Jays (11th October)

A little bit of excitement on Birdforum as to the recent influx of Jays from the continent.  Naturally it has taken Cornwall a little longer to feel the effects of this surge of birds as it lies to the far west of the country, one of the furthest distances from the closest crossing from the continent in Kent.  Not sure whether "my" 2 Jays Garrulus glandarius that I saw near the campus today were part of this influx but I always like to dream that they've flown all the way from Scandinavia, or central Europe.  Proof I can day-dream.

ECSTATIC WITH SUCCESS!!! (10th October)

Uni commitments in the morning but the afternoon was free so I was off down to the Lizard for some quality birding on a relatively local patch.  It took a 10 mile bike ride from Penryn to Helston before catching a bus down to the Lizard to finally arrive within striking distance of the Paddyfield Warbler now remaining for its third day.

 stunning coastline

 looking towards The Lizard

I got off a stop late unfortunately so had to run from near the lighthouse all the way north along the coastal path to reach the cove, not before falling into the mud and mud-skiing down the slopes (not as fun as it sounds with a steep drop to ones death if you take a false step or slide for that matter).  Anyway, I arrived on seen with an audience of 3 twitchers, I had missed its last appearance by about a minute.  Thankfully after the considerable effort I had invested the PADDYFIELD WARBLER Acrocephalus agricola popped out of cover and showed amazingly (on a warblers standards!) and we enjoyed relatively good views as it hoped around in the low bracken, occasionally climbing some of the stems and showing its tattered plumage off to our delighted eyes! A few digi-scope shots don't pay testament to its good behaviour. (lifer number 1).

a rather good digi-scope shot I think of the Paddyfield Warbler!

eyeing me through the foliage

Features of note I had not previously seen in the books include a faint/thin streaking on the cap.  News soon broke on one of the twitchers pager (I currently rely entirely on other peoples knowledge as I don't have a pager myself) that an Ortolan Bunting had turned up back a Housel Bay!  I had literary just run past the spot on the way to the warbler.  Back along the mud track I went where I managed to pick out two birders wandering around a stubble field.  Running the last leg of the journey I arrived to some negative news (the news any twitcher dreads), NO SIGN.  As I was asking a lady about its last whereabouts I noticed something interesting moving along the hedgerow over her should, I raised my bins it was a "SHRIKE!"  Quickly got the scope out and soon had it IDed as a 1st win. RED-BACKED SHRIKE Lanius collurio, I thought I had just self found my own shrike when the man came up and said, ooh that's been here ages (or words to that effect), a little downcast after such a brief flurry of excitement   Anyway, the bird showed incredibly well, up to 20 feet away making it possible to study the exact detail of the plumage, in short it was a stunner!

Red-backed Shrike, the stunner! the complicated plumage make this an even more interesting bird in my opinion to the stonking males

a picture is worth more than a thousand words

down to earth again, looking for the Ortolan, can any of you see it?  You shouldn't be able to we're looking in the wrong field!

My afternoons excursion was becoming rather productive the only nagging feeling of the not-yet-seen Ortolan was on my mind.  Then the totally unexpected happened, LGRE appeared over the hill.  Within moments he was on the scene  I had already done a thorough check of the two adjacent fields for the bunting a fruitless search but with Lee on the cards I hoped for the best.  Together, we tramped over the fields once again before I followed Lee in our search of some of the other stubble fields on the opposite side of the road.  Nothing.  2 Wheatear Oenanthe oenanthe were the only birds I could find before I headed back into town (I had to look at the bus timetable in preparation for my return).  A final return to the stubble fields as I had a few hours to spare.  I was walking back through one of the fields I had just come through, passed Lee again and a few seconds later I had the ORTOLAN BUNTING Emberiza hortulana perched totally unexpectedly on the top of on of the banks covered in bramble.  I scrambled for my camera and phone trying to call Lee and digi-scope the bird simultaneously (not recommended)  but couldn't get through there was no reception!  I did the unthinkable and sprinted fast away from the bird shouted to the closest birder who shouted even further up the street for Lee and within seconds most of the twitchers were on seen and basking in the joy of seeing the Ortolan.

finally, hard work searching is rewarded with my first ever Ortolan Bunting, even better when your the one who refound it!

When I say most, two other birders blissfully unaware of the news were still wandering around some of the fields quite a distance away.  I did the unthinkable again, sprinted down the road to get them but on my return the bird had gone.  It was once again up to me to relocate it, whilst the small crowd of twitchers overlooked the bank, I climbed on top in the hope of locating it on the other side, the onlookers managed to see it again perched on to for some time, but me standing only 30 feet away had no idea where it was.  It took some time again, following another period off blankness until I finally realised it was perched on the opposite side of the bank to the twitchers only I could see it perched on the bramble.  Unfortunately this was the last I saw of it as I signaled to the other birders, it decided to fly some distance over the stubble towards the town were we lost it.  In all, a rather exciting experience to relocate the bunting against all the odds!  Also very nice to get a thorough praising from Lee shaking my hand vigorously for the year tick I'd just got him!(it was a pleasure if you are reading this post Lee).  I was in the same state of shock, it was a lifer for me!  Now the dreaded bus trip back, followed by another 10 mile bike trip from Helston back to Uni.  To convince myself I wasn't dreaming, I took a final walk down one of the country lanes in a half-hearted attempt looking for Yellow-browed Warbler.  No success.  My final memory of the day was cycling back in the rain, fog and dark tasting the salty sweat on my lips, it was the taste of SUCCESS!!!

7 RED-RUMPS! (6th October)

St Michael's Mount again

a load more photos of the Mount (not sure I'll ever get tired of adding them to my Marazion trip reports)

Another visit to Marazion, exactly a week after dipping the Spotted Crake at the exact same location.  I arrived on sight (as early as is possible by bus) at 8:40am and immediately connected with the 7 RED-RUMPED SWALLOWS Cecropis daurica fly-catching over the marsh!  Don't we all wish twitching was that easy.  For the next 40-50mins I had enjoyable views as they circled our heads, maneuvering about in the air much like other hirundines (albeit a slightly different jizz to the Barn Swallows).  In fact, the Red-rumps represented 100% of the hirundines present!

one of seven Red-rumped Swallows at Marazion Marsh RSPB, photos of random individuals (finally a non-landscape photo!)

Barn Swallows Hirundo rustica only began to turn up later in the day as ones and twos began trickling through, soon picking up into double figures later in the afternoon.  With such a big success so soon in the day, I had the rest of the day off to trudge up and down Mount's Bay.  Here, I encountered several dozen Meadow Pipits Anthus pratensis, lesser numbers of Rock Pipits Anthus petrosus and large numbers of White Wagtails Motacilla alba alba, vastly outnumbering the British Pied Wagtails, Motacilla alba yarrellii (the second unusual sight for the day).  It seems the continental birds are replacing our British counterparts, what with all the Red-rumps about.  Mount's Bay also hosted 10+ Turnstone Arenaria interpres, 2 Little Egrets Egretta garzetta, 6 flyover Curlew Numenius arquata and the occasional Red-rump just about visible from the beach at times.  After wearing myself out along the beach, I returned to the marsh only to be gripped off by a dip in the form of 7 Glossy Ibis which had flown through as I was checking the pipits on the beach (if only I had had a pager)!  Anyway, a big year dip was compensated in part with a Painted Lady butterfly on the beach, 2 Red Admirals, several Small Whites, 2 Mediterranean Gulls Larus melanocephalus and a rather showy Buzzard Buteo buteo (not to mention the numerous others about, at least 2-3 in the air at any one time).  In all, a very enjoyable day and my first taster of the good birds Cornwall, I am looking forward to some good birding in the next few years!

Painted Lady

 An adult winter Starling posing nicely for the camera, I've tried to take a few more better quality pics recently so her's a starter

Buzzard

As you may have noticed I decided to add the Latin names for bird species so as to increase my common understanding of their names, who knows this might come in useful one day, we'll see how long I keep this new trend up for.

Argal Reservoir (5th October)

With news in that 7 Red-rumped Swallows had been seen at Marazion, the best I could do, given the limited number of daylight hours I had left was to make a quick visit to one of the local res's.  My choice was Argal Reservoir as it was the furthest south and the relatively large expanse of water was bound to turn up a few hirundines.  I was rather surprised, to say the least, that not one hirundine was in sight throughout my visit, not to mention no Red-rumps.  I'll make a trip to Marazion tomorrow to see whether it is possible to dip 7 birds in one day.

Pendennis in the Rain (2nd October)

"my" sea-watching spot at Pendennis Point

Finally October is upon us and good birds should be flooding in.  In fact no fewer than 144 Balearic Shears had already passed Porthgwarra before I rushed down to Pendennis Point to be greeted by a strong SW wind.  My hopes for good shears where high to say the least.  However, it took a surprisingly long time for the first one to come past and although not being too distant, the strong wind was making the tripod wobble so much that the closest ID I could get was a probable Balearic Shearwater.  I decided to chose a slightly more sheltered spot and after waiting about another half hour a group of 3 shearwaters flew past, once again the tripod wobbled the head wouldn't move across smoothly and I had to write them off as 3 more probable Balearic Shearwaters.  Sea-watching with the tripod I have is seriously not worth the effort I've got to invest in a better one before I get serious grip offs.  Anyway, moaning about it wont solve the problem.

A Fox Moth caterpillar accompanying me on the sea-watch.  After getting bored of the small clump of grass it began crossing the concrete and was blown around rather violently, skidding across the concrete several feet at a time!

Another dip (29th September)

A Saturday outing to Marazion, where I hoped to connect with the long-staying but elusive Spotted Crake.  I took the earliest bus I could and arrived after an hour+ journey at Marazion at around 8:40am.  No sign of the bird since yesterday but I decided to give it time.  Reward, nothing.

Marazion Marsh

With the day wearing on, I thought I'd use the time to look for some more exciting migrants at St Michaels Mount.  However, the next disappointment was that you had to pay for entrance so I took the long route around the west side of the island along the rocky shoreline.  Birding soon became rock-climbing as most of my concentration was on not falling off the ledge so only a few Rock Pipits to report.

St Michael's Mount

Once on the grassy slopes I began searching for Wryneck, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Yellow-browed Warbler but needless to say I saw none.  In fact it was almost dead, only 1 Wheatear was running along the wall and a Peregrine flew over.  Rather disappointed I returned to Marazion Marsh once again to dip out on the Spotted Crake before walking north along the footpath, over the railway and into an area of bracken where a few Dragonfly species proved to be the highlight of the day.  Several Migrant Hawkers and Common Darters being particularly photogenic.  Red Admiral, Speckled Wood and 1 Comma were also on the wing.  A final few hour wait at the standing stone once again produced nothing but a Water Rail lurking in the reeds, perhaps preparing to launch itself on the unsuspecting crake which sensibly stayed well in cover.

 male Common Darter

 female Common Darter

 Migrant Hawker

 don't get excited it's just a Water Rail

Little Egret

A brief outing (27th September)

I had the afternoon off so took the opportunity for a brief outing as I haven't been out for a while (busy studying Bio books for much of the week).  Anyway, my first stop was an area which I had expected to be scrubland in the west/central area of Falmouth.  However, on arrival I was surprised, to say the least, that it was covered nearly entirely by a modern housing estate, even my most recent OS map and google maps was oblivious to the change!  Only a fraction of the original habitat remained but was heavily fenced off.  All the same it appeared like an ideal spot for migrants (almost reminded me of the Ivinghoe Hills) but alas it seems I  still need to go on the search for a good local patch.  I decided to retry Swanpool Beach and Pennance Point.  A group of gulls was assemble on the water only metres from the shoreline, 2 Mediterranean Gulls being the highlight among them (one visible almost immediately as it was paddling around in the water almost at my feet, behaving like a domestic duck!)  Not much else to report in truth.  I tried the Golf Course again expecting fewer golfers = more birds but it seems the golf course is never void of golfers so only managed to see 3 Meadow Pipits fly over.  The only other sign of a migrant being a Chiffchaff in the coppice at Pennance Point.  Not much to report from the headland either as I had decided to leave my scope at home but both ad. win. Med Gulls decided to fly west past the headland, presumably the two individuals I had seen earlier in the bay. Interestingly however, despite having been in the company of the BHGulls earlier the Meds were only accompanied by a few Herring Gulls, my guess would be the BH Gulls roost in a different area to the Herring and Med Gulls, an interesting hypothesis as one would almost certainly have expected the opposite.

PS.  Still getting to grips with some of the commoner species that one doesn't often see in Herts eg. Gannets, absolute stunners and present almost permanently offshore (taken for granted in my opinion).