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| Back to rarities and in mid April during an unprecedented influx of this species into England, 17 Glossy Ibises were seen flying over the Helford River just out of the Falmouth area but surely flew right over the area on their way north to Slimbridge where they were soon relocated. June, and strong winds brought in a huge count of 171 Storm Petrels into Falmouth Bay. Seawatching in July also produced some more stormies and an Arctic Skua past Pennance Point near Swanpool. August was predictably quiet with little coverage and consequently few records from the area but the Med Gulls at Swanpool entertained throughout the period. Into September and the action kicked off as hoped for. A majestic Osprey fished the Penryn river on its way south for the winter half way through the month. A Merlin at College Reservoir was unexpected but with the autumn migration underway anything was to be expected. A Wood Sandpiper at Stithians Reservoir showed well for months at this good site for the species. A Little Gull turned up on the same day roosting on the Penryn River that evening. Late October and a report of 8 Spoonbills flying over Gyllyngvase Beach set the pulses raising but impressively were relocated near Plymouth just the day after! And so began the autumn of the Firecrest. The first of the bumper crop was found over on St Mawes on the Roseland Peninsula during a massive influx of Siskins. More and more were found in the following months with a high of 4 at College Reservoir and a remaining bird up Swanvale into December. The first cold snap of the autumn (oct) brought in upto 3 Water Rail at College Rservoir away from the usual site of Swanpool and another bird in reeds along the Penryn River. Hopes for a Spotted Crake fell quiet but a bird was found at the more regular site of Marazion Marsh, out of the Falmouth area but a Woodcock at College Res was nice even though it tried to kill the author of this article! A redhead Smew at Stithians Reservoir was a great late Autumn record in November but didn't stay very long at all, soon to be replaced by a Whooper Swan! |
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| Welcome to the winter 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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| Winter 2007- The years round-up around Falmouth and predictions for 2008. |
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| 2007 Yearly Round-up - A year of highs and lows (mainly highs though!) has seen loads of rare birds in the area, some showing well for lots of people and a few mouth-watering records evading the sights of most and passing right overhead to disappear and not be seen again. Not just focusing on the rarities however, there have been some great breeding records of scarce and common birds. This section will cover some of the amazing, some heartstopping moments when rare birds have been found in the area this year and interesting migrants and breeders. Ring-necked Ducks dominated in the first couple of months with 2 females present a lot of the time at College Reservoir just NW of Falmouth. This American duck has been seen here for the last 3 winters but possibly represent returning birds. Wintering birds remained in the area from the previous year. 5 Woodlarks were present in farmland south of Argal Res (SW775315), a decent sized flock at a traditional site. 12+ Black-necked Grebes wintered at the top end of the Carrick Roads. Feb and March saw an arrival of rare gulls into the area with a Glaucous Gull (juv) soon followed by a Ring-billed Gull (1w) both at College Reservoir. 2 Iceland Gulls and another Glaucous completed the gull show at College Reservoir in March seen at midday when the gulls come in to wash. One of the Icelands was relocated to Swanpool but didn't stay long. Also here at Swanpool was scatty reports of 2 wintering Yellow-browed Warblers but were never easy to see. A few Red-necked Grebes graced the area towards the end of Feb at Carrick Roads, Gerrans Bay, Swanpool and two at Stithians, one which remained just into April and attained gorgeous breeding plumage. Breeding birds from April onwards included Cuckoo at Stithians where Skylark, Lesser Whitethroat and Great Crested Grebe were also successful. Green Woodpecker was present throughout at the Tremough Campus and Sedge Warblers returned to Swanpool. A drake Garganey dropped in at Stithians on its way north to breed in May with scattered Whimbrel on the coast at times. 2 Scaup at Stithians were late records but a female at College Res only stayed briefly back in Feb so it was a good opportunity to see this species. Marsh Tit were successful at College Res but went pretty quiet during the summer time. An early Kingfisher back at College Res in June was prehpas a sign of failed breeding due to excessive rains. |
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Events around Falmouth in the coming months - For more events outside the area of Falmouth please visit the CBWPS and CWT websites which can be found on the 'links' page. For more info feel free to e-mail me at henerz1 (AT) yahoo.co.uk (substitute AT for @ though and no spaces in the address). Thanks. |
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| As the year came to a close in November the action was far from over. The Cattle Egret invasion into Cornwall which will remain in the memories of many birders all over the country reached Falmouth with 3 birds involved (at the River Penryn and Carnon Downs) but all were pretty impossible to connect with for the masses. A Mandarin was briefly at Stithians Res (scarce in Cornwall) joined by a presumed wintering Green Sandpiper. In December a Ring-necked Duck was discovered again at College Res but no conclusions have been drawn yet as to whether it's a juv (ie new) or fem (ir probably returning bird). A suprise Swallow was seen over Falmouth docks and perhaps more expected; a few records of Black Redstart around Falmouth town. A Little Auk showed close to shore at Gylly near the year-end but a late, tantalising report of Pacific Diver at Porthscatho in Gerrans Bay will need to be confirmed in the new year!!! |
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| As happens in a lot of Cornwall news of the rare brids can be hard to find out so I thank everyone who has contributed to this website over the last year and hope to see it go from strength-to-strength in the new year and I welcome ideas, news and photos from anyone willing to share. 2007 has seen several rare irruptions of very rare european species into the area (perhaps a response to a warming climate and conditions changed to suit these species), time will only tell if some of these birds stay on to breed and in so doing colonise this great country. What might 2008 bring??? It's always fun to imagine what stuff could turn up in the new year and Falmouth has potential for rare warblers, waders and gulls so my guesses are Greenish Warbler (at College Res.Yes please!), Lesser Yellowlegs (at Stithians Res. Even better!!) and Ross's Gull (at Swanpool. Now I am dreaming!!!) Happy New Year and may it be full of birds. Thanks. |
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| From left to right above are Ring-necked Duck, Iceland Gull and Red-necked Grebe |
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| Cattle Egret |
| Wood Sandpiper |
| Ring-billed Gull |
| Glossy Ibis |
| Firecrest |
| Whimbrel |
| Med Gull |