Sunday Morning...

The Waxwing performed (if you can call sitting in a tree performing!?) at Treneere agaion this morning, but again the light was rubbish for photos. Still managed a reasonable one below! The Hoopoe (162) at St Levan was less obliging for the camera, but did show well. And nearby Porthgwarra had a Wheatear and two Chough (163). A quick look on the estuary at Hayle produced two Ruff and a Little Gull. Lovely weather and nice to get out with the boys (and girl) again.



Yorkshire and Devon Delights.

So, after a fairly successful trip to Yorkshire and Devon visiting family, I managed to get to 159 species by the end of Feb. Since then Ive been back at work and back to building my extension, so not much birding time! Spring is definately on the way though and i finally got to 160 sp. with a Wheatear at St Gothian on Friday. Land's End was freezing this morning with nothing but Magpies in the way of birds so Mark and I headed back to Marazion where two Sand Martins (161)were over the marsh.

New birds 'aquired' in Yorkshire included a Smew, Lesser Redpoll and Bramblings at Hatfield Moors, my old patch, but i failed to connect with the RL Buzzard that was reported nearby. Nearby, Park Drain, gave me good views of Grey Partridge. Blacktoft Sands RSPB reserve had over 70 Tree Sparrows and a pair of Marsh Harriers. A walk around Lakeside, Doncaster produced two Mealy Redpolls with the Lessers, but no Ruddy Duck. I also dipped on my Little Owls for the second year running.

A days birding in Devon began at Yarner Woods with Lesser Pecker and Marsh Tit soon added to the list. From there I drove to Bowling Green Marsh where I caught up with Avocets (loads!) and another Smew, but no Spotted Redshank. I then got directions to Aylesbeare Common where  a Great-grey Shrike had been seen two days previously. Didnt take too long to find the place but I'd nearly given up on the bird when it finally showed in flight then briefly perched up. Cracking bird and my first for quite some time. Finally I spent the remainder of the day at Dawlish Warren where Surf Scoter, Velvet Scoter, Black-necked, Red-necked, Slav and Great-crested Grebes, Long-tailed Duck and Eider were all offshore. Great couple of days birding, the GG Shrike being the highlight. Bring on the spring goodies!

Oh and i caught up with the Rose-coloured Starling in Penzance too.

Recent Photos

Been a bit busy since the end of January but managed another 19 yearticks. Photos of some of them below and I'll update the text when i get a minute!

Photos from last Sunday (31st Jan)

A few record shots from Bodmin Moor last sunday. Not sure about the Deer? It was pacing the fence having got itself stuck in a cattle field. I think it's a Red Deer? I have shots of it from behind and it doesn't have the cream/white arse like a Roe Deer. Any thoughts?

Walmsley Goodies.....

Luckily the geese and swans have hung around at Walmsley long enough for me to catch up with them. So, with Mark, Monty and Ash, I ventured north to the sanctuary. As we parked up in the layby and got out of the car we were treated to a flock of 15 Barnacle Geese over the reserve and a short walk to the public hide produced the Pink-footed Goose and Bean Goose (141) in fields to the west. Three Spoonbills were asleep at the back of the main pool and five Black-tailed Godwits flew off. All hell let loose when the 'tundra' Peregrine put in an appearance. It appears a much bigger bird than our regular Peregrines.
Across the main road, the Whooper Swan (142) was with two Mutes.
We tried in vain at a very windy Trevose Head for Corn Buntings, so headed west to Pentire. En-route I noticed a flock of distant birds, which turned out to be Skylark. A short detour to Park Head, National Trust reserve provided us with some amazing views of huge flocks of Skylarks. The two groups totalled over 500 birds and a nearby flock of mixed buntings held, Chaffinch (300+), Yellowhammer (12+), Reed Bunting (10+) and finally three of our quarry species, Corn Bunting (143)!