Thursday 21st September and a lovely autumnal afternoon and so after leaving work at 3pm I headed home on the bus via Marsh Mills for a walk along the River Plym to Laira Bridge. I had hoped to see the female red crested pochard that has been reported a few times recently but was out of luck. However I did see a male mandarin duck with mallards at the Plympton road bridge, more mallards along the estuary, a kingfisher and a male stonechat at Blaxton Meadow, a greenshank with redshanks near the Sainsbury Creek and a large and noisey flock of Canada geese out on the water - but still dip number 1.
Friday 22nd September and I decided to head to Topsham again for the high tide roost at Bowling Green Marsh, catching an early train and arriving at the hide at 8:30am-ish. The hide was packed and the light awful in the bright sunshine but I did get some good views of 2 curlew sandpiper, 2 ruff, a lapwing, 3 avocet, a whimbrel, a snipe, a bar tailed godwit and a partial summer plumaged knot amongst the dunlin, redshank, greenshank, black tailed godwit and curlew but there was no sign of any of the recently reported little stints. Somebody did call a little stint amongst the dunlin but before I could get on to it a sparrowhawk flew over putting everything up and it was never seen again.
Amongst the shoveler, teal, wigeon, pintail, gadwall and mallard I had a brief view of what I am sure was a juvenile garganey, quite orange toned and with a distinct facial pattern. It went to sleep amongst a group of ducks but it too was spooked by the sparrowhawk and I lost sight of it. A fox, a kingfisher, a jay, the dunlin eating adult lesser black backed gull, a small tortoiseshell and red admirals were also noted.
From the viewing platform there was no sign of any ospreys but I did see a Sandwich tern perched on a bouy downriver and 2 common sandpipers flying up the River Clyst. Oystercatchers and grey plovers were out on the mudflats amongst the feeding waders which included 2 curlew sandpipers, presumably the Bowling Green birds seen earlier.
I had a brief and distant view of a smaller wader feeding alongside a dunlin out on the mud before everything took to the air again but I had a feeling it was a runty dunlin and not a little stint.
And so a pleasent days birding but disappointment at dipping little stint - dip number 2 - and I should have gone to Hayle instead (70 pence more for the train fare) where 3 were seen along with 3 curlew sandpipers and a grey phalarope - never mind!
Saturday 23 September 2017
Tuesday 19 September 2017
Wryneck, Wembury
Friday 15th September and after taking Mother Outlaw to see Father Outlaw at the nursing home we took a drive to Topsham for the afternoon where David looked around the shops while I did some birding. A quick look from a packed hide at Bowling Green Marsh didn't reveal much and so I carried on to the viewing platform where I just missed an osprey catching a fish off Turf. A small group of grey plover with 1 bird still in smart summer plumage were out on the small amount of mud still on show on the incoming tide before I moved on to The Goatwalk where I watched 4 Sandwich tern fishing and had distant views of 6 roe deer in a field on the Haldon Hill escarpment.
Back to the hide and waders were beginning to arrive and amongst the dunlin and ringed plover I found at least 2 curlew sandpipers which gave some nice views despite being very nervous and flighty. Curlew, redshank, black tailed godwit and greenshank were also seen along with shoveler, teal, wigeon and mallard. I then met up with David and we headed over to Darts Farm for something to eat and a look around the shops before heading back to Plymouth.
Saturday 16th September and with grotty weather forecast for the afternoon I headed off in the morning to Wembury for a walk. No moths in the toilet block but a few butterflies were flitting around in the occasional sunny spells - red admiral, large white, small copper and speckled wood - and 3 common lizards were also enjoying the sun as they basked on the fencing.
It felt very autumnal, cool with sunny spells and very pleasent and with a feel of birds on the move. From the riding stable track I scanned a kettle of herring gulls circling over the cliffs towards Stoke Point hoping an osprey might have been with them but with no luck. However a falcon was circling at the top of the kettle which I thought may have been a peregrine especially when it stooped and headed towards me but as it levelled out over the fields in front of me I was pleased to see it was a hobby, only my second Wembury sighting of one, and it was quickly followed by a second bird as it dashed over the hill and out of sight. A short while later I saw a hobby soaring over the cliffs again towards Stoke Point before it headed inland over Wembury church where it was again joined by a second bird - presumably the 2 I had seen a short time earlier or maybe another 2 birds?
18 Canada geese were feeding in the stubble field with assorted herring gulls and I picked out a probable juvenile yellow legged gull but just as I was getting my scope out for better views the gulls all took to the air and I lost sight of it. A curlew, 2 little egrets and oystercatchers were on the rocks and along the beach meadow pipits were feeding amongst the rock pipits and I could hear birds passing overhead. The pied wagtails along the beach also included a few white and 2 grey wagtails flew over together. Offshore a few gannets were seen along with a juvenile peregrine flying west low over the water - later at the bus stop while waiting for the bus home an adult and juvenile peregrine circled overhead before heading off east.
Chiffchaffs were seen and heard, swallows and house martins flitted around overhead and 2+ whitethroat were skulking in the brambles at The Point. A spotted flycatcher was feeding amongst the pine trees at The Point, only my 3rd Wembury sighting, and there may have been a second bird present as I watched it chase after another bird that I lost from view.
A passing birder had given me the heads up about the spotted flycatcher and also news of a wryneck feeding in the grassy field by the pines and after a bit of a search I managed to find the wryneck on the ground amongst the tussocks where I had some great views, my best views ever in the UK and my 4th Wembury sighting, although it was quite flighty at times and sometimes quite elusive - cue yet more of my usual quality record shots.
And so quite an eventful morning at Wembury and luckily the rain didn't start until I had arrived back home.
Black headed Gull, The Goatwalk
Saturday 16th September and with grotty weather forecast for the afternoon I headed off in the morning to Wembury for a walk. No moths in the toilet block but a few butterflies were flitting around in the occasional sunny spells - red admiral, large white, small copper and speckled wood - and 3 common lizards were also enjoying the sun as they basked on the fencing.
Common Lizard, Wembury
Common Lizard, Wembury
It felt very autumnal, cool with sunny spells and very pleasent and with a feel of birds on the move. From the riding stable track I scanned a kettle of herring gulls circling over the cliffs towards Stoke Point hoping an osprey might have been with them but with no luck. However a falcon was circling at the top of the kettle which I thought may have been a peregrine especially when it stooped and headed towards me but as it levelled out over the fields in front of me I was pleased to see it was a hobby, only my second Wembury sighting of one, and it was quickly followed by a second bird as it dashed over the hill and out of sight. A short while later I saw a hobby soaring over the cliffs again towards Stoke Point before it headed inland over Wembury church where it was again joined by a second bird - presumably the 2 I had seen a short time earlier or maybe another 2 birds?
18 Canada geese were feeding in the stubble field with assorted herring gulls and I picked out a probable juvenile yellow legged gull but just as I was getting my scope out for better views the gulls all took to the air and I lost sight of it. A curlew, 2 little egrets and oystercatchers were on the rocks and along the beach meadow pipits were feeding amongst the rock pipits and I could hear birds passing overhead. The pied wagtails along the beach also included a few white and 2 grey wagtails flew over together. Offshore a few gannets were seen along with a juvenile peregrine flying west low over the water - later at the bus stop while waiting for the bus home an adult and juvenile peregrine circled overhead before heading off east.
Chiffchaffs were seen and heard, swallows and house martins flitted around overhead and 2+ whitethroat were skulking in the brambles at The Point. A spotted flycatcher was feeding amongst the pine trees at The Point, only my 3rd Wembury sighting, and there may have been a second bird present as I watched it chase after another bird that I lost from view.
A passing birder had given me the heads up about the spotted flycatcher and also news of a wryneck feeding in the grassy field by the pines and after a bit of a search I managed to find the wryneck on the ground amongst the tussocks where I had some great views, my best views ever in the UK and my 4th Wembury sighting, although it was quite flighty at times and sometimes quite elusive - cue yet more of my usual quality record shots.
Wryneck, Wembury
Wryneck
Wryneck
Wryneck
Wryneck
Wryneck
Friday 15 September 2017
Arctic Tern, Plymouth
Storm Aileen barrelled through overnight on September 12th and at lunchtime the following day news of a Sabines gull on the River Plym was texted to me by local birder Russ but unfortunately I was on the bus heading to work! Later another text came through with news of various terns (Sandwich, common, black, Arctic and roseate) off Mount Batten Pier - typical!
The next day (14th) I was back at work in the morning but I finished at 2:30 and on arriving home I checked the bird sighting pages to find terns had again been reported off Mount Batten that morning and so I decided to go and have a look.
It was sunny but cool and breezy with occassional spots of rain and while sitting on the ferry at The Barbican waiting to cross to Mount Batten I could see distant terns fishing in The Cattewater, mostly Sandwich but with a few smaller "commic" terns. Crossing The Cattewater on the ferry and the terns had all disappeared but as I walked out onto Mount Batten Pier I could see terns fishing all around Plymouth Sound from Jennycliff to Devils Point but they were all distant. However a juvenile Arctic tern was resting on the Pier and gave some amazing views down to a few feet as it rested a while before flying off to fish again - a gorgeous looking bird and one that I am not very familiar with.
Scanning around and the terns were very mobile and mostly distant and therefore difficult to keep track of but I did see 7 Arctic terns together at one point and there were 10+ common terns and 20+ Sandwich terns although there must have been more than these numbers present. Occassionally they flew quite close to the Pier giving some nice flight views but quickly moved on although presumably the same juvenile Arctic tern returned to rest on the Pier for a short time before flying off again.
Also seen were a gannet, 2 adult winter and 2 1st winter Mediterranean gulls and 3 swallows before it was time to get the last ferry back to The Barbican at 6pm - quality birding on my doorstep and all for the £3 ferry fare.
The next day (14th) I was back at work in the morning but I finished at 2:30 and on arriving home I checked the bird sighting pages to find terns had again been reported off Mount Batten that morning and so I decided to go and have a look.
It was sunny but cool and breezy with occassional spots of rain and while sitting on the ferry at The Barbican waiting to cross to Mount Batten I could see distant terns fishing in The Cattewater, mostly Sandwich but with a few smaller "commic" terns. Crossing The Cattewater on the ferry and the terns had all disappeared but as I walked out onto Mount Batten Pier I could see terns fishing all around Plymouth Sound from Jennycliff to Devils Point but they were all distant. However a juvenile Arctic tern was resting on the Pier and gave some amazing views down to a few feet as it rested a while before flying off to fish again - a gorgeous looking bird and one that I am not very familiar with.
Juvenile Arctic Tern, Mount Batten Pier
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
Arctic Tern
Wednesday 13 September 2017
Curlew Sandpiper, Bowling Green Marsh
Friday 8th September and with another day of grotty weather forecasted I decided to head off to Topsham for the morning hide tide wader roost at Bowling Green Marsh where I could at least sit in the bird hide out of the wind and rain. It was raining as I stepped off the train at Topsham at 9am but it stopped shortly after I arrived and it remained dry although mostly overcast for the rest of the day.
As I entered a packed hide I was met by Dave from Daves Diary who was pointing out a juvenile curlew sandpiper in amongst the waders close to the hide on the new scrapes - a very smart looking bird busily feeding with a few dunlin between the legs of sleeping curlews and redshanks.
I spent a while in the hide as the tide began dropping until the waders began to fly off to the River Clyst and amongst the curlew, redshank, black tailed godwit, greenshank, lapwing and dunlin were a green sandpiper, a female ruff, 2 whimbrel, a bar tailed godwit and a few ringed plover along with the curlew sandpiper. Eclipse plumaged ducks were dotted around the marsh - pintail, gadwall, mallard, teal, shoveler and wigeon - and a female marsh harrier showed very well quartering back and forth over the reeds at the back of the marsh. A few house martins, sand martins and swallows were buzzing over the water and a kingfisher resting on one of the islands was a nice surprise.
I wandered over to the River Clyst viewing platform to watch the waders feeding on the increasingly exposed mud and managed to find a curlew sandpiper amongst the dunlins, presumably the same bird seen earlier on the marsh. 2 kingfishers were fishing from the walls of Rivers Meet House but there was no sign of any ospreys.
Onwards to Dawlish Warren for a quick look around and from the dune ridge I scanned the estuary on a low tide where the only birds of note were a few common terns resting on the sand banks with Sandwich terns. Offshore there was a large mass of birds feeding offshore which seemed to consist of herring gulls and gannets with a few terns while on the sand banks were more roosting Sandwich terns with 2 very smart black terns, my first at Dawlish Warren.
Autumn ladies tresses were still in flower across the site and I also saw a few common darter, a few hawker dragonflies, a male common blue, meadow browns and gatekeepers before it was time to catch the train home just as the rain began to fall again.
Tuesday 12th September and I headed down to Falmouth with work colleague Sue for a wildlife boat trip with Orca Safaris, something we have been wanting to do for some time. The weather was looking good for the trip and we headed off from Falmouth Docks out into the bay in grey skies and a gentle breeze. A few gannets and shags were soon found and 2 mute swans close to the beach were a surprise. Eventually we found a small pod of common dolphins much to Sue's delight and we had some great views as they swam around the boat before getting bored and moving away.
Also seen were a few guillemot, plenty of gannets, shags and herring gulls, a first winter Mediterranean gull, a few cormorant, great black backed gulls and 3 Sandwich terns but we didn't go far enough offshore to find any interesting sea birds. And on the way back to shore we got involved with a lifeboat rescue of a yacht that had lost its steering - a very enjoyable trip.
As I entered a packed hide I was met by Dave from Daves Diary who was pointing out a juvenile curlew sandpiper in amongst the waders close to the hide on the new scrapes - a very smart looking bird busily feeding with a few dunlin between the legs of sleeping curlews and redshanks.
Curlew, Redshank and Black Tailed Godwit
Curlew Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
I wandered over to the River Clyst viewing platform to watch the waders feeding on the increasingly exposed mud and managed to find a curlew sandpiper amongst the dunlins, presumably the same bird seen earlier on the marsh. 2 kingfishers were fishing from the walls of Rivers Meet House but there was no sign of any ospreys.
Kingfisher
Greenshank
Curlew Sandpiper
Onwards to Dawlish Warren for a quick look around and from the dune ridge I scanned the estuary on a low tide where the only birds of note were a few common terns resting on the sand banks with Sandwich terns. Offshore there was a large mass of birds feeding offshore which seemed to consist of herring gulls and gannets with a few terns while on the sand banks were more roosting Sandwich terns with 2 very smart black terns, my first at Dawlish Warren.
Black Terns
Common Darter
Sand Wasp
Autumn Ladies Tresses
Autumn Ladies Tresses
Autumn Ladies Tresses
Common Dolphin
Common Dolphin
Common Dolphin
Common Dolphin
Common Dolphin
Common Dolphin
Common Dolphin
Common Dolphin
Gannet
Falmouth Lifeboat
Sunday 10 September 2017
Baird's Sandpiper, Marazion
Sunday 3rd September was foul - strong south easterly winds and torrential rain - but I wanted to get out of the house and so I headed off to the hide at Dawlish Warren. I got soaked walking to Plymouth railway station from home and I got soaked again on walking to the hide at Dawlish Warren but once ensconced in the hide I was out of the rain and wind and settled down to enjoy the birds on the incoming tide, having the hide all to myself.
I saw a good selection of waders - 8 sanderling, 8 knot, dunlin, ringed plover, curlew, redshank, oystercatcher and bar tailed godwit - along with Sandwich terns, little egret, a teal, 4 wigeon and a bedraggled wheatear feeding in the saltmarsh. I also found 2 juvenile yellow legged gulls in the gull roost in front of the hide, 1 bird partially hidden amongst the great black backed, lesser black backed and herring gulls and a very large looking bird right out in the open, almost as large as the great black backed gulls and with a pissed off expression in the grotty weather conditions.
I had a quick scan offshore and picked out 2 fulmar, a gannet and 2 Sandwich tern in very poor visibility and the only other sighting of note were 100's of Autumn ladies tresses in flower across the site, the most I have ever seen at Dawlish Warren.
Wednesday 6th September and it was off to Perranporth for the day on our annual Autumn pilgrimage. The weather forecast wasn't great but we decided to go for it anyway and apart from a heavy shower when we arrived at The Watering Hole for breakfast the sun did shine although it was cool and hazy and breezy. The usual wildlife was on show - gannets, fulmars and Sandwich terns offshore, a ringed plover along the beach, stonechats along the cliffs, trout in the stream (7 large and 2 small, fewer than seen last year) and house martins over the village.
I arrived at Marazion at around 9:30am on a grey and dull and breezy morning just as the tide was beginning to go out and there were already various birders/photographers patrolling along the beach. Amongst the pebbles and seaweed were various small waders roosting, preening and feeding but despite searching through the dunlin, turnstone, ringed plover and sanderling there was no sign of the Baird's.The birds were quite mobile and flighty along the beach especially as the outgoing tide revealed the silty foreshore and it was beginning to look like I was heading towards another Baird's dip (previously not having seen birds at both Marazion and Hayle) but eventually I found it feeding on the silt amongst the other waders before it was flushed by walkers. However I soon refound it and managed some great views as it fed with a dunlin and 9 sanderling before being flushed again - long winged looking in flight, long primary projection at rest, short and straight bill, short legs, flattened body shape at certain angles, neatly scalloped upperparts and a distinct line of demarcation between white underparts and buffy breast - cue my usual quality record shots.
It eventually flew off towards St.Michaels Mount where I picked it out feeding amongst dunlins on the weedy foreshore (although it was getting quite a lot of grief from any dunlins nearby) and I was very pleased to have found it after the previous 2 dips and very glad to get my first lifer of the year.
Walking back along the coast path to Penzance and I found a raven feeding along the beach before it flew off inland, a female common scoter flying along the beach before landing on the sea, a juvenile wheatear on the rocks by the bus station, a first winter Mediterranean gull along the waters edge and 7 bar tailed godwit flying over heading west.
After a quick sandwich it was time to head out on a 2 hour wildlife watching boat trip with Marine Discovery. I have been wanting to do another pelagic type trip since my Brixham one back at the beginning of August especially as this year there have been some good sightings of seabirds along the Devon and Cornwall coast but work, weather, lack of places and other commitments have got in the way. Originally the trip was scheduled for 3 hours but the weather conditions had curtailed it to 2 and it was quite choppy and began to rain as we headed out of the harbour. The conditions weren't looking great but I kept my fingers crossed that I would see something interesting.
We headed out to St.Clements Island off Mousehole where 2 grey seals were hauled out on the rocks. Unfortunately a woman in a canoe paddled too close and spooked a very yellow looking pregnant female seal into the water much to our guides annoyance - apparently it is dangerous to chase pregnant seals off the rocks as they are more likely to miscarry or have a stillbirth. A large male seal remained in place but looked quite nervous - the photo below was taken on maximum zoom (x60).
We headed out offshore into very choppy seas and I got absolutely soaked by the waves and the rain but finally the engine was cut and the sails unfurled and we gently sailed across the sea enjoying the swell. The rain stopped too and I managed to see a few birds - 2 fulmars, gannets, a razorbill, guillemots, Manx shearwaters, 2 common terns (adult and juvenile), shags, herring gulls, great black backed gulls and a storm petrel - along with a very brief view of a harbour porpoise. Frustratingly I had a brief and distant view of what was probably a sooty shearwater flying away from the boat - I found a small group of shags sitting on the water as I scanned around and on a rescan the shags had disappeared and I thought a large, chocolate brown bird flying away from the boat was a juvenile shag as it flew low over the waves. However it banked as shearwaters do showing chocolate brown underparts and long and thin wings before it disappeared from view - one that got away.
Arriving back on shore in Penzance and I headed off to the train station for the journey home and on a quick look off the sea wall at the bus station along the way I found the long staying male eider floating by in eclipse plumage, a nice end to the day.
I saw a good selection of waders - 8 sanderling, 8 knot, dunlin, ringed plover, curlew, redshank, oystercatcher and bar tailed godwit - along with Sandwich terns, little egret, a teal, 4 wigeon and a bedraggled wheatear feeding in the saltmarsh. I also found 2 juvenile yellow legged gulls in the gull roost in front of the hide, 1 bird partially hidden amongst the great black backed, lesser black backed and herring gulls and a very large looking bird right out in the open, almost as large as the great black backed gulls and with a pissed off expression in the grotty weather conditions.
I had a quick scan offshore and picked out 2 fulmar, a gannet and 2 Sandwich tern in very poor visibility and the only other sighting of note were 100's of Autumn ladies tresses in flower across the site, the most I have ever seen at Dawlish Warren.
Wednesday 6th September and it was off to Perranporth for the day on our annual Autumn pilgrimage. The weather forecast wasn't great but we decided to go for it anyway and apart from a heavy shower when we arrived at The Watering Hole for breakfast the sun did shine although it was cool and hazy and breezy. The usual wildlife was on show - gannets, fulmars and Sandwich terns offshore, a ringed plover along the beach, stonechats along the cliffs, trout in the stream (7 large and 2 small, fewer than seen last year) and house martins over the village.
Trout, Perranporth
Dahlia, Perranporth
Bathing Mallard, Perranporth
Bathing Mallard, Perranporth
Bathing Mallard, Perranporth
Bathing Mallard, Perranporth
Bathing Mallard, Perranporth
Thursday 7th September and I headed off on the early train to Penzance for the day, firstly to look for a Baird's sandpiper that had been found along the beach at Marazion and secondly to head out later on a wildlife boat trip from Penzance with Marine Discovery.
I arrived at Marazion at around 9:30am on a grey and dull and breezy morning just as the tide was beginning to go out and there were already various birders/photographers patrolling along the beach. Amongst the pebbles and seaweed were various small waders roosting, preening and feeding but despite searching through the dunlin, turnstone, ringed plover and sanderling there was no sign of the Baird's.The birds were quite mobile and flighty along the beach especially as the outgoing tide revealed the silty foreshore and it was beginning to look like I was heading towards another Baird's dip (previously not having seen birds at both Marazion and Hayle) but eventually I found it feeding on the silt amongst the other waders before it was flushed by walkers. However I soon refound it and managed some great views as it fed with a dunlin and 9 sanderling before being flushed again - long winged looking in flight, long primary projection at rest, short and straight bill, short legs, flattened body shape at certain angles, neatly scalloped upperparts and a distinct line of demarcation between white underparts and buffy breast - cue my usual quality record shots.
Ringed Plover, Marazion
Sanderlings, Marazion
Baird's Sandpiper, Marazion
Baird's Sandpiper, Marazion
Baird's Sandpiper with Sanderling, Marazion
Baird's Sandpiper with Sanderlings, Marazion
Baird's Sandpiper with Dunlin, Marazion
Walking back along the coast path to Penzance and I found a raven feeding along the beach before it flew off inland, a female common scoter flying along the beach before landing on the sea, a juvenile wheatear on the rocks by the bus station, a first winter Mediterranean gull along the waters edge and 7 bar tailed godwit flying over heading west.
After a quick sandwich it was time to head out on a 2 hour wildlife watching boat trip with Marine Discovery. I have been wanting to do another pelagic type trip since my Brixham one back at the beginning of August especially as this year there have been some good sightings of seabirds along the Devon and Cornwall coast but work, weather, lack of places and other commitments have got in the way. Originally the trip was scheduled for 3 hours but the weather conditions had curtailed it to 2 and it was quite choppy and began to rain as we headed out of the harbour. The conditions weren't looking great but I kept my fingers crossed that I would see something interesting.
We headed out to St.Clements Island off Mousehole where 2 grey seals were hauled out on the rocks. Unfortunately a woman in a canoe paddled too close and spooked a very yellow looking pregnant female seal into the water much to our guides annoyance - apparently it is dangerous to chase pregnant seals off the rocks as they are more likely to miscarry or have a stillbirth. A large male seal remained in place but looked quite nervous - the photo below was taken on maximum zoom (x60).
Male Grey Seal, St.Clements Island off Mousehole
Arriving back on shore in Penzance and I headed off to the train station for the journey home and on a quick look off the sea wall at the bus station along the way I found the long staying male eider floating by in eclipse plumage, a nice end to the day.
Eclipse Male Eider, Penzance
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