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| March 2007 Archive |
| 1st, March 2007 Local Bird News - Stithians Res. - Red-necked Grebe (southern end still) Swanpool Bay - Slavonian Grebe |
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| 3rd, March 2007 I went to Hayle this afternoon, it was sooo sunny for a change but I couldn't stroll as the target was a Franklin's Gull. Unfortuately I was told it had flown off a mere half an hour ago (that's taught me about having lie-ins in future!) The bird didnt reappear all afternoon desipte extensive searching of local fields where it had flown to in previous days. However, there was plenty else on offer and I jammed in on the Central Asian Lesser Whitethroat (still a subspecies?) whilst peering into a front garden. It shared a bird feeder with a Blackcap at one point (strange!) The estuary was crammed with loads of lovely birds to make up for the missing Franklin's Gull, with a Razorbill, Shag, Spotted Redshank, 2 Greenshank, Kont, Dunlins, 20+ Bar-tailed Godwits, Oystercatchers, Curlews, Redshanks, 2 ad Med Gulls, c100 Lesser Black-backed Gulls amongst a large list of species on view just from Lelant train station. This is fast becoming my favourite place to birdwatch in the whole of Cornwall. Local Bird News - Stithians Res. - Red-necked Grebe (southern end still) |
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| 6th, March 2007 Local Bird News - Falmouth - 1 Med Gull (flew down river at dawn) Stithians Res. - Red-necked Grebe (southern end still) |
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| 7th, March 2007 On a short wander along the route I took on the 14th Feb from Penryn towards flushing. The tide was fully out and the waders were pretty spread out. Highlight was a single Greenshank amongst just 4 Redshanks, a single Curlew, 3 Little Egrets and in the channel were 3 Red-breasted Mergansers and a Little Grebe. A field adjacent to the path held a Greylag Goose, feral but a Falmouth tick none-the-less. A cemetary along the route was bursting with birds among the mature yew trees. I picked up Goldcrest, Chiffchaff, 4 Goldfinch, 6 Greenfinch, 2 Long-tailed Tits and the usual crowd. It looks great for Hawfinch but there wasnt sight nor sound of any today. Local Bird News - Falmouth - 2 Slavonian Grebe and 8 Black-throated Divers Stithians Res. - Red-necked Grebe, 5 Scaup + 2 Goldeneye |
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| 9th, March 2007 College Reservoir never disappoints at the moment and today was exceptional with a Ring-necked Duck (female) out on the water with upto 20 Tufted Duck. This bird shows a very strong whitish eye-ring and line going back a bit like the 'bridled' variety of Guillemot. A Gorgeous day allowed me to take my time and just enjoy all the birds on offer. There were also 3 Goosander, 3 Goldeneye, 1 Little Grebe, 1 G.S.Woodpecker, 1 Nuthatch, 3+Goldcrests, 2 L.T.Tits, 3 Buzzards, 2 Raven and just 20 Wigeon and 15 Coots, although Greater Canada Geese numbers were upto c16 but these represent local feral birds. Just a shame there were no early migrants around today like Sand Martins but there's still one week before I leave the S.W. for a little while! C150 Herring Gulls were the equivalent, flying overhead constantly. I love days like these, takes all the troubles away, rite, I sounds like a manic depressant talking, I better shut-up |
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| 10th, March 2007 We went, and we nailed the Dusky Warbler, it did come close at one point! This elusive little siberian type warbler is pretty rare in the Uk with only one or two birds per year but happy I was. Next stop Radde's Warbler at College Res.! Whilst there me and my birding friend decided not to do the usual twitchy, insulting thing, and bugger off after peering into gardens for hours. So on we went, to West Pentire Point, west of Newquay on an expedition which would knacker our knees in hope of seeing the locallised and declining Corn Bunting. 5+ Miles later and no luck, we tried out best, sorry. Fulmars (2) showed really well along the cliffs on the way, coupled with Skylarks and Linnets singing and the more common birds making their prescence heard (like Dunnocks), it was a very enjoyable spring-like walk. I heard a possible martin but sadly the beast wouldn't show. Tomorrow Cornwall! |
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| 11th, March 2007 A couple of mates came down from Conwy for the birding extravaganza which is Cornwall at the moment. Having put in many hours catching up with all the stuff on offer by rail and bus I only had one real target bird... We'll get to that later. For today as we saw so much it's sadly just a summary. Started at College Reservoir - 1 (fem) Ring-necked Duck, 1 (ad) Med Gull, 1 Yellow-legged Gull (cheers Mike!), 2 Goldeneye, 1 Chiffchaff etc. Onto Hayle - 1 White-billed Diver, 1 Spotted Sandpiper (juv), 2 Med Gulls, 1 Sparrowhawk, 1 Buzzard, Redshanks and the usual (which is pretty good but I must press on). Penzance - 6+ Great Northern Divers, 2 Purple Sandpipers, 1 Chiffchaff (no sign of the Pacific Diver in rough conditions offshore). Drift Reservoir - 1 Iceland Gull (juv). Mousehole - 1 (1st winter) American Herring Gull, 2 Great Northern Diver. Stithians Reservoir - 1 Red-necked Grebe, 1 Great Crested Grebe, 4 Sand Martins (1st falmouth migrants!). After a packed day only dipping the Lesser Whitethroat and Yellow-browed Warbler we headed to Stepper Point before dusk. This was the place where a bird i've almost dreamt about has been around for several weeks but showing only briefly at dawn and dusk. (I say almost dreamt about because I want to but cant force myself!) - The magnificent Gyr Falcan. My birding friends had missed it in the morning before meeting me at College however, as it was not around the usual quarry roosting site.... and so we missed it again that eveing (read on...) |
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| 12th, March 2007 A final chance for the Gyr falcon started at 4.30am travelling the hour's drive to Padstow. We arrived in slight rain and waited patiently at the quarry. Personally I was sooo nervous but wasn't expectant as it hadn't roosted in the quarry the previous night. 2 hours passed, the sky became light and there was no sign. Several birders departed. We remained. Scanning of more distant areas begun. Then a birder (with a pretty keen-eye!) spotted something large and white on the opposite side of the camel in fields near Polzeath. We watched and scanned, then it moved (It wasn't therefore a tesco carrier bag! Success!) My heart was seriously pumping and made looking through bins very tricky (stupid me, was too lazy to bring the scope along) - Wow, white morph Gyr. I borrowed quick views from other scopes and was completely satisfied with this enigmatic raptor, Lifer. Much larger than our 'common' Peregrine and it also dwarfed local Carrion Crows on the Ground. Whilst watching the bird it took flight and chased after Herring Gulls, a Pheasant and Rabbits. Amazing to watch. After happily watching it for over 40 minutes we left and headed towads the nearby Walmsley Sanctuary. It was rather quiet here but there was a Spoonbill to brighten things up with summer plumes visable on it's head even whilst it roosted. 4 more Sand Martins were a welcome sight along with c50 Golden Plover (flyovers), 6+ Shoveler, 2 Chiffchaff (singing), 1 Reed Bunting, 1 Great-spotted Woodpecker (drumming). A great way to finish off a few top quality days birding - Cornwall's flippin great! Local Bird News - Swanpool - 2 Yellow-browed Warbler, 1 Firecrest. |
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| 16th, March 2007 My last trip out before over a months worth of holidays! I will however, endevour to keep posting local bird records. I walked down to College Reservoir in hope of some early summer migrants but conversely I was amazed to find two white-winged gulls!! One was a definate Iceland Gull (1st/2nd winter) and the other was larger, had brown-barred under-tail coverts and a larger head and bill - Glaucous Gull. Worth the walk I reckon. Those two beauties coupled with the Ring-necked Duck (fem) still present, a Greylag Goose with the Canada Geese (new patch tick) and Treecreeper (1st one i've seen in ages down here) made my day, and has given me the strength for a 6 hour train journey back home tonight! Local Bird News - Swanpool - 1 Black Redstart (near Priselow fields in the morning) |
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| 17th, March 2007 Local Bird News - Swanpool - Iceland Gull (on lake, probably same bird as at College Res. yesterday) + Great Northern Diver offshore. College Reservoir - Ring-necked Duck (still present) + Glaucous Gull (juv). |
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| 22nd, March 2007 Local Bird News - Stithians Reservoir - 1 Red-necked Grebe (still present from the southern end) |
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| 23rd, March 2007 Local Bird News - Swanpool - Yellow-browed Warbler (up Swanvale in willows) |
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| 25th, March 2007 Local Bird News - College Reservoir - Ring-necked Duck (fem) still. Stithians Reservoir - 2 Red-necked Grebes, 1 Goosander. |
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| 27th, March 2007 Local Bird News - Stithians Reservoir - 1 Ring-necked Duck (fem), 2 Red-necked Grebes. Gerrans Bay - 48 Black-throated Divers, 3 Red-necked Grebes, 3 Slavonian Grebes |
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