Camel Estuary, Cornwall (1 Viewer)

[Qingcol]

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.

I'm pretty sure this wader behaviour is nothing to do with mobbing, they are not harassing, and are fully alert to the presence of a predator in the open, and still they seem drawn, in an inquisitive way towards the predator who appears to be controlling the prey. A vaguely similar thing happens when a Fox or a Stoat encounters a group of Rabbits they will sometimes all freeze on the spot and are taken easily by the predator.

2 Common Swift still last evening over Wadebridge with House Martin.

 

[camelbirder]

This morning in the outer estuary Padstow to Hawkers Cove a minimum of 25 Mediterranean Gulls were noted together with 55 Sandwich Tern, 3 Turnstone and 23 Sanderling.
Autumn is truely here with my first flock of Meadow Pipit this morning, 14 at Hawkers Cove.

Just where are all the Americans, (and don't say Ireland).

 

[camelbirder]

Yesterday evening on the Dinham Flats there was 47 Little Egret roosting in the Dinham Woods/ Saltmarsh area, other species noted included 1 Green sandpiper, 2 Dunlin, 1 Curlew Sandpiper, 2 Shelduck, 1 Snipe and 2 fly over "alba" Wagtails.

 

[Qingcol]

A very quiet sort of day with a late juvenile Spotted Flycatcher in Bishop's Wood and an exceptionally long-winged juvenile Lesser Black-backed Gull at Town Bridge (Wadebridge).

 

[Qingcol]

Exceptional numbers this morning at Walmsley, birds included 46 Black-tailed Godwit, 26 Greenshank including a colour ringed, yellow over blue right leg and blue over red left leg, 105 Teal, 2 Ruff, 2 Ringed Plover, 5 Green Sandpiper,
1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Dunlin, 12 Common Snipe, 2 Shoveler, 1 Gadwall, 2 Water Rail, 2 Lapwing, 1 Curlew, 3 Kingfisher and a Barn Owl, plus a poss Red-necked Stint, that flew to the estuary with Dunlin, but no close views obtained.

 

[camelbirder]

The Red-necked Stint was present off Tregunna at 11.30 this morning together with 130 Dunlin, 30 Ringed Plover, 12 Sanderling and a Ruff. It flew down river towards Padstow.

No sign of the bird at padstow but 3 Knot and a Turnstone noted. Up to 30 Mediterranean Gull and 45 Little Egret were also counted.

Lets hope some good views of the stint are obtained from Walmsley this evening or tomorrow.

 

[Conorbirda2]

Do we know who found the stint?

sorry, didnt see cols post!

 

[camelbirder]

26 Greenshank including a colour ringed, yellow over blue right leg and blue over red left leg, QUOTE]

This ringed birds has been noted on the estuary/ Walmsley on at least five occasions, 12/10/06, 16/10/06, 19/12/06, 12/11/07 and 06/04/08. I believe the bird comes from Ythan Estuary, Scotland.

 

[Qingcol]

A lot has been said about the recent sighting of poss Red-necked Stint at Walmsley and the Camel, pretty much all by people assessing and giving opinions on the poor quality photos, and without exception so far these have provided very usefull pointers to help with this birds ID. But the plain fact is photos can be extremely misleading especially if selected to prove one point or another. My (perhaps naive) aim has been to provide transparent open and immediate information allowing others the chance to have an opinion, not a fashionable strategy in North Cornwall:storm: where there is still a price to pay for being open and therefore accountable. I make no apology for posting non selected photos to provide as much INFO as I have. As far as I know 3 birders actually watched the poss Red-necked on the Camel including myself, in flight and feeding for 15-20 mins and I tend to discount the usual North Cornwall :storm: mantra " that it's been present for up to 4 days" even a summer plumage Little Stint should warrant a mention in one of the 2 Walmsley logs.

 

[gonvena]

Don't let them get to you Col, that is what they want to do. You did say a 'poss' at the outset and you did well to get a photo of the bird anyway.

 

[Qingcol]

Walmsley Sanctuary this morning, 53 Black-tailed Godwit including a colour ringed bird (red over yellow left leg, white over light green right leg) 10 Greenshank including the usual colour ringed bird, 3 Ruff, 1 Little Stint (juv) 7 Dunlin, 4 Common Snipe, 1 Green Sandpiper, 30+ Teal and one Wigeon.

There is a good chance that the colour ringed Black-wit was hatched in East Anglia! Thanks Brian I will e-mail you the details as soon as I get them back.

 

[Qingcol]

At Town Bridge Wadebridge this afternoon, 82 Common Redshank, 2 Northern Lapwing and one juv-1stW Med Gull still.

 

[Qingcol]

The water level is well up this morning at Walmsley Sanctuary, birds include 18 Greenshank, 2 Ruff, 3 Dunlin, 45+ Black-tailed Godwit, 23 Teal, colour ringed Greenshank and Black-wit still. The light green ring next to the knee joint appears to have a label attached that shows like a flag at times on the Black-wit.

People camping next to the hide at Burniere this morning with cars stuck in the mud, nothing wrong with this it might just save you a walk.

Clapper Marshes this morning, birds included 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Common Sandpiper, 1 Gadwall, 6 Teal, 2 Greenshank and a male Sparrow Hawk.

 

[Qingcol]

No noticeable sea-bird movement this morning at Rumps Point, just 32 Gannet, 9 Fulmar, 3 Manx Shearwater, 1 Kittiwake, and 4 Common Scoter south west past the point 08:00-08:30.

 

[Qingcol]

Here's something different, this buff-tinged plumage and yellow-orange billed Linnet at Pentire this morning, must be a fruit eater.

 

[Qingcol]

Walmsley Sanctuary this morning, birds included 49 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Greenshank,12 Dunlin, 2 Ruff, 4 Common Snipe, 22 Teal, Garden Warbler, male Blackcap, Reed Warbler, 7+ Sedge Warbler, Chiffchaff, 30+ Barn Swallow.
A juvenile Peregrine Falcon killed a Magpie at the back of the Sanctuary.

 

[Qingcol]

At Town Quay Wadebridge this afternoon 4 juvenile Common Sandpiper and 56 Common Redshank.

 

[Qingcol]

Walmsley Sanctuary this morning, birds included 56 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Ruff, 4 Common Snipe, 9 Grey Heron, 1 Water Rail, 1 juvenile Peregrine Falcon, 3 Reed Bunting, Sedge Warbler and Blackcap.

 

[Qingcol]

Walmsley Sanctuary this morning, 53 Black-tailed Godwit including a colour ringed bird (red over yellow left leg, white over light green right leg)

There is a good chance that the colour ringed Black-wit was hatched in East Anglia! Thanks Brian I will e-mail you the details as soon as I get them back.

Not ringed in East Anglia, but he did visit the area on 12 04 08. This great traveller was ringed as a male in SW Iceland 24 04 2000.

24 04 00 Grafarvogur Reykjavik, SW Iceland.
24 04 00 " " " .
26 04 00 " " " .
04 03 01 Dublin Bay. Co. Dublin E Ireland.
01 05 01 Alftafjorour, E Iceland.
06 05 01 Skeidflot I Myrdal. Vik S Iceland.
05 03 02 Pagham Harbour, Sussex. S England.
14 03 03 Ribble Estuary, Lancashire NW England.
13 04 06 Bartle Pools, Higher Bartle. Preston Lancashire. NW England.
12 04 08 Earith, Ouse Washes, Cambridgeshire, E England.
03 09 08 Walmsley Sanctuary, Cornwall, SW England.
Just think of the places its visited and not been recorded. This should be one for the report.

 

[Qingcol]

Guineaport Wadebridge this morning 2 Temminck's Stint! plus 18 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 3 Common Sandpiper, 1 Redshank and a Northern Wheatear. Photo of 2nd Stint to follow.