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| Heading up Swanvale which is just a short walk away you have a great chance of picking up your first Firecrest, Coal Tit, Blackcap, and Chiffchaff of the year. Both will be in firs and sallows flanking the lake. Although rare and less than annual at this site, Yellow-Browed Warbler is a possibility here. Before moving on give the lake at Swanpool a scan which should reveal a selection of gulls quite possibly including an Iceland or Glaucous Gull and don't rule out the possibility of something rarer still! The cemetary up the hill is one of the best spots in the Falmouth area for Nuthatch and Treecreeper although both are still tricky. Now you have some great species on the yearlist already and a healthy day list building it is time to move off and try plenty more spots in order to add some tricky to see species. Stithians Reservoir is a must during the day and morning is a good time to visit here whilst activity is still high. Arriving in the main hide check the feeders for Marsh Tit, Long-tailed Tit and common garden birds which put on great views so close to the hide. On the water there should be some of the following species many of which are well worth seeing, being colourful enigmatic ducks. Goldeneye, Goosander, Shoveler, Gadwall, Pochard, Tufted Duck and the possibility of a Scaup or Ring-necked Duck. It is worth remembering if after scanning not many ducks are present that College and Argal Reservoirs can hold all these species too. These two lakes are located near Penryn and make for a nice walk with its own Marsh Tits too. Buzzard, Snipe, Bullfinch, Redwing, Fieldfare, and Raven are regularly seen back at Stithians whilst Merlin, Golden Plover, Bittern and Little Egret are not guarenteed but seen with luck here. With time pressing on the schedule now it is time to add more tricky species. Kennal Vale is a wooded valley with a fast flowing river through it and has a resident pair of Dippers throughout the year. Grey Wagtail and Kingfisher may also be seen here with Yellowhammers present in the farmland just south of the valley. |
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| Welcome to the first article for 2009 covering Falmouth, Stithians, Maenporth, St.Mawes, and any other good birding spots within a 6 mile radius of Falmouth. Hope you find it interesting! |
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| 2009, The new year - Tips and hotspots for getting going on that Falmouth yearlist. |
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| As the clock heralds the new year many birders yearn and dream to get out into the field. It's just a new day, like any other day, but it gives many birders a chance to start a new year list. There is something about the list which gives birding extra invigoration and when heading out on the 1st Jan every bird is practically new for the list. Such an excitement often sees people heading out for most of the daylight hours in an attempt to see as many species as possible in the little amount of time available. This article will deal with the best spots to visit in the first few days of Jan for seeing lots of interesting species for your new year-list, and if very lucky some may be completely new birds for you. The first spot to visit if the early morning light hasn't put in an appearance yet would be a decent stand of woodland to hear your first Tawny Owl. Known sites fir this species around Falmouth include the old cemetary next to Swanpool, and the Tremough Campus up from Penryn. With bird number 1 firmly at the top of the list why not head into Falmouth itself and park up just south of the town at Swanpool bay. The lake will likely give up a Water Rail by the seaward end reeds: Little Grebes at the edges of reeds and listen for a strange 'explosion' of sound and notes. This is the characteristic song of the Cetti's Warbler and is a rare bird in the Falmouth area! Save the walk up Swanvale for when the sun is higher in the sky in order to search through the little brown jobs which inhabitat the swamp! Crossing over the road towards the beach a scan here should reveal Med Gulls galore and a few waders including Oystercatcher, Curlew, Ringed Plover, and perhaps a Sanderling if lucky. Stonechat and Meadow Pipit probe the strand line here. Walking southwards to Pennance Point accessed off the coastal footpath will give you a good vantage point over the Falmouth Bay. Key birds to look for here are seabirds, seasucks, grebes and divers. This is one of the best places in the UK to see Black-throated Divers with lesser numbers of Great Northern Divers. Added to this, Slavonian Grebe, Red-necked Grebe, Guillemot, Razorbill, Gannet, Fulmar, Shag, Rock Pipit and possible Kittiwake and Black Guillemot will make this a worthwhile stop during the day. |
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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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| To round off a blistering day of birding at a frantic pace if using public transport or relaxed enjoyment if using a car it is time to add a few more species not yet seen which are easily visible in the Falmouth area. Viewing the Penryn River from the north shore and from the fish quay can provide views of Green Woodpecker and Siskin at the former and Redshank, Knot, Turnstone, and Greenshank. It will be getting more tricky to add species at this stage of the day but there are a few to be seen with a couple more visits to certain spots. Mylor creek could produce sightings of Shelduck, Meadow Pipit, and Skylark in the surrounding farmland. Whilst not a high tally stop it is on the way to the last site for a dusk spectacle! Weir Point near Mylor Bridge is one of the best spots to view from, along the coast path here. Set up your scope and have a lenghty scan of the waters of the Carrick Roads. It is often calm in this huge but protected bay and keep an eye out for up to 20 Black-necked Grebes, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Scoter, Velvet Scoter, and Eider Duck. The loud burst of a calling Pheasant will often greet the ears here as a last addition for the day. |
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| The last stop can be quiet or brilliant as you scan the waters of the Carrick Roads, it is awfully dependant on the swell and wind. At the end of this tiring but eventful day of birding you could well have over 80 or 90 species on the list. But if you break the magic 100 in the Falmouth area i'd really like to know so drop me an e-mail to my address which can be found on the contacts page. Before setting off on the day race check out this website for news on any unusual species for the area which you might well be able to bump into on the race. It is a great way to kick off your yearlist and see some special birds either for the first time or again to reaffirm your knowledge of the species. After writing this article one thing is for certain and that's the fact that the Falmouth area can have some of the best winter birding in the whole of the UK! |
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| Water Rail |
| Med Gull |
| Gannet |
| Iceland Gull |
| Marsh Tit |
| Little Egret |
| Greenshank |
| Black-necked Grebe |
| Birding round-up for October, November and December in Falmouth - Traditionally one of the best times of year for rarities and the Falmouth area didn't disappoint. The highlight of the whole month was a Cattle Egret at Stithians on 10th Oct and again on 19th Dec (same bird?). A Hoopoe was seen at Treverva briefly. Gerran's Bay showed us it shouldn't be ignored at this time of year with a Surf Scoter being found amongst other goodies on 28th Oct. Firecrests returned to winter in good numbers with perhaps as many as 20 in sites around Falmouth including Maenporth, Swanpool, Stithians and College Res. Maenporth had a brief Yellow-Browed Warbler on 9th Nov. Finally, Feock had 2 Velvet Scoters with the usual Black-necked Grebes. College Reservoir - A drake Scaup was on the water on 3rd Dec and 2 Water Rails. 3+ Marsh Tits were easily visible throughout. 16 Siskins moved through the woods in Oct. 4 Firecrests were in the woodlands from early Nov. Devoran - An Osprey spent first half of October fishing the creek and a whopping 33 Brent Geese called in on the 3rd of the same month, both great birds for Falmouth. Falmouth - The coast held 7 Med Gulls, 2 Ringed Plover, 2 Little Egret and Firecrests at Swanpool. A Cetti's Warbler was reported on 9th Nov at Swanpool, a good record here. Gerran's Bay - The Surf Scoter was in the bay from late Oct with 1 Long-tailed Duck, 6 G.N.Divers, 5 Black-throated Divers, 1 Red-necked Grebe and 1 Slavonian Grebe. A Black Guillemot was present on 22nd Dec. Stithians Reservoir - The Cattle Egret stole the raritiy headlines but with good coverage, other good birds here during the few months included 1 Slavonian Grebe, 2 Whooper Swans, 2 Pintails, 1 Merlin, 1 Water Rail. 300+ Golden Plovers, 60 Snipe, 1 Woodcock, 1 Green Sandpiper, 5 Med Gulls, 2 Barn Owls, 2 Marsh Tits, |
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