Camel Estuary, Cornwall (1 Viewer)

[Qingcol]

The colour-ringed Greenshank from the Ythan Estuary (Aug 2006) at Old Town Cove still this morning plus 56 Common Shelduck and 20 Grey Plover.

 

[Qingcol]

Late afternoon Dinham Flats, a large gathering of Golden Plover and Northern Lapwing, 5,000+ Golden Plover, 2,000+ Northern Lapwing, 350+ Dunlin, 3 Knot, 7 Ringed Plover, 2 Sanderling, 2 Greenshank, 50+ Common Redshank, 1 adult Whooper Swan.

 

[camelbirder]

The Wednesday Bird Walk Group noted 59 species today between Wadebridge and Tregunna along the Camel Trail. The highlights included a Whooper Swan, Black Redstart and Chiffchaff.

 

[camelbirder]

The Cornwall Birding Website reports that the Cattle Egret is still present at Pentireglaze, the bird was seen today and yesterday.

 

[camelbirder]

You don't seem to have had the invasion of Little gull that we've had in West cornwall.

It appears not, the only birds reported were two off Polzeath on the 7th.

 

[Qingcol]

Treraven Meadows: yesterday afternoon 4 White Wagtails! with 15 Pied.
Today, 1 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 4 Green Sandpiper, 1 Common Sandpiper, 3 Common Snipe, 18 Wigeon, 2 Northern Shoveler, 28 Teal, 12 Curlew, 29 Lapwing, 3 Water Pipit, 1 Rock Pipit, 2 Chiffchaff, 1 Firecrest, 1 Green Woodpecker and sadly one more Swan death from flying into the overhead wires.

 

[Qingcol]

The combined RSPB-CBWPS Field Meeting at Treraven Meadows today: A walk along the Camel Trail produced 5+ Water Pipit, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 6 Common Snipe, 18 Curlew, 26 Lapwing, 22 Teal, 52 Wigeon and 2 Chiffchaff (1 pale bird showing characteristics of Siberian races P. c. tristis or P. c. abietinus)

 

[Chris Oates]

The combined RSPB-CBWPS Field Meeting at Treraven Meadows today: A walk along the Camel Trail produced 5+ Water Pipit, 30+ Meadow Pipit, 1 Ruff, 1 Greenshank, 3 Green Sandpiper, 2 Common Sandpiper, 6 Common Snipe, 18 Curlew, 26 Lapwing, 22 Teal, 52 Wigeon and 2 Chiffchaff (1 pale bird showing characteristics of Siberian races P. c. tristis or P. c. abietinus)

I can't make any of the CBWPS walks as I'm too far away - what time do the Wednesday walks start ?
Ta.

 

[camelbirder]

A visit to the Amble Marshes yesterday afternoon produced the following:
Tufted Duck - 2 (1 male)
Pochard - 1 male
Pintail - 14 (5 males)
Curlew - 84
Canada Goose - 87
Teal - 65
Wigeon - 89
Little Egret - 3
Heron - 5
Snipe - 80
Coot - 8
Moorhen - 11
Water Rail - 1
Golden Plover - 55
lapwing - 1200
Lesser Redpoll - 1
Black-tailed Godwit - 2
Shelduck - 2
JACK SNIPE - 1
Whooper Swan - 1 adult
Starling - 3000

 

[Qingcol]

I can't make any of the CBWPS walks as I'm too far away - what time do the Wednesday walks start ?
Ta.

Hi Chris,

10.00am, but only until April on the Camel Trail. Meet outside Countrywise, Eddystone Road, Wadebridge, phone Countrywise on 01208 812423 to see if walk is on.

 

[Chris Oates]

Hi Chris,

10.00am, but only until April on the Camel Trail. Meet outside Countrywise, Eddystone Road, Wadebridge, phone Countrywise on 01208 812423 to see if walk is on.

Many thanks - Chris

 

[Qingcol]

Rumps Point this morning, birds included 10 Common Scoter, 2 Velvet Scoter, 300+ Auk SP mostly Common Guillemot, 9 Rock Pipit plus 1 probable littoralis (Photos below) this individual in partial Pre-breeding moult, with most of the tail and some tertials fresh. Notice how white the fresh outer-tail can look and how worn the old central pair of tail feathers in Rock Pipit flight shot.

 

[camelbirder]

The Wednesday Bird Walk Group noted a totla of 54 Species between Wadebridge and Tregunna along the Camel trail, highlights include Black Redstart and Nuthatch amoungst others.

 

[Qingcol]

2 Black Redstarts at Wadebridge this morning, male & female still.
Treraven Meadow, much less water with 2 Water Pipit, 2 Greenshank, 2 Green sandpiper, 2 Common Redshank, 4 Common Snipe, 6 Teal and 2 Chiffchaff.
Blackbird sitting on eggs at Two Tree's estate.

 

[Qingcol]

Rumps Point this morning, birds included 9 Rock Pipit plus 1 probable littoralis (Photos below) this individual in partial Pre-breeding moult, with most of the tail and some tertials fresh. Notice how white the fresh outer-tail can look and how worn the old central pair of tail feathers in Rock Pipit flight shot.

As a pre-breeding moult is either absent or limited to a few body feathers in petrosus, but most littoralis frequently renew 50% of body feathers plus some tertials and tail feathers (presumably because they need to fly a distance to the breeding grounds) any sign of moult contrast to the tail or tertials Dec-April should point to littoralis?

 

[camelbirder]

At Midday today a moulting first winter/ first summer Ring-billed Gull was present on Dinham Flats. Other species present included 4 Mediterranean Gulls, (three adult one with a white darvic ring and a first winter), 7 Greenshank, 6 Bar-tailed Godwit, 315 Dunlin and 3 Goldeneye. Also 41 Carrion Crows were counted on the mud.

At the Amble Marshes over 3000 Lapwing and 2500 Golden Plover were present as well as 26 Shoveler, 10 Pintail, 5 Gadwall, 24 Black-tailed Godwit, and single male Pochard and Tufted Duck.

 

[camelbirder]

A quick look at Treraven meadows this afternoon revealed 5 Green Sandpiper, 1 Water Pipit, 2 Gadwall, 25 Pied Wagtail, 15 Meadow Pipit, 25 Teal, 1 Greenshank, 1 Snipe and what appeared to be a male White Wagtail.

 

[Qingcol]

Wildfowl count for 'Walmsley Sanctuary to the Amble dam' this morning.
10 Northern Pintail, 32 Northern Shoveler, 4 Gadwall, 1 Common Pochard,
2 Tufted Duck, 174 Eurasian Teal, 126 Eurasian Wigeon, 44 Mallard,
7 adult Mute Swan, 1 adult Whooper Swan, 63 Canada Geese,
4 Common Shelduck, 11 Coot, 10 Moorhen, 1 Water Rail, 5 Little Grebe,
58 Eurasian Curlew, 180+ Common Snipe, 22 Black-tailed Godwit,
1,500+ Northern Lapwing, 2,000+ Golden Plover, 1,000+ Common Starling,
3 Grey Heron, 4 Little Egret, 2 Raven, 12 Jackdaw, 6 Carrion Crow,
26 Wood Pigeon, 6 Black-headed Gull, 5 Herring Gull, (1 Water Pipit) and 1 Sparrow Hawk hunting Snipe.

 

[gonvena]

The Amble marshes count looks quite complete Colin, I'll take it from here. If there are any counts missing then please email them. Many thanks, lovely pics

 

[gonvena]

Outer est: I have to say it was a pleasant day. In Padstow Bay this afternoon I wish I had taken my scope. There was some good surf and it was quite clear. Highlight was of a Porpoise circling the bay and then surfing a wave in towards Polzeath beach. Yes, I admit it this was the first Porpoise I have seen off the North Coast and then to see it riding a wave.... memorable. There was a diver sp, probable R.T. and grebe prob. G.C., too far out for bins and light very bright. Lots of disturbance due to half term holidays. Oysters 28, Grey Plover, 25, Knot 25, Turnstone 10. Shag 3, Herring 5, Kestrel 1. Oh yes and 3 G.B.B.G.