barnacle Geese in field, left of path between Dam and Hide.
All 400mm, uncropped

 

[Ilya Maclean]

Jacana and I had a Siberian Chiffchaff at the Sewage Works at Helston today. It was calling too, which was nice. A few details and ID tips on my blog.

 

[Jacana]

Great pics Ash!

To add to Ilya's blog- Don't rely wholly on Collins for an id, the plates aren't too accurate. Luckily this bird is quite distinctive when seen next to collybita and the call is very different!

 

[Qingcol]

6 Common Goldeneye this morning on Dozmary Pool, plus 7 Pochard, 12 Tufted Duck, 3 Eurasian Wigeon, 8 Eurasian Teal and 1 male Northern Shoveler.
Male Black Redstart, 2 Blackcap and 4 Siskin at Glen Road Wadebridge.

 

[horsa]

Cetti's warbler yesterday morning in a bush on the coastal path adjoining St Ives station car park.It was showing[and singing really well]--Typically i did'nt have my camera with me!!!
Later in the day--A Black Redstart on the rocks at Lamorna Cove--[plus Rock Pipits]

 

[Tim Twiggs]

Godrevy and Gwithian

Water Rail on wet flush by far parking area at Godrevy this morning.

St Gothian Sands LNR - Black Redstart on bank of main pool on Sandsifter side and Gadwall 7 (3 drakes), Shoveler 6 (1 drake), Wigeon 2 (1 drake), Tufted Duck 12 (10 drakes) on main pool.

 

[Tim Twiggs]

St Ives

Black Redstart Porthmeor Beach this morning

Black-throated Diver in St Ives Bay distantly from St Ives Coastguard (probably closer to Gwithian!)

 

[dantheman]

A mate (or something like that) from up country was just down for a few days and picked out an interesting bird yesterday in the 150+ Wigeon at College Reservoir. Presumed male hybrid backcross (considerably more Wigeon than American Wigeon).

Showed a pinky salmon suffusion to the grey flank sides, small green eyepatch on a browner head than Wigeon, and a whiter front patch than normal. Interesting, subtle, but noticeable once seen. Completely failed to get any recognisable photographic images.

(Other birds in vicinity -single female Shoveler still present, couple of Pochard. 3 Med Gulls bathing on Argal mid morning were nice, 2 ad and 1 1st winter with 60 or so BH Gulls, seen no sign of Goosander there for weeks now...)

 

[camelbirder]

Could this Wigeon hybrid be the one that was at Stithians Res at the back end of last year.

 

[dantheman]

Could well be (I was unaware there had been one locally, doh!), if the images which come up by googling are anything to go by;

hybrid pics 1 and hybrid pics 2 at Stithians.

Seemed to have a smaller distinct green patch to my recollection, but it was strong sunlight, and I could well be wrong.

Odds on, yes, and hence maybe a true hybrid rather than a backcross ...

 

[henerz1]

A mate (or something like that) from up country was just down for a few days and picked out an interesting bird yesterday in the 150+ Wigeon at College Reservoir. Presumed male hybrid backcross (considerably more Wigeon than American Wigeon).

There was a hybrid male Wigeon at College Res on sporadic dates in the winters of 2007+2008. Could be the same bird returning Dan.

 

[Qingcol]

Dowitcher species, again today at Maer Lake; some features pointing to scolopaceus and others towards griseus ( The upper tail has more white than any other winter Long-billed that I have seen) and in my experience most Long-billed readily call in flight, in the last two days I have watched this Dowitcher in flight at least 7 times with no flight call.

Other birds at Maer this morning included 2 Water Pipit, 1 Jack Snipe and 2 adult Med Gulls.

 

[Qingcol]

Dowitcher sp again at Maer Lake this morning, but not before 10:45. Other birds included 300+ Golden Plover, 26 Dunlin and 1 Adult Med Gull.

Lower Tamar Lake; Birds included 16 Goosander, 3 Northern Pintail, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Nuthatch, 4+ Willow Tit and at least one calling Marsh Tit.

 

[Cuckoo-shrike]

Dowitcher sp again at Maer Lake this morning, but not before 10:45. Other birds included 300+ Golden Plover, 26 Dunlin and 1 Adult Med Gull.

Lower Tamar Lake; Birds included 16 Goosander, 3 Northern Pintail, 1 Treecreeper, 2 Coal Tit, 3 Nuthatch, 4+ Willow Tit and at least one calling Marsh Tit.

Great photos there Colin. How are you getting so close to these birds? Are you using a hide?

Andy

 

[Qingcol]

Great photos there Colin. How are you getting so close to these birds? Are you using a hide?

Andy

Thanks Andy, no hide the birds appear to be extremely tame around the feeders, I just tend to stand very still for a while and let the birds settle back.