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| March 2008 Archive |
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| 1st March 2008 Local Bird News - Stithians Res. - 1 CATTLE EGRET (still at the golden lion cut-off), 1 Bittern (still, in southern cut-off) + 1 Willow Warbler (at south end, v.early migrant) |
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| 2nd March 2008 - Norfolk in 24 hrs! I finally broke under the pressure and along with 4 other south-west birders, headed down overnight to Norfolk and more precisely Cley Next-the-sea village. A long 9 hour journey saw me in position an hour before daylight but that wasn't going to stop me birding. Before dawn Barn, Little and Tawny Owl were all on the list with a few ducks and Chaffinch! Dawn brightened the sky and after an hour we were all getting that huge buzz of seeing a new bird. The long-staying WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW flew in for a couple of minutes to a well-set up seeded patch of rough ground. The smart, little Bunting like bird fed before us, that crown pattern unmistakable with streaked back, grey underparts and longish tail all gave it a different feel to the local House Sparrows. Only 8am now and we had the rest of the day to play with. We saw too much to go into detail but here are some of the highlights from a great, sunny winters day on the north Norfolk coast:- ROSS'S GOOSE, BLACK BRANT, Egyptian Goose, c2000 Pink-footed Geese, 3 Shorelark, 3 Lapland Bunting, 3 Snow Buntings, 2 Marsh Harrier, 1 Dartford Warbler, 1 Cetti's Warbler, c50 Avocet, c80 Ruff, 3 Spotted Redshank, Red-legged Partridge, Grey Partridge, Yellowhammer, Brambling and 5+ Bearded Tits. Phwoar! What a place and some of the best winter birding i've ever had. Local Bird News - Pendower (Gerrans Bay) - 1 Red-necked Grebe, 9 G.N.Divers, 7 B.T.Divers, 2 Slavonian Grebes |
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| 3rd March 2008 Local Bird News - Stithians Res. - 1 CATTLE EGRET (still at the golden lion cut-off) |
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| 6th March 2008 Back at the patch (College Res.) this morning it was fairly quiet. Looking for a Firecrest in amongst a zephyr of Long-tailed Tits wasn't successful and the woodland seemed earily quiet. A few Redwings remain in the area but surely not for long now. Out on the water 2 Great Crested Grebes were asleep in lifeless conditions but good weather for scoping. 1 of these birds is in summer plumage so we'll have to see if they stay on the breed (for only the second time on record here!). A Raven flew over and a Grey Wagtail entertained on the concrete brases at Argal Reservoir dam. Not quite the return I was hoping for after several weeks away but good to get back to local birding. Local Bird News - Portscatho - 1 LITTLE BUNTING (at Porth Farm NT, walk back from NT car park for 25 yrds, then take track N for half a mile over stile into stubble field at SW.867.329) Stithians Res. - 1 Ring-billed Gull, 1 Bitterm (still both at southern end) + 1 CATTLE EGRET (still at northern cut-off) |
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| 5th March 2008 Local Bird News - Falmouth - 1 Great Northern Diver (off Swanpool still) Stithians Res. - 1 Bittern (still in southern-cut-off) |
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| 4th March 2008 Local Bird News - Stithians Res. - 1 CATTLE EGRET (still at the golden lion cut-off) |
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| 7th March 2008 Local Bird News - Portscatho - (no sighting of the Little Bunting today) Stithians Res. - 1 Bittern (still at the southern cut-off) |
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| 8th March 2008 Local Bird News - Stithians Res. - 1 CATTLE EGRET (still, in northern cut-off) + 1 Ring-billed Gull (1w at southern end) |
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| 11th March 2008 Local Bird News - Stithians Res. - 1 Ring-necked Duck (in southern cut-off) |
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| 9th March 2008 Local Bird News - Stithians Res. - 1 CATTLE EGRET (still, in northern cut-off), 1 Ring-billed Gull (1w at southern end), Ring-necked Duck + 1 Bittern |
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| 12th March 2008 Local Bird News - Porthmellin Head - 1 LITTE BUNTING (still, at SW.869.322, just inland of coastal footpath in set-aside fields) Tremough Campus - 1 Green Woodpecker (in mature tree avenue) |
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| 14th March 2008 Having finished work for the easter break it was time to get out there and relax. Not before a wintering Blackcap caught my attention, singing in the garden though! Off to Stithians and the usual crap from bus drivers meant we had an extra mile to walk, great. Me and a mate walked around half the reservoir before catching up with a much sought after bird in the Falmouth area. The CATTLE EGRET gave glimpses of it's hunched profile and short, yellow bill through the heavy mist which dominated. A swift half in the Golden Lion Pub to celebrate and we were soon on foot again, heading back down the otherside of the res. All seemed lost after lots of searching when the Ring-billed Gull (1w) showed up, sitting amongst a small group of Herring Gulls. The mist made for slow birding for much of the time but a few spring migrants were passing through; 3 Skylarks, 8+ Meadow Pipits, 5 Reed Buntings, 4 Linnets and 20+ Goldfinches. |
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| 15th March 2008 Local Bird News - Stithians Res.- c100 Sand Martins (over southern end, the first of the spring in Falmouth!), 3 House Martins (over northern cut-off), 1 CATTLE EGRET (still, in northern cut-off) + 1 Bittern (stilll, in southern cut-off) |
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| 16th March 2008 - Devon birding. Out rarity hunting today. I'm not paying Falmouth the respect it deserves at the moment but with the promise of mega fowling action up in Devon I couldn't just say no. Popped up to Appledore on the north coast of Devon first thing, on the way spotting a cool Merlin in mid-hunt, chasing a Meadow Pipit over Bodmin Moor and 100+ Golden Plover somewhere near Great Torrington. Buzzards were everywhere on this, the first real day of spring. About 20 were seen in total. On to Appledore and a fair bit of searching revealed 5 Brent Geese, 1 Swallow (my first of the spring), and then the distant but unmistakable spec of a 1st winter male KING EIDER (well only confusable with juvve common eider!). At a miles range no pics were taken (do you really want more specs on this site? like that of the storm petrels? check them out!). Needless to say, this was a mega lifer. No Spoonbills or Cattle Egrets at Fremington Quay for some unknown reason but 15+ Little Egrets and 2 Greenshanks dotting the shore of this idyllic Devonish scene. Now down to Exeter, where after sifting through over 50 Sand Martins a House Martin briefly showed that characteristic white rump. Further down the track to the sewage works at Countess Weir a FALCATED DUCK was fairly easily seen although at long range again. In my opinion definitly wild until proven plastic. A top day with some top birding! Local Bird News - Stithians Res.- 1 CATTLE EGRET (still in northern cut-off) + 1 Ring-necked Duck (still in southern cut-off) |
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| 18th March 2008 On my last visit to the patch before an easter break in exile, I was accompanied by beautifully still, sunny weather. It was perfect for Spring migrants and although I couldn't find any hirundines, there were Chiffchaffs galore. 8 were seen/heard on my walk which encompasses half the potential woodland. Of these at least 5 were new in and singing like they were posessed but a great sound and the classic sound of Spring. A Kingfisher showed briefly at the eastern end of College Res. which hasn't been seen for a while, glad they're still present. Best of the rest went to the pair of Great Crested Grebes sitting out on the water, but always seem to be asleep, when do they feed! Both now in breeding plumage so I hope they stay to breed. |
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| 19th March 2008 I have to mention my train journey home today. Wouldn't normally bother even with the delights of Brent Geese along the Exe estuary. The Exe is undoubtedly the most spectacular train ride in the country with ranging views over the estuary and before that along the Dawlish/Teignmouth coastline, which so popularly held the Long-billed Murrelet over a year ago now. I was on the look out for Cattle Egrets at Exminster marshs as the train sped along nearby, but at speed. Only Little Egrets here though. My hopes had drained as we pulled into Exeter train station but after leaving I kept looking out of the window (out of boredom!). Couldn't believe what happened next; a CATTLE EGRET stood near a group of cattle, 30 or so meters from the train! The clincher was the short chunky yellow bill, easily visible in the strong sunlight. That brightened up the trip a little more and after 8hrs I'd made it home with 40 species from the train window (a P.B.) and a headache! The website will be kept updated over the easter break so please send me all your Falmouth records still. Thanks. Local Bird News - Stithians Res.- 1 CATTLE EGRET (still, at northern end of res) + 1 Ring-necked Duck (still, in southern cut-off) |
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| 20th March 2008 Local Bird News - Stithians Res.- 2 CATTLE EGRETS (in northern cut-off) + 1 Ring-necked Duck (still in southern cut-off) |
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| 20th March 2008 Local Bird News - Stithians Res.- 2 CATTLE EGRETS (in northern cut-off) + 1 Ring-necked Duck (still in southern cut-off) |
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| 22nd March 2008 Local Bird News - Stithians Res.- 2 CATTLE EGRETS (in northern cut-off) + 1 Ring-necked Duck (still in southern cut-off) |
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| 25th March 2008 Local Bird News - Falmouth - 1 Med Gull (a 2w at Swanpool) |
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| 27th March 2008 Local Bird News - Stithians Res.- 1 Ring-necked Duck (fem still at south end of res.) |
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