Camel Estuary, Cornwall (1 Viewer)

[Dave Parker]

Nice one Colin. Presumably you watch from the Camel Trail, is the area tidal or is it part of the Clapper Marshes?

 

[Qingcol]

Yes you can watch from the Camel Trail at Guineaport it's a flooded meadow off the Trail.
Common Tern this afternoon over Town Bridge Wadebridge heading up river.

 

[gonvena]

Little Petherick Creek this afternoon to do webs count: BHG 53 (no Meds). Egrets 16, Oyster 8, Greenshank 11, Whimbrel 5, Curlew 6, Shelduck 2 imms, Dunlin 8 and Ring Plover 3.
Off to try to find Colin's Stints. I always knew Treraven Meadow would good one day.

One hour later:: Well done Col. I could see two stints in with the Dunlin on the far bank. Didn't want to get too close in case I push them off the pools. Lots of stuff on the mud, looking good... really pleased.

 

[Qingcol]

The 2nd greyish Temminck's still at Guineaport this evening.

 

[Qingcol]

Wildfowl count this morning at Walmsley Sanctuary, 2 Juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper, 1 Temminck's Stint, 1 Spotted Redshank, 6 Common Snipe, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 2 Ruff, 2 Greenshank, 3 Dunlin, 1 Water Rail, 5 Little Grebe, 2 Eur Wigeon, 2 Northern Shoveler, 31 Eur Teal, 89 Mallard, 6 Mute Swan, 6 Coot, 24 Moorhen, 2 Curlew, 5 Grey Heron, 1 Little Egret, 2 Red-legged Partridge, 6 Raven, 10 Rook, 26 Jackdaw, 2 Jay, 4 Magpie, 2 Common Buzzard, 11 Wood Pigeon, 2 Stock Pigeon, 63 Black-headed Gull, 3 Lesser Black-backed Gull.

 

[camelbirder]

Temminck's Stint still at Treraven Meadows this morning.

AS Pect. Sand was still at Walmsley at 13.30, showing well, also present were two Whinchats.

 

[Qingcol]

This afternoon at Dinham Flats, birds included 15 Wigeon, 4 Knot, 12 Ringed Plover, 14 Greenshank, 18 Dunlin, 12 Black-tailed Godwit, 1 Ruff, 71 Redshank 400+ Curlew and 1 1stW Mediterranean Gull.

 

[gonvena]

Hi Derek, I gave you a ring, no reply, thought you'd gone to Turkey. So I thought I'd do a quick count just in case. Total Greenshank 24, Egrets 51, Mutes 65, Barwit 1, Whimbrel 5 (LPC). Did LPC on Friday, I'll send count to you.

 

[Qingcol]

Treraven Meadow this morning, 1 Temminck's Stint ( juv-1stW ) 23 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 2 Kingfisher, 4 Grey Wagtail.
All waders flushed back on to the river more than once, by people walking right across the scrapes in less than one hour!

Clapper Marshes This morning, 16 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Common Sandpiper, 6 Green Sandpiper, 2 Eur Teal, 3 Eur Wigeon, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant and a Sparrow Hawk.

 

[gonvena]

Walking on Treraven

Treraven Meadow this morning, 1 Temminck's Stint ( 1stW ) 23 Dunlin, 2 Greenshank, 3 Redshank, 4 Common Sandpiper, 2 Green Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 2 Kingfisher, 4 Grey Wagtail.
All waders flushed back on to the river more than once, by people walking right across the scrapes in less than one hour!

Clapper Marshes This morning, 16 Black-tailed Godwit, 5 Common Sandpiper, 6 Green Sandpiper, 2 Eur Teal, 3 Eur Wigeon, 2 Little Grebe, 1 Cormorant and a Sparrow Hawk.

Hi Colin, If they were fishermen then they do have access onto that stretch of river, but they should keep to the bank. (Yes we all know fishermen). We could speak to Wadebridge Anglers if it is a problem. No one else does have access except the farmer Tony Kent and he always comes in a Landrover. Locals say they have permission from Tony, No they don't, he has said that he doesn't want anyone in his field.
Saying all that, it says something for the site if the birds keep coming back despite the disturbance.
Problem is that dog walkers have traditionally used the site for years and think they still can. Then there are kids who want to play.
Again if the problem persists the EA can be contacted. I seem to recall they did say when it was created that after a couple of years or so they thought public access should be allowed. I stand to be corrected on that one.

 

[camelbirder]

Hi Derek, I gave you a ring, no reply, thought you'd gone to Turkey. So I thought I'd do a quick count just in case. Total Greenshank 24, Egrets 51, Mutes 65, Barwit 1, Whimbrel 5 (LPC). Did LPC on Friday, I'll send count to you.

No Mike not yet a month to go. Did a complete count today see below.

 

[camelbirder]

A full, (WeBs), estuary count today the following were noted;
Little Grebe - 1
Cormorant - 11
Shag - 10
Little Egret - 70
Grey Heron - 28
Mute Swan - 48
Canada Goose - 3
Shelduck - 3
Wigeon - 11
Mallard - 49
Moorhen - 2
Oystercatcher - 226
Ringed Plover - 13
Knot - 1
Snipe - 2
Black-tailed Godwit - 6
Bar-tailed Godwit - 2
Whimbrel - 1
Curlew - 490
Redshank - 105
Greenshank - 3
Common Sandpiper - 3
Turnstone - 1
Mediterranean Gull - 51
Black-headed Gull - 1160
Lesser Black-backed Gull - 6
Herring Gull - 936
Great Black-backed Gull - 119
Sandwich Tern - 42
Common Tern - 1
Kingfisher - 1

 

[gonvena]

Hi Derek,
Oh good I thought I'd missed you, I will get that book on Turkey to you today or tomorrow. Regarding the WEBS count: I note that no one had many Canadas, however, crossing the bridge last night a flock of c.50 were coming down onto the saltmarsh CE2, if you wish to include them.
I have already uploaded LPC but please feel free to Edit as necessary.
You did have a good count, more than I got at lunchtime Saturday. There must be a lot of Greenshank in the Amble Channel me thinks as you seemed to have missed them, the total I made at roost, 13 plus 11 in LPC.

 

[camelbirder]

Regarding the WEBS count: I note that no one had many Canadas, however, crossing the bridge last night a flock of c.50 were coming down onto the saltmarsh CE2, if you wish to include them.

Most of the Canada Geese are feeding in the Corn/ Wheat fields and only visiting the estuary to roost/ bath etc. so unfortunately none were picked up on the counts. The roost counts can be entered as extra counts using the roost forms.

 

[camelbirder]

Visited Treraven Meadows this morning and was surprised to see them flooded, unfortunately there was no sign of the Temminck's Stint but there was over 90 House Martins feeding over head with about 20 Swallows. The only waders were 3 Greenshank and a Lapwing. 2 Whinchats were on the banking and 2 Little Egrets were also present.

At Clapper Marshes, 2 Little Grebe, 4 Moorhen, 5 Teal, 3 Snipe and 11 Mute Swan were noted. A Chiffchaff was heard in full song.

On the Egloshayle section of the river 2 Common Sandpipers were present together with the Mute Swan family on 8 young.

 

[camelbirder]

This year could well be the most successful year for breeding Mute Swan for over 20 years. 3 broods of young totalling 16 young have fledged this year.

 

[Qingcol]

A Good morning at Walmsley Sanctuary, birds included 2 Juv Pec Sands, 6+ Curlew Sandpiper, 6+ Ruff, 1 Wood Sandpiper, 18 Black-tailed Godwit, 30+ Common Snipe, 2 Greenshank, 26 Dunlin, 9 Ringed Plover, 2 Common Sandpiper, 2 Water Rail, 8 Stock Pigeon, 9 Wigeon, 24+ Teal, 1 Gadwall.

 

[Qingcol]

Visited Treraven Meadows this morning and was surprised to see them flooded, unfortunately there was no sign of the Temminck's Stint but there was over 90 House Martins.

Juv House Martins still in nest on Lioyds TSB bank Wadebridge, this morning.

 

[camelbirder]

A visit to the Dinham Flats area on the in coming tide this evening produced a Pectoral Sandpiper, this bird was first picked up in flight and was heard calling. Is this another bird or one from Walmsley?

Other species noted included 6 Ruff, 13 Bar-tailed Godwit, 8 Black-tailed Godwit, 33 Little Egret, 13 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Snipe, 1 juvenile Shelduck, 18 Teal and 2 first winter Mediterranean Gulls.

 

[camelbirder]

A visit to the Dinham Flats area on the in coming tide this evening produced a Pectoral Sandpiper, this bird was first picked up in flight and was heard calling. Is this another bird or one from Walmsley?

Birdguides notes that 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were at Walmsley Sanc. at 16.30 which is the same time that I saw the Dinham Flats bird so a third bird.
Birdguides also notes a Marsh Harrier at Walmsley.