Long Day in the field.....

Sunday started for me and Ash, before it got properly light with a woodcock over the A30 near Redruth. We soon reached Golia Falls, Bolventor in the hope of catching up with a few woodland specialities. Despite hearing Treecreeper on a few occasions we failed to see one! Nuthatches (118) were everywhere, as were Coal Tits (119). Jays (120) were also in abundance and we were lucky to see two Dippers (121), one of which was very obliging, singing from a rock under the bridge.
We then drove the short distance back to NineBridges to look for Willow Tit. No luck this time so a return trip will be on the cards. We did get great views of a pair of Green Woodpeckers (122) and a male Bullfinch (123). A Scan of Colliford Lake only produced a single Barnacle Goose (124) but we did have two White-fronted Geese flying over as we left Golia.
Par beach and Pool was our next destination. The Bittern (125) showed briefly in the reeds at the back of the pool and another Barnacle Goose was with the four Bar-headed Geese. The sea produced 8 Great-crested Grebes (126) but little else.
Ten or more Cirl Buntings (127) showed well on the Roseland Peninsular, including a very smart, un-ringed male.
En-route back to west Cornwall we called in at Tresillian to look for Avocets. Again our luck was out but a Black-tailed Godwit (128) on Tresemple Pool was a bonus. Finally, a cold hour at Men-an-Tol saw a single ringtailed Hen Harrier (129) drift into view.
A really good day, resulting in 79 species (not includuing Treecreeper and Greenfinch that we only heard!). We covered over 160 miles but didnt get a few of our target species. Maybe next time!

Catching up

A couple of days rushing round the west and Ive managed to catch up with the main birds in the area. Yesterday it was the Pacific Diver in Mounts Bay and more importantly i finally got my county Waxwing (112) tick. Superb bird at Treneer, Penzance showed extremely well, number 288. My next county tick was today at Stithians where i 'twitched' the 8 Bewick's Swans (113) that have been there for the past week or so. Four adults and four juvs. Very nice too. 289. Two Goldeneye were also on the reservoir (114)

Carbis Bay next where there was no sign of any Balearics but 8 Goosanders (115) were still present. The estuary turned up 6 Med Gulls (116), another 5 Goosanders and a Brent Goose.
Finally to Gwithian where I hoped to catch up with the Jack Snipe. No such luck but the Water Pipit (117)showed well!
Below are a few photos taken in the past few months. Grey Plover at Gwithian and Rock Pipit at Marazion.

New Year miscount!....

Oh no! Once i started writing out my yearlist I've realised that I wrote Greenshank down TWICE in my notebook, meaning I only actually saw 99 species on th Islands! Gutted! Should have tried harder for those Guillemots and Razorbills!

A Very Happy New Year!

When you get the opportunity to work on the Isles of Scilly over the new year period you just dont turn it down! So on December 31st I flew out of Penzance headed for St Mary's to spend five days. Lovely.

Anyway, to cut a long story of four days birding/working short, I managed to see 100 species! The first birder on the islands to reach a tonne in 2011. This was finally achieved this morning with a Great Spotted Woodpecker in Holy Vale, a scarce bird on Scilly and a Scilly tick for me. I got at least 6 Scilly tick during my visit including Waxwing, Eider, Red-breasted Merganser and three superb Long-eared Owl. Other good birds included Rose-coloured Starling, Spoonbill (2+), Firecrest (4+), Woodcock (lots!), Jack Snipe, Hooded Crow, Jackdaw (only three birds on Scilly!!), Brent and Pink-footed Geese and Long-tailed Duck. One-hundred species on the islands is a good total and even more so when you think i still havent seen a magpie!

Can't wait to go back in October!

Waxwing Woe....

After missing the Waxwings at Hayle earlier in the month, thanks to poor communication again, the onset of more inclement weather brought with it the hope of catching up with more of these avian gems. I wasn't expecting one (or more?) flying over my house, which is why I was carrying a bag of rubbish (to the dustbin) and not my bins, when i heard the unmistakable ringing call!! A mad dash for the Lieca's and scan after scan of the mid afternoon sky proved fruitless. Gutted. Waxwing over the garden, heard only! A Peregrine half an hour later was scant consolation.

I know we 've been lucky with the snow down here but I drove up to Torquay (and back!) this morning and the snowscapes across Bodmin and Dartmoor were outstanding!