Camel Estuary, Cornwall (1 Viewer)

[camelbirder]

Good morning one and all. It has to be said yet again, Treraven Meadow looked superb this morning. It had obviously flooded on the high tide and had loads of pools over the whole 30 acres. The smaller 10 acre meadow was wet and muddy but was without a twitter anywhere. Overall a real credit to James Burke and the team from the EA who created it.
Canadas 63, L. Egret 1, Teal 14, Lapwing 46, C. Snipe 2, Curlew 14, C. Sand 2, Greenshank 1, Grey Wag 1, Water pips 2 +?, loadsa Meadow pips, plus Wigeon, Mallard etc.

How's about this for an idea. Just before Wadebridge Junction, on the Camel Trail, opposite the confluence of the Allen / Camel. Build a raised platform against the wooded bank to look over into Clapper. The marsh could be scoped quite easily from there. The only problem I could envisage is the location would need to be adjusted, so that it doesn't look into the houses at Clapper, only the marsh. Any thoughts on that.

Can I suggest that next week we all meet up at Guineaport, to chat about the proposed location of the hide / viewing area etc. etc. I'm free all week, any time. Once we have definite proposals we can approach James et al.

Has Colin has already said Friday is the best day for me, but we should try to include the Wednesday Bird Walk Group. I can drop them a line if you would like.

 

[gonvena]

Yep okay, Friday the 6th of February is fine by me. I'm always free, so I suggest Derek picks the time of the "Treraven Conference". If you are contacting the WBWG then you can arrange a time suitable to them.
Once we know we are all singing from the same hymn sheet we can arrange a meeting with James et al. I will email him, to prime him of what we are doing.
Regards
Mike

 

[camelbirder]

A quick look at Pentireglaze Farm at lunchtime revealed the Cattle Egret still in the cattle field sheltering right up against the hedge.

At Trewornan Bridge the adult Whooper Swan was still present.

At Hay Farm a single Cattle Egret was feeding amongst the cattle in the field next to the road and showed well.

(What awful weather).

 

[Qingcol]

Looking at the small Skylark flock (around 60) at Pentire Farm yesterday I noticed a very cold and greyish looking female, lacking any warm brown tones in sharp contrast to the other normal coloured Larks. The male Skylark is generally bigger than the female (sexual dimorphism) and the birds are fairly easy to sex when feeding in close groups. I last noticed one of these greyish Larks two winters ago at Gwithian. Has anyone else noticed any of these birds? Interestingly while ringing winter flocks of Skylark in the past in Somerset I have encountered similar birds to these. In those days I used a card index system to record each individual birds ringing history and from approximately 500 birds ringed only 4 were recorded as cold greyish types, all females giving normal weights and none of the 4 was ever retrapped (despite some Larks in the study being retrapped 20+ times) It would be tempting to imagine that these grey individuals could be eastern visitors, there is some evidence to suggest that some species become greyer to the east of their range, but I think it more likely these cold grey types are just that, probably maintained in the population by a recessive gene.(Can I just say to the garden ringer who I know will read this and is probably reaching for his pen to write to the Ringing Office to verify my ringing totals (not for the first time) please save them their time, and yourself the price of the stamp).

 

[camelbirder]

The Wednesday Bird Walk Group noted a total of 60 Species on the estuary on Wednesday 28th between Wadebridge and Tregunna. Highlights included the Avocet, 3000 Golden Plover and Goldeneye.

 

[Conorbirda2]

As editor of (Birds in Cornwall) I would have expected you to be a little more sensitive when it comes to putting out information. You are of course entitled to do so, as we are entitled to suppress any and all information on the birds that we find including a first for britain that we found last autumn.
We find many interesting birds in the course of a year and we suppress each and everyone that way we do are bit to keep twitchers out of Cornwall.
fiddler.

Very constructive, Fiddler. There are Cattle Egrets all over at the moment, why are the Hay Farm birds any different? Can't wait for your first for britain. LOL. :smoke:

 

[camelbirder]

Yesterday the Cattle Egret was still at Pentireglaze Farm, a Brambling was near Pentire Farm.

The Whooper Swan was also still at Trewornan Bridge and a male Pintail was at Walmsley.

 

[Qingcol]

This afternoon only one Cattle Egret could be seen from the road at Hay Farm Wadebridge, plus 1 adult Peregrine Falcon and 12 Redwing.

 

[camelbirder]

Received a report last night of 2 Whooper Swans flying towards the Estuary over Tregonetha Downs. (Will be worth a look today).

 

[Qingcol]

Recieved a report last night of 2 Whooper Swans flying towards the Estuary over Tregonetha Downs. (Will be worth a look today).

After that reliable report I checked the Mute Swan flock this morning feeding on the fields at Dinham Flats, only the usual adult Whooper present with 43 Mute. All were flushed by two Foxes with the Whooper flying up above the Amble Dam towards Walmsley. Other birds noted at Dinham Flats this morning, 1 Avocet, 5 Greenshank, 3 Ringed Plover, 8 Bar-tailed Godwit, 300+ Canada Geese, 3 Rock Pipit and 100+ Dunlin.

 

[Qingcol]

Treraven Meadow this afternoon, Birds included 1 Chiffchaff, 1 Water Pipit, 1 Ruff, 1 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 1 Common Sandpiper and 7 Teal.

 

[Qingcol]

Treraven Meadow under snow this morning, but 1 Greenshank, 5 Ostercatcher, 6 Northern Lapwing, 2 Water Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 6 Meadow Pipit and 1 unidentified Pipit Still. ( I have better photos of the unidentified if anyone is interested) Photo Below of Water Pipit.

 

[Qingcol]

Treraven Meadows this morning, birds included 8 Water Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit (photo below), 35+ Meadow Pipit, 5 Green Sandpiper, 1 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 1 Kingfisher and 36 Northern Lapwing.
Male Black Redstart feeding under cars in Glen Road.

 

[Qingcol]

One Cattle Egret still at Pentireglaze this morning feeding around cattle, with 800+ Starling, 80+ Rook, 6 Northern Lapwing, 18 Meadow Pipit, 1 Water Pipit and 2 Rock Pipit.

 

[gonvena]

Hi Colin, Derek. I sent you an email as well regarding us getting together Friday morning to
have a chat about out thoughts on viewing points, hides etc on Treraven.
I suggested we meet at 10:00. Guineaport. OKay??

 

[Qingcol]

Yesterday afternoon at Treraven Meadow birds included 5 Water Pipit, 3 Rock Pipit, 20+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Ruff, 1 Common Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper and 1 Grey Wagtail with white bases to tertials 1 & 2.
Ruff, Water Pipit, Rock Pipit and Green Sandpiper still this morning.
Female Goldeneye at Clapper Pools this morning.

 

[Chris Oates]

Great northern diver at the Tregonce hide, probable Cattle egret at Higher Halywyn.
Lapwing, Wigeon & Teal seem to have moved on.
You don't seem to have had the invasion of Little gull that we've had in West cornwall.

 

[Qingcol]

Great northern diver at the Tregonce hide, probable Cattle egret at Higher Halywyn.
Lapwing, Wigeon & Teal seem to have moved on.
You don't seem to have had the invasion of Little gull that we've had in West cornwall.

No sign of the single Cattle Egret (present on Friday) at Pentireglaze yesterday, but 2 Little Gulls and a Skua sp from Polzeath.
At Rumps Point yesterday 1 adult Peregrine, 1 Black Redstart, 2 Red-throated Diver, plus 150+ Kittiwake, 8 Gannet and 40+ Fulmar past SW.
Pentire Farm, Birds included 200 Chaffinch, 120+ Skylark and 600 Herring Gull with just 1 Lesser Black-backed Gull.
Walmsley, adult Whooper Swan still near road.

 

[Qingcol]

Heavy and persistent rain this morning, birds at Clapper Pools included 1 Black-tailed Godwit, 140 Wigeon, 3 Northern Pintail, 4 Gadwall, 1 female Goldeneye and 33 Teal.
Treraven Meadow, 1 Gadwall, 22 Wigeon, 45 Teal, 2 Rock Pipit, 2 Water Pipit, 23 Meadow Pipit, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Greenshank and 2 Common Redshank.
Male Black Redstart at Glen Road still.
Photos below,L looking towards Treraven Meadow from Clapper Pools, R looking over Treraven Meadow from the Camel Trail towards Clapper Pools.

 

[camelbirder]

hi Colin,

Thank was brave, not been out today the weather just to bad.

The proposed hide is gathering pace with more interest from the enviroment agency, if it was in place today it would be floating:t::-O

Best wishes,