Falmouth Birding (1 Viewer)

[dantheman]

Day out birding with Samuel - ending up in the Falmouth area so highlights and some counts here -

Stithians

Goldeneye 10 (4m, 6f)
Long-tailed Duck 1
Black-necked Grebe 1 (sum plum, just in front of the SH hide)
Tufted Duck 10+, Shoveler 4 (2m2f), Wigeon 2, GCGrebe 1, Little Grebe 5, Reed Bunting 2 etc

Argal Res

Peregrine 1 over
Great Crested Grebe 6
Kingfisher 1
Mallard 12+, Moorhen, Grey Heron 2 etc

College Res

Bittern 1
Goldeneye 2
Cormorant 24, Grey Heron 1, Moorhen 10+, Wigeon 2, Tufted Duck 14, Coot 5, Mallard 5, Great Crested Grebe 1, Canada Goose 10, Mute Swan 2, Curlew (h) and 2 guys in waders chest deep fly fishing - not sure if they're meant to be fishing at the site.


Further afield - Helston Loe Pool held 4 Goosander (2 pairs), female Common Scoter still, with the juv Whooper Swan at the boating lake, Loe Bar had 3 Wheatear (2m and 1f), and Woodcock near Lizard village (unfortunately for Samuel who was looking at some Chiffchaffs at the time ...). Peacock and Small Tortoishell nearby too. Think that's mostly it.


Except for one possible non-highlight - a large (or possibly two) Mink swimming across Helston Loe Pool. (west to east, and then east to west at a different point a few minutes later). Other mammals on the day were Common Shrew, Rabbit and Rat, with Common Lizard on the Lizard.

 

[Samuel Perfect]

can't think of anything you missed out except the 7 Golden Plover at Predannack Airfield.

Thanks again Dan for all the driving, much appreciated :t: Hopefully see you around the local patch soon

 

[dantheman]

This morning's local effort -

Female Black Redstart feeding on the short grass at Pendennis Point, GN Diver offshore, very distant Gannets and 5 Linnets.

Scanning the Carrick Roads produced 3 Sandwich Terns resting on various bouys, 3 Med Gulls, 5 RB Mergansers, 4 probable BN Grebes.

3 Turnstone near Gyllyngvase beach.

Gorrangorras on the Penryn River at high tide -

35 Redshank, 1 Greenshank, 1 Grey Plover, 3 Snipe, 1 Curlew, 1 RB Merganser (f), 2 Little Grebe, 1 Little Egret, plus Teal, Mallard etc

 

[dantheman]

A scout around this morning -

8 Linnet on Pendennis Point, with 5 distant probable BN Grebes deep into the Carrick Roads, along with a closer Med Gull. 2 Slavonian Grebes offshore; 1 off Swanpool, 1 nearer Castle Beach where there was also a Little Egret and 2 Med Gulls on the sea. Both Grebes were fairly close, but moving around.

Swanpool had Water Rail, Med Gull and Chiffchaff.

Penryn River high tide roost had 1 Grey Plover, 19 Redshank, 2 Greenshank, 24 Teal, 1 Little Egret.


Also on Pendennis one of the ringed Magpies from a study they were doing at Tremough - Red above the BTO on left leg, Blue above Red on the other.

 

[dantheman]

Bittern still at College, a quick scan also 1 Goldeneye, Wigeon, GCG etc, with 40 Redwing in the approach field. Argal 5 GCG etc

 

[Samuel Perfect]

finally updated my blog for last Sundays birding with Dan. Including a couple pictures

http://samuelbirding.blogspot.co.uk/2013/03/a-round-trip-with-dan-17th-march.html

 

[dantheman]

Traditional check around this morning -

Falmouth Golf Course - 50+ Pied Wagtail, 4 Meadow Pipit
Swanpool Beach - 2 Slavonian Grebe offshore, with 2 Guillemot off Maenporth.
Pendennis Point - Whimbrel and Purple Sandpiper
Gorrangorras - Grey Plover still, 3 Little Egret, 2 Greenshank etc

Greenfinches in song seemingly everywhere.

 

[Samuel Perfect]

Had much the same day as you Dan. 2 Slav Grebes off Gylly, Purple Sand. at Pendennis Point, Whimbrel between the Point and the docks, Guillemot in Fal harbour along with 3 Sandwich Terns (my first for the year). The female Brambling is still at Tremough Campus. Pics on my blog,

Cheers,

 

[Samuel Perfect]

Photographed this weird looking duck sp. at College Reservoir on 14th December 2012 and it's just come back to haunt me as I honestly can't put a name to it! Sorry about the suppression Dan (not intended) It's the individual furthest to the left and seems to possess an abnormally large bill compared to its body size and is a tad smaller than the Teal. Any ideas?

 

[Paul Freestone]

Photographed this weird looking duck sp. at College Reservoir on 14th December 2012 and it's just come back to haunt me as I honestly can't put a name to it! Sorry about the suppression Dan (not intended) It's the individual furthest to the left and seems to possess an abnormally large bill compared to its body size and is a tad smaller than the Teal. Any ideas?

Could be an abnormality but can't really tell with the picture quality.

 

[Samuel Perfect]

Could be an abnormality but can't really tell with the picture quality.

My thoughts too. That explains the beak size but even the body is an awkward size for Teal.

 

[Samuel Perfect]

sorry, should also have mentioned earlier that when viewed through the scope, the head pattern was also similar to that of a drake Teal but "smudged" and ill defined. I could also not see any white stripe along the flanks as it was rather distant although it was difficult to be sure this feature was lacking.

 

[dantheman]

Photographed this weird looking duck sp. at College Reservoir on 14th December 2012 and it's just come back to haunt me as I honestly can't put a name to it! Sorry about the suppression Dan (not intended) It's the individual furthest to the left and seems to possess an abnormally large bill compared to its body size and is a tad smaller than the Teal. Any ideas?

Don't know about ducks smaller than Teal. Maybe if you posted in the general id forum? World duck and hybrid experts on there ...

 

[dantheman]

Made it to Pendennis for an attempt at a seawatch this afternoon - south easterlies not ideal at this location. Bit surprised by 19+ Sandwich Terns east and into the Carrick Roads between 3:30 and 4:00pm. Possible Common Tern west. Great Northern Diver offshore too, with Gannets further out.

 

[dantheman]

A look around this morning - felt pretty cold in the wind. Only birds of note 15 Sandwich Terns off Gyllyngvase beach. J St L had a Wheatear on Pendennis Point, although flushed before I arrived.

(Yesterday looked good - 8 Wheatear along the coast, Black Redstart, Pintail and Sand Martin!)

 

[dantheman]

Felt a bit more productive visiting the reservoirs early afternoon, although wildfowl numbers continue to fall -

College Res -

Bittern 1
Grey Heron 3
Tufted duck 7
Mallard 2
Teal 2
Canada Goose 4
Mute Swan 2 (nesting)
Coot 6
Moorhen 6+
GCGrebe 2
Herring Gull 70+
LBBGull 5
Chiffchaff 10+
Sand Martin 40
Swallow 1

Argal Res -

Tufted duck 6
GCGrebe 4
Herring Gull 75
LBBGull 15
BH Gull 2
Swallow 1
Sand Martin 1

Gorrangorras 2pm (rising tide) -
Greenshank 1, Redshank 10+, Grey Plover, Turnstone, Mute Swan 11, Little Grebe 4+, Teal 20+, Mallard 2

 

[dantheman]

Bumped into J St L as soon as I got to Pendennis this morning and along with the biting cold wind, lack of apparent birds and that he had just come from Swanpool direction didn't continue birding for long. A few Gannets close by, and he had 2 Ringed Plover on Swanpool Point. There was a cracking male Common Scoter on Swanpool yesterday unfortunately.

 

[ruanite]

Ruan Lanihorne

Not much out on the mud flats today. 1 grey heron and two canada geese by the bridge and a redshank in the river. 9 wigeon and a few seagulls to far out to make out exactly what they were. However I did see the attched two birds which I'm not too sure whether they are chiffchaff or willow warbler. I've attached my photo if anyone can help.

Garden feeder is producing better results with male blackcap, female & male great spotted woodpecker, marsh tit, 2 coal tits, 2 collared doves, 2 jays, 11 blue tits 2 great tits, 3 long tailed tits, 2 robins, goldfinch, 2 greenfinch and 9 chaffinch plus one really annoying rook

 

[Samuel Perfect]

Not much out on the mud flats today. 1 grey heron and two canada geese by the bridge and a redshank in the river. 9 wigeon and a few seagulls to far out to make out exactly what they were. However I did see the attched two birds which I'm not too sure whether they are chiffchaff or willow warbler. I've attached my photo if anyone can help.

Garden feeder is producing better results with male blackcap, female & male great spotted woodpecker, marsh tit, 2 coal tits, 2 collared doves, 2 jays, 11 blue tits 2 great tits, 3 long tailed tits, 2 robins, goldfinch, 2 greenfinch and 9 chaffinch plus one really annoying rook

All look like nominate Chiffchaffs to me :t:

 

[dantheman]

Yes, I think they're piling through at the moment - still a bit early for Willow Warblers, and in normal circumstances never quite as common. If you see a slightly longer, brighter, smarter bird than start trying to think WW ...

Even had a Chiffchaff on the neighbours rotary washing line whilst I was bringing the washing in yesterday!