A Day of Chicks! (8th May)

I went with my friend down to Swanpool for the afternoon and given that he is obsessed with swans I left him photographing a family of 8 Mute Swan cygnets accompanied by their parents (unfortunately we did find one dead hatchling in the nest but 8 is still a huge success!).  At least 13 Mallard ducklings were also on the lake, a good sign that spring is well underway here in the South West.  The Great Crested Grebe was still kicking about and walking the coastal footpath to Pendennis Point produced 4 Sandwich Terns, 1 Rock Pipit, and a single Kestrel and Buzzard.

8 cygnets with adult pair of Mute Swans

The point was a little more productive with 3 Whimbrel flying into the bay and a Wheatear was at the watchpoint.  2 2ndCY Mediterranean Gulls also flew west past the point (a rather unseasonal record) as did a constant flow of Gannets, some in parties of ten or more.  In fact almost all the passage involved birds heading westwards into the wind including a total of at least 47+ Manx Shearwaters, passing through in a slow trickle of mostly single figure flocks.  A few groups of Fulmar were also noted occasionally and one even ventured right over the top of the headland affording excellent views.  As always one of the bigger highlights was a stunning summer plumage Great Northern Diver lingering close offshore.  Other species of note included a regular passage of auks flying westwards and a single Guillemot resting on the sea close to the point.

view from Pendennis Point

sum. plum. Great Northern Diver off Pendennis Point

At an undisclosed woodland site in Falmouth I was interrupted by a "squawking" noise that I could not recognise.  I had little clue as to what it was so staking it out seemed the only option.  As I ventured closer I suddenly realised it was in fact a Tawny Owl chick!  This was certainly a nice surprise and I spent some time watching it call before it fell asleep.

Tawny Owl chick!

I left it in peace and headed for the docks where a large assemblage of gulls had congregated.  It seemed an unseasonal gulling session was in store.  I had only just started grilling my first gulls when I came across a rather dark backed individual.  The legs were also concerning and taking a quick glance at all the features I came to the hasty conclusion that it may be a YELLOW-LEGGED GULL!  It was at this exact moment that Dan pulled up behind me but it seemed the gull had just vanished!  Thankfully, after a short search we refound the bird and together studied it intently.  This could be a new Falmouth patch tick for the both of us!  It seemed to fit most categories well for michahellis including the obviously bright yellow legs, dark mantle and unnotched tertials but the thin bill was definitely our largest concern.  Below are a selection of some of the better photos I achieved, unfortunately no open wing shots.

[Edit] It seems all the comments I've got on Bird Forum are pro Yellow-legged!

3cy Yellow-legged Gull

compare grey shade of mantle with neighbouring GBBG and HG

unnotched tertials (with pale fringes)

Yet another brief visit to the woodland to show Dan the chick, we refound not one but 2 Tawny Owl chicks!

both of the Tawny Owl chicks

Early Morning at College (6th May)

My sleeping pattern seems to be in absolute turmoil at the moment which was probably the reason I found myself down at College Reservoir at 4:30am!  As expected it was dead quiet with barely any activity.  In fact  it was quite pleasant with the dawn chorus all around.  2 Tawny Owls hooting were the best bird of note whilst a Fox skulking through the field was the mammal highlight of the day along with several bat sp. hunting over the periphery of the reservoir.  At least 5 Great Crested Grebes were on Argal and a Kingfisher zipped past.

The Kernow Experience (4th May)

I took the afternoon off and cycled a couple miles up the road to Stithians Reservoir with a glimmer of hope of connecting with the Grasshopper Warbler that had been seen the previous day on the west bank of the reservoir.  I spent a little time around the southern end where a Raven and Sand Martin flew over.  I decided to head up the west side in search of my target species but it seemed it had all gone quiet.  I was rather pleased however when I caught a brief glimpse of a flock of 10+ Whimbrel landing in a field close-by but they immediately took off again and I didn't relocate them until I picked out a flock of 16 Whimbrel landing in the field east of the reservoir about an hour later.  4 Wheatear in the neighbouring field were a pleasant surprised for an area a little further inland and Willow Warblers, Chiffchaffs and Sedge Warblers seemed to burst into song around the entire periphery of the reservoir.  From the northern bank I was treated to a rather close flypast Cuckoo that crossed the path at eye-level followed by a pair of Stonechats on the fence.  As the afternoon drew to a close, I eventually came close to reaching the southern cut-off.

I stopped briefly, then listened more closely and with some patience it was clear that the reeling noise I was hearing definitely came from a GRASSHOPPER WARBLER in the moorland just the other side of the fence!  It was difficult to pick out at first but occasionally the song became unmistakably clear.  I couldn't resist the urge much longer and climbed over the fence before approaching closer.  As I neared, I was thrilled when I suddenly set eyes on the warbler reeling away loudly only a couple meters away.  The setting was certainly special with the light vanishing fast, the open moorland stretching all around and the deafening song of a very showy Gropper performing for me alone.  A little further off, a second one began a short reel before being deafened once again by the one next to me.

the stunning song of a reeling Grasshopper Warbler

can't see the bird in this one but still an impressive yet typically long reel

moorland just east of Stithians Reservoir

Grasshopper Warbler showing brilliantly in very poor light

looking north along the east bank of Stithians Reservoir

I was rather upset however, when I returned to my bike to find the saddle and mudguards both stolen!  I'd have cycled the four miles back to campus but the people thought it funny to puncture both my tires too.  Nonetheless my spirits could barely be dampened thanks to the stunning Gropper I'd encountered and I count myself lucky to have been more fortunate than the road-killed Stoat I found on the A394.

dead Stoat, always sad roadkill

Back to Argal and College (3rd May)

Went down to College and Argal Reservoir with a friend to check the camera traps.  Not a great deal of birds but we spent some time enjoying the commoner species, including a single Whitethroat, Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs.  Swallows were also hawking over the reservoir and a pair of Great Crested Grebes were nest building in the southern corner of the reservoir.  Unfortunately, the camera traps only produced a Woodpigeon, a rather bedraggled Fox and a flypast bat.  We were also lucky in finding 3 piles of Otter spraint, a first for me!

Otter Spraint

 pellet from unknown predator.  Maybe owl sp. but seems a bit too small

Argal Again (2nd May)

Thanks to Wednesday's raptor success, I decided to revisit Argal again in the evening from 7-9pm for a short break.  The birding was as expected, the usual 5 Great Crested Grebes, flock of Swallows, including the one Sand Martin and a fly-around Kingfisher.  A Swift also flew through and as the light faded a bat sp. made a brief appearance.  To round the evening off, a male Tawny Owl began calling around Chynoweth (a small hamlet north of Argal Reservoir).

Patching Improves (1st May)

After arriving back at the flat and updating my blog with the earlier Osprey sighting, I still had the urge to head back out into the field again and continue birding.  A wise decision as I returned back to Argal Reservoir with the hope of connecting with more Fal goodies.  I waited at the dam for some time scanning through the hirundines waiting for Dan.  After some time of scanning, I managed to pick out 3 Sand Martins (a welcome Cornwall tick).  Dan eventually arrived and we were having a nice chat about birds when we were interrupted by a raptor that came flying in.  Both our jaws dropped simultaneously as we realised it was a harrier!  It was quite evident from the start that it was a MARSH HARRIER (a rather good bird for Cornwall, let alone the Fal patch!).  We watched it drift past us gradually heading in a NE direction.  I made a dive for the camera just before it disappeared and managed to rattle of a couple record shots.  After a little consultation of the Collins, Dan and I were content to settle on 2nd summer male type as the closest match although any other opinions would be very welcome.

To round the evening off nicely I connected with my first SWIFT of the year flying north over the dam.

male Marsh Harrier (Dan and I believe it could be a 2nd summer male type) any ID opinions welcome

Good Patching! (1st May)

A nice start to the month down at sunny College Reservoir where my friends Matt and Marcus enjoyed a well earned bit of birding.  College was typically quiet with only a Kingfisher and a Treecreeper of note.  Wildfowl numbers were significantly lower so there seemed little point hanging around watching nothing.  Our next move was Argal Reservoir with the intention of scanning from the dam.  Not much to report there either so we made our way to the southern bank of Argal.  I suddenly realised a large gull-shaped raptor flying past.  It was drifting casually north and despite having given my bins to my friend it was clear to see with the nacked eye that it was an OSPREY!

Osprey heading north over Argal and College Res's