| Summer can be quiet for diversity but plenty of breeding birds off the water and in the reeds. Several pairs of Great-crested Grebe and Coot breed as do occasional Little Grebe and Tufted Duck. Autumn brings the majority of rare bird records and scarcities. There is a great chance of finding a first for the county or even country here (see above-right for a recent list of mega's) The SW Lake's Trust manages the area for watersports as well as wildlife so certain times are to be avoided as disturbance can frighten many birds away. Weekends can get very busy on the water but early mornings may mean you miss these dudes on the water! A link to the SW Lake's Trust leaflet can be found 'Here' A lenghty walk of over 7km will take you around the whole reservoir so a whole morning or afternoon is required to take your time and take in the most from this great spot. Perhaps starting and finishing your walk off at the Golden Lion Pub at the north-western end of the lake would be a clever move with Cornish ales and home-made food aplenty on offer. The 3 best viewpoints to the reservoir are from the southern causeway (but be careful of traffic), the northern causeway and from the dam car park. |
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| Welcome to the autumn article covering Falmouth, Stithians, Maenporth, St.Mawes, and any other good birding spots within a 6 mile radius of Falmouth. Hope you find it interesting but please e-mail me if you have any advice etc. Thanks. |
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| August 2007- Stithian's Res. Special, Rarity round-up for May-July and events in August, Sept + Oct. |
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| Stithians Reservoir Special - A lovely site with national importance for turning up rarities and a good breeding avifauna. Stithians Reservoir is located about 5 miles north-west from Falmouth as the crow flies at Grid Ref - SW7136. The number of rare birds which turns up here is quite amazing with something of note annually. Mega's to be found here in the recent past include Black Duck(02), Baird's Sandpiper(04), Black Kite(05), Laughing Gull(05), and most recently Wilson's Phalarope(06). 2 Pectoral Sandpipers were here together (06) and Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Scarce migrants such as Garganey and Little Stint may be found with luck in the autumn, when other migrant birds including Whinchat, Green Sandpiper, and Greenshank. The surrounding land consists of mainly lowland heath and farmland. Birds to be found here can include Raven, Peregrine, Sparrowhawk, Merlin, Golden Plover, Stonechat, Cuckoo and Lesser Whitethroat at the expected times of year. Winter is a good time for a visit as bird numbers will be high. Golden Plovers can be present in 1000's in harsh winter which attract regular Merlin, and Peregrine. Duck numbers are at their highest in the winter with good numbers of Mallard with often many less common species, such as Gadwall, Shoveler, Tufted Duck etc. The earliest spring migrants to appear at Sthithians are Sand Martins and you may bag several of this species passing north to breeding grounds as early as early March! Migrant warblers soon follow on with Chiffchaffs, Williw Warblers and Blackcaps passing through. Rarer migrants to pass through include Lesser Whitethroat, Cuckoo (which both breed in the area), and possible Spotted+Pied Flycatchers and Whinchats. Swifts are one of the last migrants to pass through, in May quite often, their screeming noise and aerodynamic flight good indicators of their prescence. |
| Buzzard - Stithians Reservoir (03/10/2006) |
| Red-necked Grebe - Stithians Reservoir (25/02/2007) |
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Rarity round-up for May, June and July in Falmouth - A quiet few months but with several scarcities present at several locations. An influx of 171 Storm Petrels stole the show, seen from gyllyngavse on 21st June after prolonged southerly winds and an Arctic Skua was seen from Pennance Point on the 2nd July.. A Little Owl was briefly at the Tremough Campus (Penryn) with Green Woodpecker throughout the period. A Garden Warbler was singing in May from College Reservoir but went silent after a short while when a mate probably didnt turn up, shame! Marsh Tits successfully bred in the woods here raising at least 1 juvenile. 2 Scaup were present at Sthithians Reservoir until late May and were preceeded by a Garganey for a few days. Argal Reservoir - 1 Sedge Warbler was around the northern shore on the 3rd May. Good numbers of Swifts, Swallows and House Martins passed through on northerly migration in May. College Reservoir - The Garden Warbler was the highlight early on in May. Throughout June 2 Kingfishers showed well along the banks. Otherwise quite quiet apart from the breeding Marsh Tits and breeding birds on the water. Kennal Vale - A pair of Dippers were breeding along this famous stretch of river during June onwards. No Spotted Flycatchers were present though. Stithians Reservoir - A pair of Great-crested Grebes raised at least 2 young to maturity. 2 Cuckoos were present on 23rd May with Sedge Warblers, Skylarks and Linnets present. 2+ Pair of Lesser Whitethroats raised young. Swanpool + Pennance Point - Apart from the good seawatching in mid June there was a late staying Great-northern Diver till 4th May. Migrants through included 4+Sandwich Tern (4th May), 2 Whimbrel and a Cuckoo. A Reed Warbler was heard once from the Reedbed at Swanpool (22nd June) while Sedge Warbler were more regular with a minimum of 2 pairs present. 1 Pair of Tufted Ducks remained throughout June. Med Gulls had returned by mid June along Swanpool beach and nearby coastline with 3+ present from 9th July. 4 Pairs of Fulmar were on the cliffs throughout the period. Other sightings - A late Sand Martin passed through at Penryn Wharf on 13th June. |
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Events around Falmouth - For more events outside the area of Falmouth please visit the CBWPS and CWT websites which can be found on the 'links' page. |
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