 |
 |
| November 2006 Archive |
| 1st, November 2006 The wildfowl flock had built up quite a lot this morning at College Reservoir - Including 2 Gadwall and a female Shoveler (best viewed from the southern shore). No sign though of 8 whooper swans reported on the 29th? It felt well and truly like the summer was over with the arrival of 4 Redwings at Argal and many tit flocks; some containing Goldcrests but nothing rarer. A flock of 7 Lapwings flew over College and then at Argal a flock of 10 Curlew wandered slowly over my head. Viz-Mig was abundant with clear skies and at least 25 Skylarks and similar numbers of Meadow Pipits passed west. Plenty of Buzzards around this morning often flying over and calling. Local Bird News - Falmouth - 1 Med Gull + Water Rail - Swanpool |
 |
| 2nd, November 2006 College Reservoir continues to provide lots of interest with 2 Teal and 8 Pochard turning up this afternoon on the sun-lit lake. A Mute Swan showed really well out of the 10+ Swans on the lake and I spent a little time trying to get a good Long-tailed Tit photo (but failed!). Amongst the wildfowl also were a Little Grebe, 2 Gadwall and upto 50 Wigeon, 30 Tufted Ducks and 80 Coots! I then popped next door to Argal Reservoir and was delighted to see a Great Crested Grebe on the water; my first at this site. Local Bird News - Penryn - 1 Firecrest (this morning - 8.45am) |
|
| 3rd, November 2006 College Reservoir was still interesting late afternoon with Teals nearing 10 and at least 10 Pochards mingling with the 50+ Tufted Ducks. Good numbers of Cormorants (8) were going to roost in overhanging amongst a few Grey Herons in trees visable from the southern shoreline and a pair of Mute Swans continued to show really well allowing for a photo. No sign of the Great Crested Grebe though across the road at Argal Reservoir. |
|
| 4th, November 2006 A slight let up in the workload meant I could get out for the afternoon and decided to pop down to Swanpool. I quickly found an adult Med Gull on the sea, and a wader roost just south of Swanpool containing a Little Egret, 2 Turnstone, a Redshank and 12 Oystercatchers. Along the Coastal path here I saw a Rock Pipit and heard a Brambling in a hedgerow but couldnt see it - it was easily distinguishable by its wheezy tone. On Swanpool itsefl there were at least 20 Tufted Ducks with the more common Mallards and Coots, and a juv Moorhen here, half way up a reed stem made me look twice just to check it wasnt a night heron! A Water Rail called but not suprisingly hid amongst the reeds. |
|
| 5th, November 2006 College Reservoir was a busy place birdwise with the woodland providing interest unusually, not just the lake. Amongst a tit flock I came across a louder bird with a harsh tone - Willow Tit! Then on the lake there was the argal Great Crested Grebe which had obviously just flown over the road, and unusually with a Shag. Duck numbers were slightly down but plenty of species showed with 1 Teal, 4 Gadwalls, 8 Mallards, c16 Pochards, c35 Tufted Ducks, c50 Wigeon and over 70 Coots, not bad at all, also, not doing a very good job of hiding amongst them was a Lesser Black-backed Gull. Of note also was an American Wigeon hybrid, sadly not pure. |
|
| 7th, November 2006 2 Ring-necked Ducks on College this afternoon (presumeably from Porth Reservoir near Newquay). Both fems; they had a different profile to the tufted's, looking a bit more chunky with dark caps and obvious white bases to the bill plus a trailing eye stripe. Thanks Nick for finding them, and phoning me an hour before a tutorial (it was worth being late for)!! Click here for pictures |
|
| 9th, November 2006 Torn as to go for a possible Yellow-browed Warbler in Falmouth or better views of the 2 female Ring-necked Ducks, taken at my own pace today, led me down to College Reservoir. The ducks didnt show very well to be honest but I got a better photo today. Other photogenic birds included Magpie, Mute Swan (bit of bread does the trick) and a flyover Lapwing flock numbering 47 birds! There is an overwintering chiffchaff in the woodland somewhere, I haven't seen it yet but the call is distinctive. Lovely weather made it a pleasant walk this afternoon. Local Bird News - Falmouth - Yellow-browed Warbler (in willows with a tit flock) Stithians Reservoir - 1 Scaup and 1 Goldeneye (from southern end) |
|
| 13th, November 2006 Local Bird News - Argal Reservoir - Firecrest - Male in trees by permit building near car park. |
|
| 11th, November 2006 Local Bird News - Tremough Campus - Common Yellowthroat - 1w Male on 23rd October flew into window killing itself, what a tradgedy! |
|
| 16th, November 2006 I nipped down to College briefly today and was greeted by the Ring-necked Ducks (2 fems) almost to be expected now with a Ruddy Duck. A Med Gull (ad winter) and Kestrel at Argal were unexpected and finished off a decent hour spent birding. (made up for missing the murrelet!) Local Bird News - Falmouth - Yellow-browed Warbler (again, near the northern end of Swanpool) |
|
| 18th, November 2006 A long bike ride to Restonguet Wier near Mylor Bridge this afternoon was a rewarding decision. It took me half an hour to find what had tempted me out here to the western side of the Carrick Roads, but about half a mile away on the eastern shore I spotted some tiny grebes in amongst 3 Red-breasted Merganser and 2 Razorbill. The grebes were of the slavonian/black-necked variety and after a while a few drifted over giving slightly better views. I noted a steep forehead profile - Black-necked Grebes (Lifer also bringing my yearlist upto 196 - not far off my 200 target!) Local Bird News - College Reservoir - 2 Ring-necked Ducks (fems) still. |
|
| 19th, November 2006 Just a quick visit this afternoon to my local patch amongst a building workload back at uni. Highlights at College Reservoir were a showy Marsh Tit and Goldcrest. Both Ring-necked Ducks were still around although distant. I got a photo of the marsh tit which will hopefully appear on the site soon enough. Argal was quiet, with the water levels still pretty low it is not attracting many ducks with just 1 Great-crested Grebe and 4 Mallard! (im not taking the grebe for granted though, it is an Argal rarity!) |
|
| 22nd, November 2006 College Reservoir was alive as ever with the calls of Whistling Wigeon and Grunting Coots, but the 2 Ring-necked Ducks (fems) once again stole the show. They are pretty easy to pick out even at distance, as they always stay quite close together (mother-daughter?!). Good numbers of Cormorant were present in trees on the island totalling about 7 and a Great Black-backed Gull was present amongst the gulls coming in to roost for the night. |
|
| 23rd, November 2006 I decided upon a twitch today, to Exmouth in Devon, but sadly the Falcated Duck nor the Cattle Egret showed to my eyes. At Exmouth whilst searching for the Falcated Duck there were hundreds (c500) of Wigeon in a gutter with plenty (c150) Pintail and 2 Grey Plover in amongst them and Brent Geese (dark bellied) in the distance by the waters edge. A Med Gull (1w) showed well. The tide had retreated so that the channel of the Exe was very distant and I think a high tide visit for the rare asian 1st winter drake Falacted Duck would prove better. Onto the Otter Estuary hoping for the Cattle Egret which has been present for weeks (I assumed therefore it was a 'dead cert'!) but to play tricks there were a couple of Little Egrets in a field with cattle. Whilst searching I got an amazing view of a Kestrel which hovered above my head long enough for a decent photo (highlight of the day). Also here were 2 calling Water Rails and a Reed Bunting along the estuary, with plenty of Blackbirds in the adjacent hedgerows to the estuary taking full advatage of the mass of hawthorn berries. No new lifers but thats not what birding is always about and it was a enjoyable trip. (p.s. I might go again at the weekend!) |
|
| 24th, November 2006 Local Bird News - Swanpool - 1 Little Gull, 780+ Kittiwakes and 8 Black-throated Divers (In strong southerly winds this morning) |
|
| 25th, November 2006 An afternoon visit to College was rewarded with my best views so far of the 2 Ring-necked Ducks, still to far for a decent photo but easier to recognise at this close distance. Other birds in the area included a fly-over Curlew and 2 Jays + a Great-spotted Woodpecker in the woodland on the southern side of the reservoir. Tomorrow and monday looks good for seawatching so check for reports from pennance point and rosemullion head. |
|
| 28th, November 2006 Local Bird News - Swanpool - 1 Med Gull at Swanpool + 1 Black Redstart on Hillside Road on roof of shed in MOD fuel depot, dont go trespassing there! |
|
| 29th, November 2006 Local Bird News - Swanpool - 3 Med Gulls flew past yacht marina College Res. - 2 Ring-necked Ducks (fems) still present. Penryn Locality - 4 Woodlark (I dont know where yet but will ask around) |
|
| 30th, November 2006 A few hours at Pennance Point and Swanpool was blustery but that was good as the seabirds were fairly close in. Once i'd found a good spot to view from, the Gannets and Kittiwakes became easy to Pick out. Sadly in 2 hours there wasnt much else apart from 2 local Med Gulls (2w in photo +adult), a Razorbill and a Fulmar. On Swanpool itself there was a gorgeous drake Shoveler feeding at the NW end with Coots etc. |
|