My first post and a train trip down to Penzance was the order of the day considering the poor weather forecast and the recent bird sightings in the Penzance area.
Arriving in Penzance at 11:20ish the sun was shining! It was very windy though and the sea had quite a swell on it. A quick look at the rocks by the bus station yielded good views of 2 female/immature black redstarts along with a grey wagtail and bar-tailed godwit and dunlin feeding on the exposed sand along the beach. 2 immature male eiders were busy preening just offshore.
A quick bus ride to the Trennere roundabout on the A30 to look for the reported waxwing was a bust, I never have much luck seeing waxwings, missing them more times than I see them.
A brisk walk from the roundabout to the Jubilee Pool provided excellent views of around 17 purple sandpipers chittering away and feeding on the rocks. The 2 eiders were now preening offshore from the pool and a great crested grebe was found bobbing up and down between the waves. An oiled guillemot on the rocks trying to preen itself was a sorry sight.
Another bus ride to Marazion was rewarded with excellent views of 2 bitterns flying over the reed bed. I have never had any luck seeing bitterns at Marazion over the years. The nearest I have got to seeing one was last year, "should have been here half an hour ago" I was informed by 3 birders on arriving at the viewpoint along the road overlooking the marsh. Well, this time I was in luck! Also seen was a nice kingfisher that has survived the recent freezing weather.
The sea was too rough to pick out any divers so the Pacific diver wasn't found. Never mind, maybe I'll try again later this month when the weather forecast is better.
Walking back to Penzance along the beach provided good views of sanderlings and ringed plovers and 2 common gulls amongst the black heads roosting on the sea.
Back to Plymouth on the 16:00 train and I had had a really good day. Year list total 60 birds.
No comments:
Post a Comment