Was just a bit breezy and damp this morning, but got out early afternoon to Pendennis, working around to Swanpool -
Pendennis - 1 Chiffchaff and 15+ LT Tit near leisure centre, 2 Whimbrel on the west side, 25 Dunlin flew past the point, good numbers of Gannet and Kittiwake out to sea.
Castle Beach - 1 Black Redstart (m), Common Buzzard, 17 Oystercatcher
Gyllyngvase Beach - c.25 Turnstone, 1 Dunlin, 10+ Pied Wagtail, 2 Meadow Pipit, Rock Pipit.
Swanpool Beach - 1 Stonechat.
Swanpool - 1 YELLOW-BROWED WARBLER, 1 SIBERIAN CHIFFCHAFF ('western' type), 1 nominate Chiffchaff, 2 Water Rail, 5+ Little Grebe.
Think that must be the 3rd winter I've had Whimbrel on Pendennis now. Presumably more do overwinter on the rocky shores in the area, presumably under-recorded. The Dunlin flock battling into the wind were more of a surprise. The warblers were on the NW corner of Swanpool, as opposed to Swanvale NR (which is the woodland immediately to the north of Swanpool I believe). Bumped into a guy (Gary Thompson?), an assistant warden for the Swanpool reserve (it was he who had the Water Rails). He told me they were hoping to get the website updated soon (didn't know there was one tbh), as the guy who had been doing it (for £300 for 2 years) wasn't doing it very often (or something like that ... I'd have done it for less, didn't say anything though!)
Lots of free-range dogs chasing the waders and pipits on the beach and rocks. There may well have been more Black reds about, as they can go inland a bit, or maybe they got blown away. Thought I'd found the Sibe Chiff, hadn't registered it had been seen the day before (doh!), and bumped into the Yellow-browed without really trying. Some nice birds.