Thursday 5th June.
Full day birding starting with a lookout and listen for Golden Oriole but sadly nothing.

Mousehole fishing village, of note:

Herring Gulls,
Great Black-backed Gulls
2 Swallows
Cormorant
...and a Rock Pipit.

St.Ives Rocks
Gannets maybe 60+
Plenty of Fulmar,
2 rock pipits,
1 Skylark,
Usually see a few Kittiwake here every year but none this time.

Buttermilk Hill (just inland overlooking St.Ives)
2 Whitethroat and a pair of Linnet
No cuckoos or Red Kites as reported recently.

Sancreed Downs:
Cuckoos reported but none seen by us.
1 buzzard and a Whitethroat

Kenidjack (near St.Just) lovely place :
Turtle dove reported and a silhouette got us going but turned out to be a Collared Dove with a slight pattern on it's back.
Local woman from one of the farmhouses told us she'd seen a strange bird fly across infront of her on the driveway other day, resembled a dove, had an orangey back, we thought that must be it. No sign for us though. She also told us about a mass twitch she remembered approx 20 years ago right outside her driveway when a Yellow-throated Vireo turned up there.
Rock Pipit,
Male Kestrel.

A late visit to Marazion:
Purple Heron was reported yet again.
No sign but I did get 4 Sandwich Terns fly along the waters edge but too quick for a photo.
Juv Iceland gull reported but I didn't see one whilst I was there.
2 Cetti's warbler were heard again within approx 50 ft of each other, 2 brief glimpses of one bird as it flew across the path between the reeds and then on again to another reed patch but that's all I got.

A walk to the pub through the woods at the back of Ludgvan had us on high alert for the Golden Oriole. Plenty of Blackbird, Song Thrush, Robin, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler around and 2 Great Spotted Woodpecker fledglings constantly calling for the parents for a good 10 mins.

Tuesday 3rd June.
Day trip to St.Mary's (Scillies) and actually managed a bit of 3G to post previous sightings.
Anyone who's never been here I would recommend this place, it's beautiful, like something from the Treasure Island novel. Pity we came out of peak time for bird movement.

Seen from the Scillonian III :
Plenty of Manx Shearwater
Lots of Gannet (adults and various juv)
Small groups of Guillemot with a few Razorbill
Plenty of Fulmar too

On the island:
Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Whitethroat heard and singles of each seen.
Linnet and Stonechat up on the heath near the Golf Course.

On return journey to Penzance:
Much the same as earlier plus...
2 Common Dolphin jumping not far from the boat (probably Short-beaked as they are more widespread)
2 Porpoise
7 Birds in a low flight line above the water which I thought resembled Skuas but I now know are Kittiwakes, a poor image from a moving boat of moving birds but thanks for the ID Ian.
A juv Great Northern Diver out in Penzance bay and a single Rock Pipit that landed on the boat before we docked and then watched everyone off the boat from a harbour lamp-post.

As a general observation myself and Steve both agreed that we had never seen so many Blackbirds and Song Thrushes in such a small area. The Blackbirds were in groups of 3 and 4 sometimes, and probably numbered well above 50.
Song Thrush we reckon at least 20+ probably more.

Unconfirmed report of a Golden Oriole in Ludgvan where we are staying in mates bungalow. One of the local residents told me this morning it's been heard near Ludgvan Church (ironically where it was heard same time last year) and is 50yds away from the bungalow.
He told me it's a male so someone has obviously seen it and it's been around a few days now. We will try our hardest to locate and photograph this bird if it's still around.
Cheers

A few days in Cornwall and managed a bit of twitching.

Friday pm, half hour at Marazion Marsh
Of note...a pair of Rock Pipits, a low flying Bittern over the marsh, and what I thought could've been a Marsh Harrier but the photo is at distance and is inconclusive so not too sure.


Saturday pm.
Marazion Beach for a quick look at the unfortunate dead whale that's been here since around the 15th Feb.
Tide was coming in and the Whale was a good distance away from the nearest beach steps so rather than chance being stranded myself I took far out shots of the body.
Locals think it is a Minke Whale (or a Lesser Rorqual for the old school name) but these are large Baleen (filter feeding) Whales whereas the Whale on Marazion has teeth, it's bottom was jaw removed by marine biologists for ID and teeth are now exposed on the upper part of the mouth.
Judging by size and shape I thought more Pilot Whale-like or one of the smaller Beaked Whale family. Cuvier's Beaked Whale now seems to be the likely species.
Birds of note: Curlews and Oystercatchers.

Saturday pm...quick visit to Penzance Bus Station to view the coastline after reports of a Surf Scoter.
Parked up in the Bus Station and looked over the wall and within minutes another bloke pointed out a black dot literally surfing the waves.
My first Surf Scoter living up to its name!
It did eventually surf a lot closer and I managed blurry but ID'able shots due to distance. A lifer nonetheless!
Dipped on the earlier reported Black Redstart 'in' the bus station.
Other birds of note:
Oystercatchers and an unusual looking Gull near the Surf Scoter that is probably something obvious but there are a lot of different Gull species being reported this last week in Cornwall so I'm just not sure.

Quick Saturday pm visit to RSPB Hayle
Birds of note:
Curlew, maybe approaching 100
Plenty of Wigeon and Teal
A few Redshank
Unable to pick out the Juvenile's Iceland Gull and Glaucous Gull due to diminishing light and distance.



-- Edited by Rob Creek on Monday 10th of March 2014 11:17:53 AM

Thank you very much for that Rob, I know Cornwall is excellent for birdwatching and my family and I travel down there pretty much every year.

Thanks once again, Louis.

2 weeks in Padstow area 2nd-14th Aug. Family holiday so just casual sightings

main highlights:

Camel Estuary - boat trip on Jubilee Queen
c.15 Med Gulls together on sand banks at low tide
c30 Sandwich Terns also on the sand banks
6 Shag
12 Turnstone still mostly in summer plumage around harbour
and best of all c.10 Bottlenose Dolphin following the boat - brilliant!

Trevose Head
2 Corn Bunting - including 1 bird singing
1 Stonechat
1 Peregrine
Numerous passing Gannets

All in all a good week.

Buzzards everywhere, considering the mileage we covered walking and driving...coast and inland...we didn't see a single Red Kite yet it appears every bugger else saw them.

Missed the Golden Oriole and Purple Heron.

Saw plenty of bats every single night walking home we saw plenty of Pipistrelle Bats, some quite larger which I'm assuming could be Noctules, but Greater Horseshoe Bats are very common in this area as they roost in the remains of tin mine buildings but I couldn't be 100% as trying to identify a fast flying bat in poor light after a few beers is near impossible.

One other thing of note, not a single Basking Shark, and we covered alot of coastline. Few of the locals told us that it was just too cold and they will be later this year. 1 was seen in Cornwall and 1 in the Isle-of-Man in the last few weeks.

Friday 7th June.

Another few miles hike around Ludgvan, through the vales and woodland and passing some of the old tin mine remains.
Usuals plus plenty of Whitethroat, Chiffchaff, Willow Warbler, 1 male Blackcap, alot of Buzzards


Couple of hours at RSPB Hayle - Lelant Water
Alot more activity than last time
Of note...
Great Black-Backed Gulls in abundance
4 Mute Swan
1 Black Swan
7 Little Egrets (quite large considering)
~20-25 Shelduck
6 Curlew (increasing as tide came into the flats)
2 Whimbrel
4 Dunlin
1 Bar-Tailed Godwit (1st Summer youngster)
2 Oystercatchers
3 Grey Heron .....

...and another Heron, very dark and almost purpley in colour with markings down the neck, surely we hadn't travelled all the way to Goonhilly to see the Purple Heron when it was on the doorstep???
No, I put it down to a young Grey and indeed that's what it was.

-- Edited by Rob Creek on Sunday 9th of June 2013 03:54:45 PM

After the Cuckoo excitement we drove over Zennor Hills but not a Red Kite in sight so dropped down into St.Ives so mate could do some rock Mackerel fishing. We walked out of the main village to the big hill on the other bay.

Birds of note...
1 Great Black-Backed Gull in village centre

7 maybe 8 Kittiwake on the rocks and flying around us (3 immature in 1st Summer plumage)
4 Fulmars (fly by's)
10 or so Gannets (fly by's)
2 Shelduck (fly by's)
Few Cormorant's
Few Swift and Swallow
1 pair of Rock Pipit's up close

1 large Herring Gull that nicked my mate's Launce that he caught to use as bait

Weds 5th
..on way back from Lizard, called over to Goonhilly Downs for possible Purple Heron sighting. Walked a good 2.5 - 3 miles round this wide open sandy fen and marsh and over to the pools.

No sign of Purple Heron, but plenty of Meadow Pipit, Skylark and Stonechat.

Weds 5th June

Good few miles walk round Lizard Point
Birds of note...(coast)

Great Black-Backed Gulls
Lesser Black-Backed Gulls
Handful of Gannets
2 Ravens mobbing a Buzzard
Few Cormorants
Skylarks
Meadow Pipits

Gorse path back to inland village...
3 Whitethroats
Pair of Sedge Warbler
Few Linnets
Dunnock, Wren, Stonechat activity with young

1 bird unidentified whilst on coast, at first appeared Swift-like, maybe marginally larger and paler brown with sandy coloured underparts, end of wings were dark brown, Bird of Prey-like...Racked our brains but haven't a clue, too quick for photo!

PM to Ian

Tuesday 4th June
Mate finished off Coastal Path from near Pembeth Cove- Lamorna Cove to Mousehole,
birds of note...
1x male Peregrinne
1x male Kestrel
Plus usuals mentioned

I'm afraid I dropped him off and did the road version of the same route but had success none the less.
Birds of note...
Possible Rock Pipits at Lamorna but will wait for photo confirmation
Few Whitethroats
Few Linnets
1x Great Spotted Woodpecker
Meadow Pipits
Skylarks
Good number of Willow Warblers and Chiffchaffs
Alot of Buzzard activity

Got round to Mousehole to get a few shots of the Fulmars, every year in the same place these few pairs that I walk round to see do well, and long may they and their offspring do so!

ps. not on the Coastal Path so probably why they do well.


-- Edited by Rob Creek on Wednesday 5th of June 2013 10:11:59 PM

Mon 3rd June

Stithians Reservoir (near Camborne)

Considering this site is mentioned quite alot on the Cornwall birding sites, surprisingly little here and very disappointing despite its huge size. Wouldn't recommend this site as a good summer reserve (depending on what you want to see), my guess is this is a winter haven for a whole host of species.
Of note...

3 Buzzards
1 Tufted duck m
1 Teal m
Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, and Whitethroat city!!!

A week in Cornwall started today with my best mate.

RSPB Marazion Marsh. (Approx 4.15 - 5.15pm)
Birds of note...
Plenty of Reed Warbler activity allover the reserve, visually and vocally.
1 Sedge Warbler
1 Green Woodpecker
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Wren singing with beakful of food right infront of us then proceeded into the nest sending the chicks into pandemonium!
5 or 6 Grey Herons (very flighty so could be less)

No sign of the Purple Heron that's been here all week. Plenty of time yet!

Got back last Saturday (13th)from my annual trip to Cornwall,and although it was a relatively quiet week by usual cornish standards still managed to see a few good birds,
Several Yellow Browed Warblers about all week,Firecrests everywhere,plus still lots of Chiffchaff,Blackcaps,a few Willow Warblers,Pied Flycatchers,and plenty of other common migrants still about.
Got strokeable views of one of the Glossy Ibis near Sennen,brief views of the Olive Backed Pipit at Pendeen,where a short seawatch produced a Balearic Shearwater,hundreds of Auks,Kittiwakes,Gannets and the odd late Manx Shearwater.
Managed to dip the Whites Thrush in Cot Valley(as did everybody else except the finder),no surprise there as they're are real skulkers.
A trip down to The Lizard on friday was worthwhile with a Yellow Browed Warbler around the car park and excellent views of the Paddyfield Warbler,first one I've seen for at least 20 years,should be some of my pics of the bird when Ian has the time to post them on the site.
To make the trip complete several pasties washed down with the odd pint of St,Austells Tribute bitteralmost as good as Holts bitter,but nearly twice the price !!

-- Edited by pete berry on Wednesday 17th of October 2012 11:00:56 PM

16/10/2012 - Big day around the Falmouth area (78 species seen):

Swanvale NR area -
1 Yellow-browed Warbler - still present though elusive
2 Firecrest
1 Water Rail
1 Green Woodpecker - in the cemetery

Pendennis Headland -
2 Firecrest
5 Med Gull
1 Common Gull
40+ Gannet
1 Common Scoter
2 Kittiwakes

Falmouth Golf Course -
1 Lesser Redpoll - flyover, scarce in the Falmouth area
1 Blackcap
2 Stonechat
1 Swallow

Stithians Reservoir -
1 Marsh Tit
1 Reed Bunting
1 Teal
7 Wigeon
8 Lapwing - south of Golden Lion pub
1 Raven

Devoran -
1 Whimbrel
5 Greenshank
4 Bar-tailed Godwit
10+ Black-tailed Godwit
30+ Wigeon
7 Teal
1 Kingfisher

5th October.

Morning visit to Porthgwarra with Henry Cook:

1 Firecrest
1 Yellow-browed Warbler
1 Sparrowhawk
1 Kestrel
6 Siskins
1 Greenshank
3 Balearic Shearwaters
3 Sooty Shearwaters
1 Arctic Skua

With the rain setting in, we made the dash over to nearby RSPB Marazion when news broke and we were treated to the amazing sight for the UK of SEVEN Red-rumped Swallows feeding over the reserve and beach together.


-- Edited by Phil Owen on Saturday 6th of October 2012 07:37:27 PM

Not really that bothered John,seen hundreds abroad,and as I'm not interested in my British list these days it doesn't really matter if it gets accepted or not.
Update of last few days,
4 Pecs together at Drift(a flock?),also Greenshank,Spotted Red,Ruff,Common Sands and Arctic Terns there
Yesterday a Buff Breasted Sand at Hayle,also several Curlew Sands,but managed to dip the Bairds again!!
And today 2 Buff Breasts 15 mins walk from where I'm staying.
Seawatching tailed off due to thick fog the last couple days but managed a few more Great Shearwaters,and good nos. of Sooties and Balearic Shearwaters before it closed in.

Pity you couldn't have stayed a bit longer John,We've had a MADEIRAN STORM PETREL this afternoon at Pendeen,first picked up by Martin Elliot and seen by everyone there including 2 other Mancy birders,Paul Wren and Geoff Lightfoot(although Geoff still thinks Cheadle is in Cheshire !!)
Other birds seen since I arrived Saturday
Numbers of Great Shears each day,
several hundred Sooties
30 + Balearics
3000 + Manxies
10+ Stormies
2 Poms
12 Arctic Skuas
10+ Bonxies
And when not seawatching
Black Kite
Pec Sand
several Little Stints
Several Curlew Sands
Spotted Red
Knot
Dunlins
Little Egrets
Med Gulls(inc a few juvs)
Chough
Peregrine
Raven
etc.etc etc
And a couple of Pasties and the odd pint of St.Austells tasty Trewelyne Bitter(almost as good as Holts,but considerably dearer)

Cheers Henry!

Hi, does anybody know a good spot for birding in Cornwall near to Newquay. I'm going down with the family, but should have a bit of time early morning to go somewhere.
Many thanks,
Joe

Yes Henry I was quite happy with the Great Shearwater - found it myself and confirmed by the Leeds birders and others present - one of 3 lifers for me today - the others being Sooty Shearwater and Storm Petrel

In Cornwall today I too visited Gwennap Head at Porthgwarra and found Common Scoter (1), Shag (several about), Manx Shearwater (minimum 10), Raven (3), Sooty Shearwater (1), Storm Petrel (minimum 8), Great Skua (1), Great Shearwater (1) and numerous Kittiwake, Fulmar and Gannet. Very windy on that exposed headland for 5 hours but good fun with assembled crowd of birders. Not such an extensive list as yours Pete but I was very happy thanks to yourself and before I came down to Cornwall to Henry C for the tips.

-- Edited by sid ashton on Wednesday 19th of August 2009 09:41:18 PM