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Camel Estuary, Cornwall (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter camelbirder
- Start date
camelbirder
Well-known member
Only just turned computer on, been working all day. This is a first for the estuary, so will be down at first light.
camelbirder
Well-known member
After a sleepless night and a tense hour this morning the Spotted Sandpiper showed well from the Burniere Hide together with up to 6 Common Sandpiper.
camelbirder
Well-known member
As I mentioned last night, the Spotted Sandpiper is the first for the estuary and only the 12th for Cornwall.
Lets hope this is the start of a good autumn on the estuary.
Lets hope this is the start of a good autumn on the estuary.
camelbirder
Well-known member
I think that they are probably our own birds back to feed their young after being away feeding, probably over Europe. No juveniles seen yet.
camelbirder
Well-known member
Last evening at Walmsley Sanc. a minimum of 13 Green Sandpipers were present continuously calling, also noted were 3 Shoveler, 5 Black-tailed Godwits, 6 Little Grebe, 27 Mallard, 16 Moorhen plus a brood of 2 very young chicks, 5 Snipe, a Barn Owl and a Yellow Wagtail flew over.
Around the Trewornan Bridge up to 340 Swallow and 35 Swifts were noted hawking over the corn fields.
On the estuary from Burniere Hide the Spotted Sandpiper was present to 20.00 when I left. It was along the creeks edge feeding with 16 Common Sandpipers and 2 Green Sandpipers. 30 Ringed Plover, 74 Dunlin, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Black-tailed Godwit and a Knot were also counted.
Around the Trewornan Bridge up to 340 Swallow and 35 Swifts were noted hawking over the corn fields.
On the estuary from Burniere Hide the Spotted Sandpiper was present to 20.00 when I left. It was along the creeks edge feeding with 16 Common Sandpipers and 2 Green Sandpipers. 30 Ringed Plover, 74 Dunlin, 2 Curlew Sandpiper, 6 Black-tailed Godwit and a Knot were also counted.
camelbirder
Well-known member
This morning at Clapper Marshes six Green Sandpiper were present all at the Sladesbridge end, 4 Moorhen were also noted.
camelbirder
Well-known member
This morning a visit to Padstow produced a summer plumage Knot, 3 Mediterranean Gulls, 27 Sandwich Terns, a Common Gull and 145 Herring Gulls. At Tregirls Beach a minimum of 17 Mediterranean Gulls were present with at least 6 being juveniles. Around Lellizzick farm the Linnet flock has grown to 240 strong and now also contain 20 Greenfinch and 3 Corn Buntings.
Went back to Burniere Point at 10.00am to look for the Spotted Sandpiper but had no luck. Appears not to have been seen today up to at least noon. Other waders were in evidence though with a Knot, (different from the Padstow bird), 10 Ringed Plover, a summer plumage Turnstone, one Curlew Sandpiper, one Sanderling, six Greenshank, 186 Dunlin and 32 Black-tailed Godwit. A single Little Tern flew about for a good 15 minuites. Only a single Common Sandpiper was noted.
At Wadebridge a minimum of 8 Common Sandpipers were present together with 74 Redshank and a single Whimbrel and 2 Dunlin.
A very good morning, lets hope that the Spotted Sandpiper turns up on this evenings incoming tide.
Went back to Burniere Point at 10.00am to look for the Spotted Sandpiper but had no luck. Appears not to have been seen today up to at least noon. Other waders were in evidence though with a Knot, (different from the Padstow bird), 10 Ringed Plover, a summer plumage Turnstone, one Curlew Sandpiper, one Sanderling, six Greenshank, 186 Dunlin and 32 Black-tailed Godwit. A single Little Tern flew about for a good 15 minuites. Only a single Common Sandpiper was noted.
At Wadebridge a minimum of 8 Common Sandpipers were present together with 74 Redshank and a single Whimbrel and 2 Dunlin.
A very good morning, lets hope that the Spotted Sandpiper turns up on this evenings incoming tide.
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This morning at Pentire Farm, 1 Corn Bunting, 6 Common Whitethroat, 2 juvenile Kestrel, 2 juv Northern Wheatear + 1 adult.
The photo on the left is of a Wheatear at Rumps Point this morning, any thoughts please!
6 Spot Burnett Moth and Grey Seal.
The photo on the left is of a Wheatear at Rumps Point this morning, any thoughts please!
6 Spot Burnett Moth and Grey Seal.
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camelbirder
Well-known member
This bird has a very interesting tail pattern, looks like that of Isabelline, but the terminal band may not be wide enough. Would like to see more photo's. (As I have said before identifing anything on only one feature is dangerous).[/QUOTE]
Yes, as I see it this is a 1stW Northern Wheatear showing a Isabelline tail pattern, and as you can see from the poor shot on the left the terminal band is wide enough, and it shows broad buff fringed wing-coverts, but there is prominent white behind the eye, no contrasting black alula and a darkish under-wing.
A couple of visiters have mentioned to me that a Bottle-nosed Dolpin was very close inshore for around 2 hours at Daymer bay on 06 08 2008.
Yes, as I see it this is a 1stW Northern Wheatear showing a Isabelline tail pattern, and as you can see from the poor shot on the left the terminal band is wide enough, and it shows broad buff fringed wing-coverts, but there is prominent white behind the eye, no contrasting black alula and a darkish under-wing.
A couple of visiters have mentioned to me that a Bottle-nosed Dolpin was very close inshore for around 2 hours at Daymer bay on 06 08 2008.
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Conorbirda2
Well-known member
Agreed, the terminal band doesn look wide enough, also the centre two tail feathers are pointed/angled slightly downwards causing the black on the centre going up towards the rump to look shorter. Looks like Northern Wheatear to me.
The only reason for highlighting this individual was to show the odd tail pattern, it's true that in the first photo the tail was distorting, but I have to say while watching this bird the black centre of the tail looked consistently short, there was never any real doubt that it was a Northern but the odd tail pattern was of great interest to me.
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camelbirder
Well-known member
Hi Colin, you are right, its a interesting bird, and goes to show that not all birds are the same as in field guides. Individual birds are all slightly different and this should not be forgotten when confronted with an odd looking bird.
It is also well worth documenting them for future reference.
It is also well worth documenting them for future reference.
SUPPRESSOR
Well-known member
Why not consult Cornwalls finest birder (Stan the Man) he can be found walking the fields at T Head? Though you will have to wait by the gate until he comes out!!!!
fiddler.
camelbirder
Well-known member
A quick visit to Clapper Marshes this evening found 3 Green Sandpipers at Sladesbridge end.
