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Falmouth Birding (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter dantheman
- Start date
dantheman
Bah humbug
Bringing back the true meaning of the phrase 'record shot' 
Both had been reported elsewhere within the Carrick Roads over the weekend, still was rather surprised to get them this morning ... at some point will try and post up a list of the 'birds of falmouth' seen this year. Must be 110+ by now?
Taken from next car park beyond Lidl's - obviously much closer views could have been had from the other side.
Both had been reported elsewhere within the Carrick Roads over the weekend, still was rather surprised to get them this morning ... at some point will try and post up a list of the 'birds of falmouth' seen this year. Must be 110+ by now?
Taken from next car park beyond Lidl's - obviously much closer views could have been had from the other side.
Attachments
ruanite
Well-known member
Couple of questions
1. Yesterday I took a photo of a flock of Lapwings that had just taken off from the mud flats at Ruan. I printed the photo off and counted them. Are they likely to be all Lapwings or might there be other birds in amongst them? Flock was 339 give or take a few.
2. Over the past week I have got a female Blackcap on my feeder. She is extremely agressive with the other birds. She sits on the feeder (rarely eats anything) and as soon as another bird appears she attacks it. The only one she hasn't had a go at is the Great Spotted Woodpecker. Is this normal behaviour?
1. Yesterday I took a photo of a flock of Lapwings that had just taken off from the mud flats at Ruan. I printed the photo off and counted them. Are they likely to be all Lapwings or might there be other birds in amongst them? Flock was 339 give or take a few.
2. Over the past week I have got a female Blackcap on my feeder. She is extremely agressive with the other birds. She sits on the feeder (rarely eats anything) and as soon as another bird appears she attacks it. The only one she hasn't had a go at is the Great Spotted Woodpecker. Is this normal behaviour?
Paul Freestone
Cornwall Birdwatching Tours
Thats a good sized flock. Probably all are Lapwings although Golden Plover do often associate with flocks of Lapwings. Blackcaps can be extremely aggressive especially where food is concerned but I would be very surprised if one took on the beak of a GS Woodpecker!
Paul
Cornwall Birding - Daily Sightings
Paul Freestone
Cornwall Birdwatching Tours
Hey Dan, Ive had a query about the best place at College Res to see Bittern. Any advice?
regards,
Paul
Cornwall Birding - Daily Sightings
Cornwall Birding Website
regards,
Paul
Cornwall Birding - Daily Sightings
Cornwall Birding Website
ruanite
Well-known member
Jon Turner
Well-known member
Small ducks at this time of year probably Teal...
ruanite
Well-known member
I did get a good enough look to know that they weren't teal. In flight they appeared to be black and white.
lozzjazz
Lawrence Sampson
Gadwall maybe, but i don't think we'll ever be sure :eat:
dantheman
Bah humbug
Sorry for the late reply (been travelling to France, here now) ... I guess you could direct them to this thread, which probably has most of the info ...
As mentioned a couple pages back, College is officially closed, although locals still frequent it, and I've spoken to the BTCV workers a couple of times whilst leaving the site (the gates been open sometimes, sometimes not) and they've been fine.
Bittern(s) at the southern end - this year think I've seen one at the start of the reservoir, once on the island, twice on the eastern side next to the 'viewing area', and at least 3 times on the opposite shore just past the island as viewed from this viewing area. But I think that of the visits reported on local news services, and including mine it may be that only 33 - 50% of trips are successful - may show well, but not guaranteed. Wellies advisable, and easiest access via gateway between the two reservoirs (other directions are available, and not 'officially closed off').
Walking slowly and scanning the edges of the dead sedges visible through gaps -can be roosting behind tiny sedge clumps, even in dead trees, or just clambering around the edges in the open.
Probably too late, but hope this helps a bit.
dantheman
Bah humbug
Paid a visit to the reservoirs briefly on Thursday (16th) mid afternoon before rushing home, finishing packing and catching the train to Bristol for my flight to France. The girlfriend wanted me to spend some time with her before I left for two and a half weeks, so I suggested a nice visit to the local reservoir ...
College Reservoir 16th feb
Mute Swan 2
Canada Goose 8
Gadwall 2
Goldeneye 7+
Wigeon 150+
Mallard 2+
Tufted Duck 35+
Coot 55
Grey Heron 1
Cormorant 3+
Herring Gull 130+
GBBGull 2
LBBGGull 1
Black_headed Gull 174+
Med Gull 3+
Common Gull 4+
Mystery Gull 1 (see below)
Coal Tit rather vocal
(Gulls coming through all the time, a lot of active washing, and higher numbers of small gulls (at both) than I've noted before probably related to time of year and state of tide).
Argal res
Tuftie 3+, Mallard 9+, GCGrebe 1, BH Gull 101, Med Gull 1 in a quick scan from the car park. Also saw two birders with scopes arriving as I left ... that's a first ...
-----------------------------
'A Mystery Gull'
As mentioned above a rather flying visit to get some fresh air before travelling. About that mystery gull on College, although I have my suspicions now, frustratingly ...
One of the first birds on a quick scan of College was a small gull with its back to me ... 'that's dark mantled' I thought. Then I spent a minute trying to suss whether it was dark (there was a BH Gull next to it, but at a different angle) or just a light illusion. It definitely was a darker grey, and then it turned a little to show a 'dirty' black head and drooping black bill -??
Now I have zero experience of small yank gulls, although I should know more about them, but I did wonder about Franklin's. Then I thought no, it can't be ... it would be even darker mantled. I then fumbled for the camera, turning back, and the bird had flown. Three birds in flight, flying away form the area didn't look especially interesting, and checking in the Collins back home indicated a Franklin's has a distinctly different wing pattern, and darker anyway ... so left it at that.
Until opening the Collins at the parents (the french version), and saw the illustration of Bonaparte's Gull ...
Of course the done thing is not to mention it at all now (especially on public forum), opens up to accusations of suppressor/being a dude/stringing/imagining things, but hey ...
... of course odd birds do occur, but superficially features would point to Bonaparte's Gull (although not all features noticed), depends on mantle colour actually being darker than BH Gull, and a tendency on head moult into summer plumage being earlier rather than later, or at least in the range of timings.
Worth keeping an eye out for the bird in the area, although 'it' could have long gone.
Drat. :C
And apologies.
College Reservoir 16th feb
Mute Swan 2
Canada Goose 8
Gadwall 2
Goldeneye 7+
Wigeon 150+
Mallard 2+
Tufted Duck 35+
Coot 55
Grey Heron 1
Cormorant 3+
Herring Gull 130+
GBBGull 2
LBBGGull 1
Black_headed Gull 174+
Med Gull 3+
Common Gull 4+
Mystery Gull 1 (see below)
Coal Tit rather vocal
(Gulls coming through all the time, a lot of active washing, and higher numbers of small gulls (at both) than I've noted before probably related to time of year and state of tide).
Argal res
Tuftie 3+, Mallard 9+, GCGrebe 1, BH Gull 101, Med Gull 1 in a quick scan from the car park. Also saw two birders with scopes arriving as I left ... that's a first ...
-----------------------------
'A Mystery Gull'
As mentioned above a rather flying visit to get some fresh air before travelling. About that mystery gull on College, although I have my suspicions now, frustratingly ...
One of the first birds on a quick scan of College was a small gull with its back to me ... 'that's dark mantled' I thought. Then I spent a minute trying to suss whether it was dark (there was a BH Gull next to it, but at a different angle) or just a light illusion. It definitely was a darker grey, and then it turned a little to show a 'dirty' black head and drooping black bill -??
Now I have zero experience of small yank gulls, although I should know more about them, but I did wonder about Franklin's. Then I thought no, it can't be ... it would be even darker mantled. I then fumbled for the camera, turning back, and the bird had flown. Three birds in flight, flying away form the area didn't look especially interesting, and checking in the Collins back home indicated a Franklin's has a distinctly different wing pattern, and darker anyway ... so left it at that.
Until opening the Collins at the parents (the french version), and saw the illustration of Bonaparte's Gull ...
Of course the done thing is not to mention it at all now (especially on public forum), opens up to accusations of suppressor/being a dude/stringing/imagining things, but hey ...
... of course odd birds do occur, but superficially features would point to Bonaparte's Gull (although not all features noticed), depends on mantle colour actually being darker than BH Gull, and a tendency on head moult into summer plumage being earlier rather than later, or at least in the range of timings.
Worth keeping an eye out for the bird in the area, although 'it' could have long gone.
Drat. :C
And apologies.
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dantheman
Bah humbug
Was getting something of a Pochard impression, or poss Gadwall, but can't say for sure. More medium sized than small, and not sure about the black and white in flight bit ...
Ilya Maclean
charlatan
No sign of any Boneparte's Gulls on College Reservoir unfortunately, but American recompense in the form of a splendid drake Ring-necked Duck again.
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I went to a meeting hosted by the Restronguet Creek Society in Devoran yesterday. A good turn out in the village hall for a talk from representatives of the Cornwall wildlife trust, emphasising the need for people to pass records of sightings on via their website. Went on a bit, but not too bad. Then the hardy few braved the howling wind and rain for a walk to the quay for a peek about. Saw teal, some godwit (unsure of type) shelducks, redshank, curlew and some ringed plover amonst others before being wetter than a ducks bum overcame my enthusiasm.
camelbirder
Well-known member
They look heavy billed to me, possibly female Shoveler.
Ilya Maclean
charlatan
Nice photo.
A few sightings from Deveron this am:
1 Spotted Redshank,
6 Black-tailed Godwits,
2 Bar-tailed Godwits,
2 Knot,
1 Ringed Plover
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