Camel Estuary, Cornwall (1 Viewer)

[camelbirder]

This evening at Walmsley it was quite rewarding with 44 Black-tailed Godwit, 11 Greenshank, 8 Green Sandpiper, 7 Dunlin, 2 Ringed Plover, 5 Snipe, 1 Common Sandpiper, 15 Moorhen, 3 Coot, 1 Water Rail, 43 Mallard, 12 Teal, 5 Shoveler and 6 Little Grebe all present. Passerines included 2 Spotted Flycatcher, 3 Sedge Warbler and a single Reed Warbler.

This morning over Wadebridge a minimum of 8 Swifts were noted including at least one juvenile.

 

[camelbirder]

This morning off Padstow, (at high tide), two juvenile Mediterranean Gulls were present as was 2 Sandwich Terns.

 

[Conorbirda2]

regarding posts #208 and #209!! LOL!. Are you two paranoid or What!B

 

[camelbirder]

regarding posts #208 and #209!! LOL!. Are you two paranoid or What!B

You would be to if you lived in North Cornwall.:storm:

 

[camelbirder]

Last evening on the estuary the following were noted at Dinham Flats; 34 Ringed Plover,176 Dunlin, 85 Oystercatcher, 479 Curlew, 651 Black-headed Gull, 71 Herring Gull, 46 Great Black-backed Gull, 19 Little Egret, 8 Greenshank, 109 Redshank, 9 Bar-tailed Godwit, 3 Black-tailed Godwit and a single juvenile Mediterranean Gull.

 

[Qingcol]

Very nearly had a wasted trip to Walmsley Sanctuary this morning, I did not realize that people were going to be photographing from a hide next to the mud patch in the middle of the Sanctuary, my only gripe with this is why not leave a notice at the road-gate to warn other members. On my walk back a Fulmar Petrel flew from the Estuary over the Sanctuary towards Amble.

 

[camelbirder]

On my walk back a Fulmar Petrel flew from the Estuary over the Sanctuary towards Amble.

A first for Walmsleyo

 

[Qingcol]

That only goes to show, if it was not for the photographers presence i would have been inside the hide and probably missed the Fulmar!

Last evening, one single juv Common Swift low over Glen Road Wadebridge, I hope this is not a bad sign you would expect adults to be around.

 

[Conorbirda2]

You would be to if you lived in North Cornwall.:storm:

LOL,LOL,LOL!!

 

[Conorbirda2]

Very nearly had a wasted trip to Walmsley Sanctuary this morning, I did not realize that people were going to be photographing from a hide next to the mud patch in the middle of the Sanctuary, my only gripe with this is why not leave a notice at the road-gate to warn other members. On my walk back a Fulmar Petrel flew from the Estuary over the Sanctuary towards Amble.

What were they doing? Who was it? Dont remember that being run past the committee?

 

[camelbirder]

What were they doing? Who was it? Dont remember that being run past the committee?

Permission was granted a long time ago, usually there is not a problem. I just wish that a note was left by the gate or layby so that the walk is not a waste of time, (i.e. no birds in front of the hide).

 

[Qingcol]

2 Common Swift over Wadebridge this morning one showing clearly moulting inner primaries, plus juv Med and 3 juv Lesser Black-backed Gulls at Town Bridge.

 

[gonvena]

Wheatear, a garden bird??? Morning you two happy birders. Got back from holiday last night and went to check the greenhouse. Put up a Wheatear to my surprise. Black notched terminal band quite distinct. Any comments on the frequency of Wheatear sightings as a garden bird, especially away from the coast, up river.

 

[Qingcol]

Wheatear, a garden bird??? Any comments on the frequency of Wheatear sightings as a garden bird, especially away from the coast, up river.

No good reason not to see one in the garden at this time of year Mike, when i lived in Tintagel Wheatear and Whinchat were regular visitors to my garden in autumn.

Dinham Flats this morning (not a good time to walk the Camel Trail, a bank holiday monday) birds include 16 Greenshank, 3 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Knot, 6 Dunlin, 66 Redshank, 10 Cormorant and one juv Peregrine Falcon.

 

[Qingcol]

Gulls at Town Bridge, Wadebridge this morning included one juvenile-1st Winter Mediterranean Gull (note the changing leg colour)

 

[Conorbirda2]

Wheatear, a garden bird??? Morning you two happy birders. Got back from holiday last night and went to check the greenhouse. Put up a Wheatear to my surprise. Black notched terminal band quite distinct. Any comments on the frequency of Wheatear sightings as a garden bird, especially away from the coast, up river.

I spoke to someone the other day who said he had two on his house roof in a village near Camborne. When i lived in Yorkshire i had Wryneck and Nightingale on my garden list! Both flew into the Patio windows one October in the late 80's, about two weeks apart. The nightingale was kept in the shed overnight and flew off unharmed the next day. The Wryneck sat on the patio, dazed for about 5 minutes then flew off north. Wish id had a camera then.

 

[Qingcol]

Walmsley Sanctuary this morning birds included, 2 Kingfisher, 1 Water Rail, 4 Common Snipe, 3 Dunlin, 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Northern Shoveler, 12 Eur Teal, 1 none breeding male Gadwall pic's below, 1 adult Hobby low over towards Burneire, 500+ Canada Geese over towards Crowdy, Sedge Warbler and Blackcap.

 

[Qingcol]

A Weasel watched on the Camel near Wadebridge this morning swimming the river to hunt Redshank, and almost catching more than one bird, the Redshank appear to be drawn to the Weasel, a sort of fatalistic fascination.

 

[Qingcol]

I have seen this behaviour before with a Stoat, two years ago at Clapper Marshes on a muddy pool edge, on this occasion the wader a Common Sandpiper was killed, the Stoat stayed very still and lying prostrate in shallow water until the Sandpipers fascination became it's undoing.

 

[camelbirder]

the Redshank appear to be drawn to the Weasel, a sort of fatalistic fascination.

I have witnessed this behaviour on Dinham Flats when some waders including Redshank were drawn towards a Grey Squirrel, on the saltmarsh. Maybe waders like ducks try to keep would be predators in sight.