Chris Oates
Why does a Black-headed Gull have a brown head...
Thanks for the 'College' advice everyone - I usually walk from Mabe to Argal but last couple of trips were through the football field.
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Falmouth Birding (14 Viewers)
- Thread starter dantheman
- Start date
dantheman
Bah humbug
Probably far too much advice given there ... 
Down by Lidl's today (= Gorrangorras), had a Merlin fly over the river before perching up in a large tree on the opposite side. Female/1st winter, maybe female on size. Nothing anything else out of the ordinary (10 Mute Swan, 1 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 2 each of Little Egret and Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 30+ Curlew, 2+ Little Grebe ...)
Down by Lidl's today (= Gorrangorras), had a Merlin fly over the river before perching up in a large tree on the opposite side. Female/1st winter, maybe female on size. Nothing anything else out of the ordinary (10 Mute Swan, 1 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 2 each of Little Egret and Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 30+ Curlew, 2+ Little Grebe ...)
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ruanite
Well-known member
Yep, and assuming it's lost half its bill in the pic due to the motion capture rather than being anything much rarer
A nice bird to see.
Most of the photos I did get were of its backside but in one it does show a longer beak.
Why is it so hard to id the little brown birds? I took this photo today and thought it was a Dunnock but now I've blown it up I'm not so sure. Unless the birds start to cooperate by appearing closer to me, I think I need to go up a lens size.:C
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dantheman
Bah humbug
LBJ = Little Brown Job ...
Definitely a Dunnock though - chestnutty mantle, grey head, bright legs and that thin bill all indicative. Shooting against the sky probably hasn't helped though ...
I've been housebound for the last weeks, but took a trip to swan pool with the kids today. I had the best showing of a little grebe I've seen yet. He was just pottering around where the girls were feeding the ducks. Also saw great crested grebe amongst the usual throng.
lozzjazz
Lawrence Sampson
Probably far too much advice given there ...
Down by Lidl's today (= Gorrangorras), had a Merlin fly over the river before perching up in a large tree on the opposite side. Female/1st winter, maybe female on size. Nothing anything else out of the ordinary (10 Mute Swan, 1 Coot, 1 Moorhen, 2 each of Little Egret and Greenshank, 1 Dunlin, 30+ Curlew, 2+ Little Grebe ...)
Wow, nice one with the merlin! I'm yet to see one in Cornwall! Was sitting by the river for a couple of hours taday - must have just missed it (or was probably too distracted taking photos of the redshanks)
dantheman
Bah humbug
Wow, nice one with the merlin! I'm yet to see one in Cornwall! Was sitting by the river for a couple of hours taday - must have just missed it (or was probably too distracted taking photos of the redshanks)
Cheers. Was about 1pm ... we were in the car park just down from Lidl's when it flew over ... and fairly typical Merlin flight views, so in many respects you didn't miss that much ...
dantheman
Bah humbug
Went down to Pendennis this morning after dropping the girlfriend off at work ...
The sea was very calm, and with the low cloud, and the place almost to myself, rather atmospheric. Visibility was relatively good out to sea however, with a distant string of 18 or so Common Eider flying west the undoubted highlight. A few Gannet and Med Gulls, but otherwise a bit quiet on the sea. 8 Greenfinch flying around, with 4 Meadow Pipits down on the rocks joining the Rock Pipits.
Moving on to Swanpool, via Castle Beach of course, and Med Gulls up to 4 or more at this point. Fulmar on their breeding cliffs and the almost obligatory Mute Swan in the bay and a Knot disturbed onto the near rocks by a dog walker. Swanpool held at least 3 Water Rails and a Kingfisher, with Swanvale holding Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.
I did go home, but then decided to go out again, this time to explore the Mylor peninsula. Walking from Penryn to Flushing, Gorrangorras held 47 Teal and a surprise 3 Knot, roosting in the middle of the muddy inlet. Over 100 Chaffinch, but couldn't pick out anything more interesting. Good numbers of Robin and Blackbird along the field edges. Beyond Trefusis Point, and scanning the roads I was surprised to see 4 divers up at the Pendennis end, ironically - Great Northerns it would seem. A Razorbill close by, 2 Common Gull flying by and another Eider, a drake, completed the picture on the water, with a short stop further on and 3 Whimbrel (quite possibly different to the ones in previous days), a further 3 Knot (and Oystercatchers, of course.)
Mylor Churchtown and a view right up to the end of the Carrick Roads produced the goods - 62 Black-necked Grebe in two main groups of 22 and 40+, with 2 more Great Northern Divers (hence 6 in total), 30+ Red-breasted Mergansers and a couple more unidentified distant blobs. In a nearby stubble field 3 Fieldfare and 2 Mistle Thrushes were feeding. Off inland and a field held c.100 Lapwing with a few other species. The light moisture in the air turned to rain, and apart from hearing a couple of Green Woodpeckers, generally quiet, bird-wise.
Picking the car up in Penryn, I headed back to Pendennis Point again where two of the Great Northerns performed, albeit having moved further out into the bay. Another Razorbill, 5+ Purple Sandpipers on the point, and then views of the male Black Redstart at Castle Beach before heading home again.
The sea was very calm, and with the low cloud, and the place almost to myself, rather atmospheric. Visibility was relatively good out to sea however, with a distant string of 18 or so Common Eider flying west the undoubted highlight. A few Gannet and Med Gulls, but otherwise a bit quiet on the sea. 8 Greenfinch flying around, with 4 Meadow Pipits down on the rocks joining the Rock Pipits.
Moving on to Swanpool, via Castle Beach of course, and Med Gulls up to 4 or more at this point. Fulmar on their breeding cliffs and the almost obligatory Mute Swan in the bay and a Knot disturbed onto the near rocks by a dog walker. Swanpool held at least 3 Water Rails and a Kingfisher, with Swanvale holding Chiffchaff and Goldcrest.
I did go home, but then decided to go out again, this time to explore the Mylor peninsula. Walking from Penryn to Flushing, Gorrangorras held 47 Teal and a surprise 3 Knot, roosting in the middle of the muddy inlet. Over 100 Chaffinch, but couldn't pick out anything more interesting. Good numbers of Robin and Blackbird along the field edges. Beyond Trefusis Point, and scanning the roads I was surprised to see 4 divers up at the Pendennis end, ironically - Great Northerns it would seem. A Razorbill close by, 2 Common Gull flying by and another Eider, a drake, completed the picture on the water, with a short stop further on and 3 Whimbrel (quite possibly different to the ones in previous days), a further 3 Knot (and Oystercatchers, of course.)
Mylor Churchtown and a view right up to the end of the Carrick Roads produced the goods - 62 Black-necked Grebe in two main groups of 22 and 40+, with 2 more Great Northern Divers (hence 6 in total), 30+ Red-breasted Mergansers and a couple more unidentified distant blobs. In a nearby stubble field 3 Fieldfare and 2 Mistle Thrushes were feeding. Off inland and a field held c.100 Lapwing with a few other species. The light moisture in the air turned to rain, and apart from hearing a couple of Green Woodpeckers, generally quiet, bird-wise.
Picking the car up in Penryn, I headed back to Pendennis Point again where two of the Great Northerns performed, albeit having moved further out into the bay. Another Razorbill, 5+ Purple Sandpipers on the point, and then views of the male Black Redstart at Castle Beach before heading home again.
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Chris Oates
Why does a Black-headed Gull have a brown head...
Don't see anyone mentioning the Bullfinches in Swanvale - I see them in deep at the Swanvale reserve sign and lately across the road from the pumping station where the (never saw it) Yellowbrowed warbler was.
Seeing lots of rats but no traps like there used to be ??
Seeing lots of rats but no traps like there used to be ??
dantheman
Bah humbug
But I bet your views were a lot better!
I think they may well be increasing (or the other finches decreasing?), don't always tend to mention them personally as bump into them all over. However its worth mentioning, especially if they are in a prime spot and showing well.
The Yellow-browed may still be in there somewhere ... but there's lots of habitat if it isn't favouring the edges ... as for rats, don't mind them myself, although I guess they'll be eating eggs later on ... ?
Shelduck on the Penryn river again today (Gorrangorras), and a couple of Stock Dove nearby.
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dantheman
Bah humbug
College and Argal from midday today -
College Res
Wigeon 195
Mallard 2+
Gadwall 4 (2m 2f)
Tufted Duck 50+
Goldeneye 10 (3m 7f type)
Mute Swan 2
Moorhen 15
Coot 70+
Bittern 1
Grey Heron 3
Cormorant 3
GCGrebe 1
Little Grebe 3
BH Gull c.100
Med Gull 1 2ndw
Herring Gull 30+
LBBG 1
GBBG 1
Snipe 4
Curlew c.70 in nearby fields
Kestrel 1
Redwing 40+
Green Woodie and GSWoodie heard
Argal Res
Mute Swan 2
Tufted Duck 6
Mallard 2
GC Grebe 2
Moorhen 1
Redwing 30+
Chiffchaff 1
Goldcrest 1
Nuthatch 1h
The Bittern was showing well as it clambered around on the opposite shore. Med Gull washing briefly. Got molested by a large Husky/wolf which made by 2nd best trousers all muddy, before going for a swim and then scaring all the wildfowl further out. There should be less access, not more! Went beyond the the underpass looking for Dipper on the stream but no sign, although I didn't descend as far as the woods. The Kestrel (male) unsuccessfully went for a Robin, possibly the same bird as that seen on the 4th January, if small birds make up a percentage of most, or do they specialise? (Realised later that the 4th Jan bird was carrying a Bullfinch (black tail, white rump)). Ironically no sign (or sound) of any Bullfinches today
College Res
Wigeon 195
Mallard 2+
Gadwall 4 (2m 2f)
Tufted Duck 50+
Goldeneye 10 (3m 7f type)
Mute Swan 2
Moorhen 15
Coot 70+
Bittern 1
Grey Heron 3
Cormorant 3
GCGrebe 1
Little Grebe 3
BH Gull c.100
Med Gull 1 2ndw
Herring Gull 30+
LBBG 1
GBBG 1
Snipe 4
Curlew c.70 in nearby fields
Kestrel 1
Redwing 40+
Green Woodie and GSWoodie heard
Argal Res
Mute Swan 2
Tufted Duck 6
Mallard 2
GC Grebe 2
Moorhen 1
Redwing 30+
Chiffchaff 1
Goldcrest 1
Nuthatch 1h
The Bittern was showing well as it clambered around on the opposite shore. Med Gull washing briefly. Got molested by a large Husky/wolf which made by 2nd best trousers all muddy, before going for a swim and then scaring all the wildfowl further out. There should be less access, not more! Went beyond the the underpass looking for Dipper on the stream but no sign, although I didn't descend as far as the woods. The Kestrel (male) unsuccessfully went for a Robin, possibly the same bird as that seen on the 4th January, if small birds make up a percentage of most, or do they specialise? (Realised later that the 4th Jan bird was carrying a Bullfinch (black tail, white rump)). Ironically no sign (or sound) of any Bullfinches today
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dantheman
Bah humbug
Late afternoon popped out to Pendennis ...
Two Med Gulls patrolling (ad and 2ndw), Razorbill distantly and 2 Purple Sandpiper on the point. Harbour Porpoise briefly towards St Anthony Head. Castle Beach held the male Black Redstart, and two Whimbrel which promptly flew off towards Pendennis.
Gorrangorras on the Penryn River at high tide (about 5pm) held 80+ Curlew, 20+ Teal, 10+ Mallard, 30+ Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 3 Knot and 11 Turnstone and 8 or more Mute Swan.
Two Med Gulls patrolling (ad and 2ndw), Razorbill distantly and 2 Purple Sandpiper on the point. Harbour Porpoise briefly towards St Anthony Head. Castle Beach held the male Black Redstart, and two Whimbrel which promptly flew off towards Pendennis.
Gorrangorras on the Penryn River at high tide (about 5pm) held 80+ Curlew, 20+ Teal, 10+ Mallard, 30+ Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 3 Knot and 11 Turnstone and 8 or more Mute Swan.
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ruanite
Well-known member
Photos
Hi Dan,
Any chance you can put what the photos are of, then if I ever see them I will stand a chance of knowing what they are.
Thanks Carol
Hi Dan,
Any chance you can put what the photos are of, then if I ever see them I will stand a chance of knowing what they are.
Thanks Carol
dantheman
Bah humbug
Black Redstart, Purple Sandpipers, Purple Sandpiper
No worries
(and the other day was one of the Whimbrel)
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dantheman
Bah humbug
Agree with the last 2, first must be a Great Northern Diver.
dantheman
Bah humbug
College and Argal late this afternoon - highlight two Bittern at College (one at the south end partly in the woods, the other flew from the east side before roosting in the scrub on the island), and a high count of Goldeneye, the males engaging in their 'throw head back' display. No sign of the reported Siskin flock at Argal, admittedly it was getting quite gloomy by the time I was checking it out ...
College
Mute Swan 2
Canada Goose 5 (then seen off by Mute Swan)
Mallard 5+
Wigeon 185+
Tufted Duck, Coot present, not counted
Gadwall 2 (mf)
Goldeneye 12 (4m 8f)
Teal c.20
GCGrebe 1
Bittern 2
Grey heron 1
Cormorant 23 roosting on island
Moorhen 6+
BH Gull 50+
Goldcrest 5+
Argal Res
Mute Swan 2
Tufted Duck 9
Mallard 2
Moorhen 1
GCG 1
Mixed flock of Chaffinch and Linnet c.60
Nearby, 5 Bullfinch feeding in field on dock seeds
College
Mute Swan 2
Canada Goose 5 (then seen off by Mute Swan)
Mallard 5+
Wigeon 185+
Tufted Duck, Coot present, not counted
Gadwall 2 (mf)
Goldeneye 12 (4m 8f)
Teal c.20
GCGrebe 1
Bittern 2
Grey heron 1
Cormorant 23 roosting on island
Moorhen 6+
BH Gull 50+
Goldcrest 5+
Argal Res
Mute Swan 2
Tufted Duck 9
Mallard 2
Moorhen 1
GCG 1
Mixed flock of Chaffinch and Linnet c.60
Nearby, 5 Bullfinch feeding in field on dock seeds
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dantheman
Bah humbug
Two Brent Geese and 1 Sandwich Tern at Gorrangorras (Penryn River) this morning as the tide started turning (10:45).
As these were brief scoped views out of the bedroom window I thought I ought to go down there and check them out properly. Fortunately they were still there. Dark-bellied Brent Geese, and the tern roosting. In amongst the c.50 BH Gulls there were also 3 adult Med Gulls, other birds included Greenshank 3, Little Egret 4, Little grebe 4, Redshank 20+, Curlew 30+ and 2 Mute Swan.
As these were brief scoped views out of the bedroom window I thought I ought to go down there and check them out properly. Fortunately they were still there. Dark-bellied Brent Geese, and the tern roosting. In amongst the c.50 BH Gulls there were also 3 adult Med Gulls, other birds included Greenshank 3, Little Egret 4, Little grebe 4, Redshank 20+, Curlew 30+ and 2 Mute Swan.
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ruanite
Well-known member
Swanpool/Stithians yesterday afternoon
Went to Stithians and Swanpool yesterday afternoon. Besides being very cold saw a nice amount of birds.
Stithians
Grey Heron, Cormorant, Wigeon, Teal, Curlew, Canada Geese and loads of Lapwings, Buzzard, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Starling, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird and LBJ below.
Swanpool
Mallards, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Robin and a Bullfinch.
Plus various gulls at both.
Went to Stithians and Swanpool yesterday afternoon. Besides being very cold saw a nice amount of birds.
Stithians
Grey Heron, Cormorant, Wigeon, Teal, Curlew, Canada Geese and loads of Lapwings, Buzzard, Chaffinch, Goldfinch, Starling, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Blackbird and LBJ below.
Swanpool
Mallards, Little Grebe, Cormorant, Mute Swan, Coot, Moorhen, Robin and a Bullfinch.
Plus various gulls at both.
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