Camel Estuary, Cornwall (1 Viewer)

[Qingcol]

Pale Lapland Bunting.

Individual Lapland Bunting showing much paler upper-parts, without any rusty tinge (tiny amount confined to inner greater coverts) and a larger than life bill, with 41 normal Lapland Buntings at Rosennanon this morning, easy enough to see but extremely difficult to photograph! Could be an odd leucistic? The only other possibility I can think of however remote would be ‘Calcarius lapponicus alascensis’ from Alaska? Hopefully someone else has better images, I would love to know the true origins of this winter flock, from the NW or the NE?

(At this site I have managed to collect the assorted remains of at least 3 individual Lapland Buntings, all taken by breaking down Short-eared Owl Pellets, can anyone tell me if the DNA or stable isotopes in items such as the bones bill and claw would be contaminated by the host, or other prey items while being digested effectively rendering them useless for determining origins?)

 

[Qingcol]

120+ Redwing this morning around Coronation Park Wadebridge.

 

[Peter F-S]

10 Sand Martin at Clapper pools Sunday afternoon.

 

[Qingcol]

Amble Marshes this afternoon, birds included 1 Little Ringed Plover,39 Bar-tailed Godwit! 29 Black-tailed Godwit, 10 Greenshank (including one colour ringed), 123 Common Redshank, 1 Spotted Redshank, 2 Lapwing, 1 Water Rail, 43 Snipe, 143 Dunlin, 4 Pintail, 27 Shoveler, 9 Gadwall, 48 Teal, 64 Wigeon, 1 Kestrel, 1 Merlin and a Water Pipit in the first field.

Photo, a dusting of snow over Rough Tor, from Amble Marshes.

 

[camelbirder]

10 Greenshank (including one colour ).

I take it it was not possible to read the rings, just wondering if it was the Ythan bird.

 

[camelbirder]

(At this site I have managed to collect the assorted remains of at least 3 individual Lapland Buntings, all taken by breaking down Short-eared Owl Pellets, can anyone tell me if the DNA or stable isotopes in items such as the bones bill and claw would be contaminated by the host, or other prey items while being digested effectively rendering them useless for determining origins?)

I have no idea, you would probably be better off asking Steve Dudley at the BOU or Nigel Hudson at BBRC.

 

[Qingcol]

I take it it was not possible to read the rings, just wondering if it was the Ythan bird.

The bird was stood in water, with the two top rings (consistent with the Ythan bird) just visible given the wind and spray.

Still 40+ Lapland Buntings at Rosennanon Downs early morning, plus one Short-eared Owl.

 

[Qingcol]

This distinctive Canada Goose photographed at Bude Marshes 26 01 2013 was feeding in the Canada flock at Amble Marshes yesterday.

 

[camelbirder]

Does anyone know anything about the Wilson's Phalarope noted, on the Bird Track Website, at Padstow on March 4th?

 

[camelbirder]

The Camel Estuary Birds Website has now been updated, today's highlights include Lapland Bunting, Sand Martin, Green Sandpiper, White Wagtail and a Small Tortoiseshell.

 

[DELACOWI]

2 redhead goosander flew past Guineaport late this evening heading up river. Blackcap singing in the back garden.

 

[Qingcol]

Amble Marshes this evening, birds included 1 Osprey over, from the direction of Rough Tor towards the Camel Estuary at 17:40.Adult Spoonbill still, 4 Pintail, 4 Tufted, 12 Shoveler, 2 Gadwall, 48 Wigeon, 49 Teal, 93 Black-tailed Godwit, 35 Bar-tailed Godwit, 1 Greenshank, 14 Common Redshank, 1 Water Rail, 9 Snipe, 2 Barn Owl, 1 Tawny Owl.

 

[camelbirder]

The Camel Estuary Birds Website has now been updated, today's highlights include Great Grey Shrike, Lapland Bunting, Osprey, Water Pipit and much much more.....

 

[camelbirder]

Today's Great Grey Shrike is only the third for the Camel Estuary area, see website for full details.

 

[Qingcol]

Rosennanon Downs this morning, birds included 41 Lapland Buntings, 60+ Reed Buntings, 83 Fieldfare and 111 Golden Plover.

 

[camelbirder]

The Camel Estuary Birds Website has now been updated, today's highlights include, Spoonbill, Lapland Bunting, Jack Snipe, Short-eared Owl and much much more.....

 

[Qingcol]

Amble Marshes this morning, birds included Spoonbill still (photo) 7 Little Egret, Gadwall (photo) Shelduck, Pintail, shoveler, Wigeon and a mystery micro Moth in the hide (photo)

 

[camelbirder]

The Camel Estuary Birds Website has now been updated, today's highlights include, Spoonbill, Brambling and much much more.....

 

[Qingcol]

Dinham Flats early morning, birds included 1 Ruddy Shelduck (photo) 1 Black Swan, 51 Wigeon, 22 Teal, 46 Bar-tailed and 19 Black-tailed Godwit and 8 Little Egret.

 

[camelbirder]

A total of eight Ruddy Shelduck have occurred on the Camel Estuary, see here for details.